3). Pick a favorite concept that we have covered through this course and post about it. Explain the concept to refresh our memories. Tell the class why you have chosen this concept, and what it is you like about it.

Nonverbal communication is probably my favorite topic in our class since I love to read about ways to bring relationships with people to the next level. Acquaintances becoming friends then becoming best friends is a light at the end of the tunnel (in a good way, not death). The eight principles of nonverbal communication is the quality of the relationship is established, when we do or say something inconsistent nonverbal communication is more believable, nonverbal communication is more meaningful when our groups assign meaning to it, our interpretation of others are guided by context and power relationships, groups operate in the norms and expectations of a culture they are apart, our view of nonverbal cues lead to meaning, men and women have a difference in accuracy at getting nonverbal cues correct, and we can become better at interpreting other people's nonverbal cues if we improve our own actions and interpretations. As said earlier, I chose this topic because I love to read about ways to being relationships with people to the next level, bringing people together is always a nice feeling. Nonverbal communication is just one of the many important steps in developing a solid friendship or level of intimacy with others.

2). What have you learned throughout this class? What was your favorite thing about the class? What was your least favorite thing about the class? How can this class be improved?

I learned a lot about CMC and the importance of roles in Small groups, these two ideas widened my range of compassion for those who meet online than people who meet in person (its tough to maintain) and roles are natural in most cases and need to be taken into consideration when choosing group members. My favorite thing about this class was the weekly work, I personally feel the topics and the amount of work is PERFECT and I am able to learn in a more consistent pace since each assignment gets straight to the point. My least favorite thing about the class was probably the length of the project, two days only provided me with enough details for a 1900 word essay, not a 2500 word essay, I felt I was going to cycle information about the paper in the end which felt unworthy. The class is great just the way it is other than the project length, I often wonder myself if I should take another course under the great Carol Perez!

1). Discuss your Group Observation Project. Was it a useful exercise? What did you learn? What was good about the project? What can be improved?

I always suspected the group observation project would be a delightful experience since I get to watch a small group form something beautiful. In my case, I watched a Chinese Shuai Chiao (grappling) club blossom and seeing the work of everyone together truly shows people who understand each other and are on the same level with each other are capable of bringing success to the table. I feel that the only thing that needs to be changed about the project is the length, I feel 2500 words might be too long for a project where you only visit for two days, I cannot give as much details about a small groups progress in just two days I would need more days to get enough details for the 2500 word limit or just two days as long as it was 1700-1900 words instead. But other than my one constructive criticism opinion, everything about the project was great.

3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading, that has not already been discussed during this discussion week, that you found useful or interesting, and discuss it.

I actually feel the RISK procedure is a good thing to mention this week because I have met many people who do not realize the problems that can arise in starting a small group. One example I can give is my friend's Karate Club at SJSU, he was very positive of the club's opening but he did not come up with a way to bring more members in or how to create dedicated members. All the events were announced through facebook and no personal contacts were really made, he kind of just expected people to come now that he made the club. I find it important that someone like him refer to the RISK procedure only because I feel that when you want to start a group you should be aware of failure and attempt to find a way to prevent roadblocks in your progress. For those of you who do not know what the RISK procedure is, it is where you list and brainstorm ways to prevent yourself from lacking success and preventing roadblocks.

2). Briefly outline an example of collaborative conflict resolution that you have engaged in. Contrast that with competitive conflict. Which was more satisfying to you? To the other party?

I can't say that I 100% understand this question but I can say that I went through a style of accommodation that could contrast into a competitive conflict. I once offered all the information I had to my senior instructor in hopes of having my Wing Chun School gain understanding in who I am, why I'm there, and what I'm willing to do for the school. It turned out that my senior instructor completely misinterpreted 80% of the things I said as if I was a bad guy just trying to embezzle in the school's reputation and funds. In a competitive contrast I assume he was only doing it so I would not become a future threat to him so he used my information to try and have me expelled from further attendance to the school. I had no real gain in this situation, I only learned that the man was a jerk. As for which was more satisfying to me I cannot really say. But I'm sure my senior instructor was satisfied only because he was able to show off his knowledge of something once again, but this time in a horrible context. I'm not quite sure if this is the answer to the question but hey I tried my best trying to answer it.

1). (Regarding chapter 11) Distinguish among a forum, panel, colloquium, and symposium as a mans for making a public presentation. Which one would you prefer? Why?

Out of the four different types of public presentations I would prefer to use a colloquium. I chose the colloquium only because it sounds a bit more informal than the other styles of public presentation and it still can be capable of exerting power to the audience. Allowing humor can create bonds with the audience and they're likely to listen but just having speeches and Q&A alone can seem like a threat to our presentation at times. Just a simple single word question like “Why?” can actually boggle a persons memory and the speech can quickly lose track of what its intention is. Which is still reason to why I think that a colloquium is my public presentation of choice because at least I will be allowed on stage as a flexible human being with quick and flexible emotions. Speeches with just a Q&A alone are like speeding trains, even 2 cents can cause it to run right off the track and start a fire.

3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading, that has not already been discussed during this discussion week, that you found useful or interesting, and discuss it.

Emotional barriers is a topic I would like to speak about this week, mainly because I had faced emotional barriers all throughout this week. This week I was supposed to complete a 2500 word project, I had the idea, storyboard, and action sequence set. But then I caught something like a stomach flu or just plain flu and I felt terrible all week. I could not think of the outgoing ideas that were running all throughout my mind before. I had become cynical and slept 80% of the day for 4 days straight. In the end I lost all motivation toward the project and just wanted to scrap it. I felt I had to inspire myself so I played some games and watched some shows, it helped me a little but it was enough to kick me hard enough into working on my project like I was before. The book says that some ideas are not even challenged because they have already been done. I normally challenge the existing products by going around the actual product and adding things that it did not have before. For example if you assume that a motorcycle can not be improved you are very wrong, put some wings and jet fuel in that thing and maybe you'll have a flying motorcycle.