WEEK FOUR: ARE YOU LEARNING?

What I'd like to know is: (1) Are you learning?? (2) Are you enjoying the New Media technologies that we're experimenting with in this class (your blog, for example)? (3) Is there one thing in particular that has stood out for you in terms of valuable course content? and (4) Are you finding value in the class itself?

Yes, I have learned quite a few things. This class also added to the notion we are capable of fine tuning ourselves. Joanne was very inspirational in my reception to new ideas. Thanks Joanne. Prior to this class, I heard about blogs. However, I never participated in any forum via blogs. My eyes were pried open to good usages of myspace.com. Many things stood out. Communication is interconnected. In order to comprehend something, it helps to look at the entire picture. Working with pieces of communication is frustrating. This is one of the most resourceful classes I have ever taken. Thanks classmates.

LEADERS: MOTHER TERESA

Thinking of leadership and leaders, Mother Teresa comes to mind. I strongly believe she epitomizes the concept.

“Towards the end of her life, Mother Teresa was a friend of kings and presidents worldwide. But it was with the poor that she chose to spend most of her time, traveling to war-torn areas such as Beirut and drought-stricken nations such as Ethiopia in her ongoing quest to find new persons in need of love and support. Today, Mother Teresa's work is being carried on by the 3,000 + members of the Sisters of Charity. With missions worldwide, the Sisters of Charity minister to the poor on six continents, continuing the selfless legacy that Mother Teresa spent her long life establishing.” (http://myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=M_Teresa)

CHAPTER 18: PERSUASIVE SPEAKING

Persuasive speaking modifies thoughts, feelings, and actions. The purpose is to change listeners. Effective persuasion skills are needed in today’s environment. Thought and action is the purpose of persuasion. Persuasion speeches focus on facts, values, and policies. Three types of persuasive speeches are proposition of facts, proposition of value, and proposition of policy. Proposition of facts speeches include what is or what is not. The degree of good or bad is covered by proposition of value. Proposition of policy speeches focuses on what should be. Persuasive process involves attempts to alter beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes. During persuasion, individuals choose to act differently.

WEEK THREE: TOTAL GROUP CONSENSUS

The group consisted of friends and coworkers. We all agreed on a passionate job for less than desirable salary.

Scenario: Two job offers.

Job title: Mortgage broker
Salary: $75,000 annually
Predicament: Stressful, unhappy, and long working hours.

Job title: Senior care provider.
Salary: $50,000 annually
Predicament: Rewarding, relaxing, and set schedule.


Both job scenarios were briefed. We all weighed the benefits of health over money. Participants were instructed to freely voice their opinions with good taste. Tension was almost nonexistent. The common theme of the group seems to be contentment. Money earned under stressful conditions was unattractive. Everyone voluntary agreed stressful, unhappy, and long working hours is not good.

CHAPTER 17: INFORMATIVE SPEAKING

Informative speeches inform us of what’s happening. Four types of informative speeches are messages of explanation, description, definition, and narration. During messages of explanation, caution should be taken to avoid over condensing. Inexperience speakers usually commit such transgression. The aim of description is to form detailed mental images of objects, people, and places. Definition covers questions like “what do you mean?” This is a request for clarification or elaboration. Narratives serve as “teaching moments” and alternate ways for information. Narrations require clear conveyance. To be effective during informative speeches, a speaker must create information hunger, seek balance, emphasize key points, involve listeners, and provide information memorably.

CHAPTER 12: LEADING OTHERS AND RESOLVING CONFLICT

Conflict is a part of everyday life. Conflict is a result of our beliefs, experiences, and values. Leadership is the ability to influence others in a negative or positive way. Groups require effective leadership in order to accomplish goals. Leaders are considered designated or achieved. Designated leaders are appointed while achieved leaders voluntarily perform roles. Several leadership styles are x, y, autocratic, laissez-faire, and democratic. Type X leaders hold very low regards for workers. Type Y leaders show extreme confidence towards workers. There are four theories of leadership. Trait theory indicates individuals are born to lead. This theory remains unproven. According to situational theory, leadership is contingent upon situations. Functional theory states several individuals should lead. Transformational leaders bring new vision to groups.

CHAPTER 11: GROUPS AND TEAMS

Groups are collections of individuals coming together to perform a task. The performance depends on the sharing of views and information. Individual performance is the focus of the group.

Teams are groups. Teams have a working definition. Members of a team have complementary skills, are committed to common causes, performance goals, and hold themselves mutually accountable. Groups do not require mutual accountability. Teams and groups possess a sense of shared purpose.

Groups accomplish imposed task under supervisors. Success is determined by individual performances and evaluations. Teams usually perform at higher levels than teams. This results from collaboration.