Mutually beneficial systems

This group's aim is to be mutually beneficial for all members. We will join together to produce outcomes that better our situations individually and collectively. The post grad group could increase relationships and senses of belonging. Through interaction, members would learn about new cultures, experiences and ways of thinking.

I believe that the group could also be mutually beneficial with the university system. We may decide to officially tie ourselves to the university at some point by becoming a UQU group. (There are some downsides to this- see my project plan for details.) Becoming an official UQU group, would allow us to gain visibility and connect to new members. It would also allow students to find us more easily. More connected students are happier and more well-rounded students. Happier, more fulfilled and connected students contribute to their university positively. We all win!

Here's yet another TED video. It inspired this post. It's demonstrates how crows and humans can be mutually beneficial. Highly Recommended!

A Beautiful Example of Action Research

Jamie Heywood describes the way in which his brother's death due to illness led to an information-sharing website run by patients, rather than doctors. He talks about the sites members willingness to be members of a community, share themselves, be vulnerable and "be human again."

http://www.patientslikeme.com/

Dialogue and Bohm

Bohm describes a discussion as a ping pong match in which people are competing against each other. He argues that a dialogue, on the other hand, involves a shared meaning acting as a glue holding people and societies together.

“In dialogue, however, nobody is trying to win. Everybody wins if anybody wins. There is a different sort of spirit to it. In dialogue, there is no attempt to gain points, or to make your particular view prevail. Rather, whenever any mistake is discovered on the part of anybody, everybody gains. It’s a situation called win-win, in which we are not playing a game against each other but with each other. In a dialogue, everyone wins.” p.2

I hope that the Post Grad Group will involve this kind of communication. Hopefully we’ll want to share, not compete, in order to benefit us all.

Bohm, D. (1996). On Dialogue. London: Routledge

(recommended to me by Lynda in her feedback on my project plan)

Possible activities

I've had some discussions with peers on possible activities for the group. I'll list them below. I hope to discuss the possibilities, solicit new ideas and plan gatherings via the facebook group. The facebook group hasn't taken off yet, but with a little publicity, I'm hoping it will be a good forum for student connection.

Possible activities:

Picnic

Coffee

Wine Tasting

Trivia

Karaoke

Beer Brewing

Pub/Club

Dinner out

Potluck

Movie

Board game night

More suggestions wanted!

facebook

The facebook group now has 13 members. woohoo! ok, that's not much, but it's a start.

Posters-better late than never

I plastered the campus with posters today. Hopefully this will increase interest in/knowledge about the group. I put tear-off group name/email at the bottom to make it easier for people. I hope to have at least one gathering over the break. I'll put up more posters at the beginning of next semester too. Hope this takes off.

Tribes-Internet leaders

Here's another Ted video. Seth Godin talks about the internet's revival of tribes. The internet provides people with opportunities to find like-minded others. He argues that all that's needed is a leader to connect people to create change. I'm acting as a leader of sorts in the Post Grad Group. (I of course aim for collaborative learning, so am very reluctant to refer to myself as a 'leader'. I'm only using the term to use Seth Godin's language.) I haven't stepped up to the plate fully yet. (I've kind of been hovering around it.) I am beginning to regain passion and drive for this project and am finally stepping up. (I got overwhelmed by this subject and by other commitments for a while there, and did not act.) I am using the internet, as Godin describes, to connect to people who share the same uni student status as me and are interested in meeting new people.