Blog Post #1- Samantha Suarez

 Blog Post #1: Group 3

Samantha Suarez

            Throughout these past couple of weeks in SPC 1017, I have learned more on how to be a part of a group and how to work together while being in a virtual class. Being in a virtual zoom class is not the same as being in person, due to the fact that there is less communication in a virtual class. However, our professor changed that and gave our class a path to communication by dividing our class into three groups of six to seven people in each. Each group was assigned a chapter, or module, to create a presentation about and present it to the class. Each and every person in every group had to participate. To be able to have better communication between the people in the groups, we created a WhatsApp chat. Starting off with group 1 being assigned to Chapter 3: Intercultural Communication. Group 2 was assigned to Chapter 9: Communicating in Groups. Lastly group 3 was assigned to Chapter 10: Group Leadership and Problem Solving. I was assigned to group 3, as well as my other Since each group was assigned a different chapter, we each got to learn from each other when the presentations started.

Group 1- Chapter 3: Intercultural Communication

            Group 1 had an interesting chapter about intercultural communication. Their presentation touched a variety of interesting topics. When Group 1 presented, they explained and described the relationship between communication and culture, as well as described to the class the role that communication has on culture. I learned from this presentation that intercultural communication is interactions between people that belong to completely different cultures and that communication between them is difficult. I learned about the relationship between dominant and co-culture. Group 1 also went over ethnicity, sex, gender, native language, race, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, age, disability, and so much more. Group 1 did an overall amazing job in interpreting and explaining their chapter. 

Group 2- Chapter 9: Communicating in Groups

            Group 2's presentation was about group communication. Group 2 showed the different types of groups that there are. They even showed and explained in great detail how groups are developed. In their presentation, they explained and went over the different stages of group development, including; forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning, and transforming. They also went over the different types of groups that there are. I remember some and those are social groups, support groups, work groups, virtual groups, service groups, heterogeneous group, homogeneous group, etc. I learned that healthy groups have ethical goals. I learned that being part of a group is like being part of a team where everyone works together to achieve one goal. Group 2 even went over accountability and how group members are accountable of their responsibility and their part in the group for working together towards the groups goal. In this chapter, there are three types of conflicts that were mentioned. The three types of conflict are Pseudo-conflict, issue-related group conflict, and personality-related group conflict. Group 2 presented their chapter clearly and in great detail which helped me overall to understand the chapter as a whole. 

Group 3- Chapter 10: Group Leadership and Problem Solving

            I was personally part of this group and I learned so much when I was doing my part in this project. My group's chapter was about group leadership and problem solving. We as a group, talked about how leadership works in groups or teams. My part in this project was explaining and interpreting what leadership is, the five common formal leadership styles, informal emergent and formal leaders, shared leadership functions, what a role is, task leadership roles, and maintenance leadership roles. I learned that there are multiple maintenance leadership roles which are, the supporters which encourage and give others positive and encouraging words, interpreters which use what they already know and help other group members, harmonizers which help solve problems, mediators which help find a win-win solution, and tension relievers which help others deal with stress through humor. Another interesting point that I learned is that taking on leadership is a really important role and you have to be responsible for your actions. My group and I worked together to conquer this project and we did a marvelous job at it. We communicated through our WhatsApp chat to figure out who is getting each part and we all kept our contact with each other. We all updated each other and helped each other out with what it is that we have to do and succeeded in our presentation. 

                In conclusion, I really enjoyed working in groups for this project. I believe that when you break apart a chapter between multiple people and then put the presentation together as one, you end up learning way better than just reviewing the chapter by yourself. I cannot wait to continue being part of a group and working together to achieve our goal in completing the projects together as a team. I believe all of the three groups did an amazing job in working together, creating a presentation, and presenting their projects to the class.