Other than those few feedbacks I received I would say that the other feedback, both negative and positive, will definitely help me in the future to be a more productive and effective group member. I think I am able to realize how I can make myself a better group member in the future by fixing some of my flaws from this class. I think this class was a great learning opportunity, and although I do not believe all the evaluations to be accurate, I can say that the overall idea of it is beneficial to every student.

1.) The quality and amount of group production is the responsibility of the group.

TRUE

2.) I am a member of the group.

TRUE

3.) The quality and amount of group production is my responsibility.

TRUE

4.) Goal-setting is a responsibility that I share.

TRUE. I work with my group and we set dates and times to meet together and figure out when and what we will be accomplishing for the week.

5.) I have been instrumental in marshalling resources for the group. 

TRUE. I have gathered information, pictures, and videos for our group Wiki project as well as worked with my other members on finishing tasks.

6.) Members are more important to groups than leaders.

FALSE. I believe that they are equally important in a group.

7.) I am using this class to satisfy my individual and group-irrelevant needs.

FALSE

8.) To be a member in a group means I have to take on one or more roles.

TRUE

9.) If I am in a group, I am either a functional member or an un- or dys-functional member.

TRUE

10.) Our class/group has all the roles necessary to achieve optimum group growth and productivity.

TRUE. I think our class has the ability to achieve a lot.  We have learned a lot about eachother and have progressed a great deal throughout the semester as a group.

11.) Our class/group has not yet generated effective work on the problem of role-requiredness.

FALSE. I believe that we have all fallen into certain roles whether intentionally or not.  We all have specific roles, which are contributing to our class and our group’s final project.

12.) My role(s) in the class/group and different sub-group teams has changed depending on the stage of development. If false, why not, and what does having a static, unchanging role “do” to or for the group?

FALSE. I believe that although some people have taken on new roles, we have all kept similar roles that we designated ourselves with in the beginning.

13.) Improving the group’s quality of functioning requires diagnosing role requirements needed at the current stage of development.

TRUE

14.) I am unsure how to diagnose role requirements needed by my sub-group team

FALSE

15.) I have role flexibility.

TRUE. I have been the recorder when our Shein Team group was observing the fishbowls. I have been the elaborator in my UMass Wiki Traditions group when Angela and I initially came up with the idea and set tasks for ourselves and the team. I have been the energizer in one of the final fishbowls about what our Wiki page was actually going to be about and the need to make a FINAL decision quick

16.) Developing role flexibility is an important objective of group member training. The three roles I flex among the most are: a)ELABORATOR, b) ENERGIZER  and c) RECORDER.  My decision to flex is based upon: I ENJOY THESE ROLES THE BEST AND FEEL THAT I AM TAKING A REAL AND IMPORTANT PART IN THE GROUP WITH THESE ROLES. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE IN OUR SHEIN TEAMS AND WIKI GROUP WHEN I HAVE SWITCHED BETWEEN THESE DESIGNATED ROLES

17.) My personality and the role(s) I play in groups are the same thing.

FALSE

18.) I never find myself resisting the retraining required to be a functional group member.

TRUE. I obviously experience tension and anxiety at certain times, I think everyone does, but I am able to work through it.

19.) I am highly sensitive to criticism about my functional role in a group.

FALSE

20.) I will do anything possible to make sure everyone feels good, even if it means producing an inferior product.

FALSE

21.) I am sensitive to the operation of member roles in our class/group and in my sub-group teams.

TRUE

22.) I am aware of and conscious about my own proficiency in different functional roles.

TRUE

23.) I can identify several functional roles in any group.

TRUE

24.) I can match the roles required to the stage of development a group is in.

TRUE

25.) I can assess what role I can play best based on changing requirements for the group.

TRUE

http://kevan.org/johari?name=Buckets24

After reading everyone’s opinions about what direction our Course Wiki should be taking I came to a conclusion, the majority of people want to focus on different subjects but they also agree that it should be comprised of many different personal pages that touch a variety of subjects that students can relate to. There has been a lot of talk through our class posts about the particular topics people want to talk about.  I think it is awesome that there are so many different activities and interest that we can touch on through the students in our class.  There have been topics mentioned such as skydiving, fraternities, academics and majors, clubs,  and pottery which will all be beneficial to future readers and are interesting to many of the students in our class.  I think that after reading everyone’s ideas about the Wiki that this seems to be the final decision, it is no survival guide but it is personal experience which may help others to become interested in these same activities in the future.  I do not think everyone should have to have a personal page as long as we have a good amount of personal or group pages on certain topics with different point of views for each. We will need to finalize the details for this project but it seems to be an overall consensus that this is the way are class is heading towards making the Comm. 352 Class Wiki.

I have unpacked the term “liberal” which seems to play a dominant role in my education experience, and lifestyle at home and at school.  “Liberal” as defined by many dictionary sources is:

 *Broad: showing or characterized by broad-mindedness

*Having political or social views favoring reform and progress tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition; a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties

*Big: given or giving freely; “was a big tipper”; “the bounteous goodness of God”; “bountiful compliments”; “a freehanded host”; “a handsome allowance

*A person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets

*Liberalism refers to a broad array of related doctrines, ideologies, philosophical views, and political traditions, which hold that individual liberty is the primary political value.

*In the US political spectrum, “liberals” are said to be slightly left-of-center or somewhat left-of-center. Of the two main political parties, the Democrats are thought to be more liberal, as the term is currently defined.

*Political or social views that put a great emphasis on creating new social patterns or values, often with the help of direct government action. Political view that supports gradual change and government spending to assist lower classes in society. 
 *Traditionally, the word liberal means to be open to new ideas and tolerant of others. To be liberal politically, is to emphasize political and economic freedom. They tend to favor gradual changes in society and promote government programs to solve problems. *Political viewpoint with origins in Western Europe during the 19th century; stressed limited state interference in individual life, representation of propertied people in government; urged importance of constitutional rule and parliaments.

The term “liberal” definitely proves to be a mark of the culture I have lived in for a long time. It is representative of the rights, opportunities, or freedoms restricted to those who define their lifestyle as “liberal”.  People from different areas of the world may associate those who consider themselves a “liberal” or lead a “liberal” lifestyle in a biased way.  It is evident that this term proves to often serve as a political reference, which often creates controversy because of strongly opposing viewpoints.  I attend Umass Amherst, which is known to the public as a “liberal” school in its methods of teaching, viewpoints and lifestyle of people living in the surrounding area, and even the income and sexual preferences seem to match up with what “liberals” more often embrace. Teachers who pride themselves on being “liberal” in their ideas, beliefs, and lifestyle have taught many of my classes as a Communications Major.  In political reference, the definition of liberal, which states, “Traditionally, the word liberal means to be open to new ideas and tolerant of others. To be liberal politically, is to emphasize political and economic freedom. They tend to favor gradual changes in society and promote government programs to solve problems” seems to be the side of the spectrum that I follow.  It is apparent that many people at this University seem to have similar viewpoints, which also dubs UMass a liberal based school by definition. However, it is wrong to assume that all those who characterize themselves as a “liberal” believe in and follow all the levels of its definition.  It is wrong to place stereotypes on people based on the mess created by simple words.

In this basic definition of  “liberal” I hope all those reading understand my liberal perspectives as well as those associated with the creation of these definitions and free spirited way of life and will excuse my, as well as much of UMass Amherst’s, political and personal view if it does not adhere to their own.