Question: “What have you gained by working in a group in both Studio and Seminar?”
Answer: When I look back on all the time I spent in both Integrative Studio and Seminar classes, some of the most enjoyable moments were shared with those whom I was grouped with for project assignments…whether that was tackling newspapers or magazine articles to create a found poem……
(Excerpt taken from Found Poem Peer-Portrait, lines 1-4): “Chartist riots. Both sides receive some hard knocks, for Kingsley was a born fighter, and his courage and fearlessness won him many friends, even among the most violent of the Chartists. The character of Alton Locke was probably drawn from life, and was intended to be William Lovett, at one time a leader in the Chartist ranks. After a long fight with poverty, when he frequently went without a meal in order to save the money necessary for his education, he rose to a position of some influence.”
……or recording the sounds of noisy surroundings in Chelsea market. Meeting new people, laughing, being culturally exposed to upbringings and backgrounds so different from my own- soaking it all in and allowing it to expand and color my world. I have gained not only good friends; but have watched my need for structure and order grow.
During group projects, success depends upon everyone cooperating in a timely and efficient manner. Many times, I only felt natural and secure taking the lead (as no one else really cared to)- I enjoyed keeping everything organized, reminding project partners of to-do lists, scheduling, re-scheduling and a host of other problems. A major contribution I have gained from all of this is the power of assertiveness and optimism-if one does not speak up or step in to start or get the job done; no one will. When times become troubling, and projects go wrong at the worst of times, someone has to motivate and inspire the others to press on. That as a whole, is what I would say I personally have gained from working in group collaborations in both Studio and Seminar.