You are here

Wrap Up: Some further points to consider...

15 January, 2016 - 09:08
Available under Creative Commons-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/05c97be4-3ad0-47f2-b5a7-a75d0ad90ab7@3.72
  1. Don't gloss over your work with generalizations like, "Our group was successful and achieved all of its ethical and practical goals this semester." Provide evidence for success claims. Detail the procedures designed by your group to bring about these results. Are they "best practices"? What makes them best practices?
  2. Sometimes—especially if difficulties arose—it is difficult to reflect on your group's activities for the semester. Make the effort. Schedule a meeting after the end of the semester to finalize this refection. If things worked well, what can you do to repeat these successes in the future? If things didn't work out, what can you do to avoid similar problems in the future? Be honest, be descriptive and avoid blame language.
  3. This may sound harsh but get used to it. Self-evaluations—group and individual—are an integral part of professional life. They are not easy to carry out, but properly done they help to secure success and avoid future problems.
  4. Student groups—perhaps yours—often have problems. This self-evaluation exercise is designed to help you face them rather than push them aside. Look at your goals. Look at the strategies you set forth for avoiding Abilene, groupthink, and group polarization. Can you modify them to deal with problems? Do you need to design new procedures?