Journal 15 - Challenges

Freshmen year in IED (Intro to Engineering) we did a Skype project with a class in Normal and had to design and produce a locker shelf, with each group having parts from each school. It was difficult as they had microphones and we did not. We could listen to them, but had to respond by text. We managed to overcome those difficulties and produce a successful group project. The Farmington project is very similar, but if anything should be easier as we have more communication options. We can "meet" on Facebook, Twitter, Google, Skype, etc. as opposed to being limited to text communication on a very slow and laggy internet. A problem of not being able to physically meet with our partners is the face to face aspect of communication. It is harder to convey points without being able to register their emotional response and their body language.

There are many tools that could be used to overcome the distance with the Farminton kids.I created a Today's Meet as an extra option for our group. It allows us to have instant textual communication with each other and the comments stay and all the members of the group are able to see it. I sent them a link to it in case we decided to use that to communicate. I also feel like we are going to use Twitter. When we Skyped with the other school they said that they love Twitter. Skyping is another way to communicate also. Seeing the members in a face to face communication will help everyone as that is what we are used to. Personally Skyping (with no lag or delay) will be the best for me as that is closest to physically meeting the group. Another way is Facebook. The majority of high school students have a Facebook and check it all of the time. That will be a convenient way of communicating as we constantly check Facebook. Personally I would like to email. I check my email a lot. I am just that kind of person. Hopefully my group members will be okay with email as that is my preference in this endeavor.

Another challenge is personality. All of the group members could have different personalities and can have conflicts. If another member of the group and I both try to be leaders, problems can ensue if we can not work together. Hopefully we can all get along and communicate well and every one does their work how and when they are supposed to. Ideally that will happen. Fingers crossed that will happen. Time will tell.