iVet 2014, Cognitivists

7.12.2014

There have been some 'organisational' changes in our group. Our captain from the beginning is now busy with family life and two other members are more or less sharing the leadership in our pack. Things are working well, the only problem is that sometimes it is difficult to find a meeting time that would suit all, in particular, if the tasks come so late that we don't have many days to choose from. Yet that hasn't really been a problem either, at least four of six have been able to participate in our Skype meetings, but I think we would have better understanding of our presentation and how it is supposed to work in detail, if we all can be there at the same time. Of course this timing thing goes with all iVET groups, so we are on the same boat here.

Fall 2014, Our way or working

We have a very dynamic and productive group!
Our process in doing the tasks for our virtual teaching sessions is that first we search information and material on the topic, then we share what we have found and think is important, and finally we create the presentation. The communication happens via email and Skype. The Skype meeting times are scheduled in Doodle.

So we all start by searching material on the topic, and may send the material to other members before our meeting in Skype, or share our ideas in the meeting. Even though it may happen that members find a bit overlapping material (besides the material given by our teacher) this is not a problem. Some points in favor of all group members finding material on the topic:

• We all should learn as much as possible about all topics, which may not happen that effectively, if each of us only gets a certain part that he/she concentrates on.

• If each member learns only about a small part of the topic, it is difficult to present the material during the session.

• We all are different learners. So some of us find it more natural to start from the small entities, and look for details, whereas others may be 'global' learners and may like starting from the big picture. This variety is particularly useful when creating the presentation, because the detail-people can then complement the material and the global-people keep in mind the actual topic.

• There is so much material available on basically everything, that we all most certainly can find something that no-one else has discovered.