tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145117592063944458.post8186213270608770613..comments2023-11-02T03:40:09.064-07:00Comments on Human Perspective on Development and Environment: Discovering Dams: Education through ExperienceCIEE - Thailandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00702040572805817922noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145117592063944458.post-23792083861535646362008-11-02T08:16:00.000-08:002008-11-02T08:16:00.000-08:00In reading your blog, then personally reflecting o...In reading your blog, then personally reflecting on what I've seen our group accomplish through "group process" over the last two months, I am both blown away with our progress and a little hesitant to say this would work wonders for other groups as it has for ours. We have come a far way since our first exchanges where we attempted to create flows and designate roles among group members, then struggled to come up with strong and intriguing questions for our speakers. Since this point, we, as group members, have become more aware of our roles in the group and how to monitor actions in order to be more effective group members. However, it’s important to remember there was a time when our group was not moving forward progressively and we each decided once and for all that we were dedicated to this educational model and would carry it out to the best of our abilities while here in Thailand. I truly believe this was a turning point for our group in that we each devoted ourselves to the model. From this point onward, we dove more strongly into the material and let ourselves get emotionally involved with the content matter as well as each other. It has done wonders for our learning abilities, and I agree completely that I have learned more from this experience than my standard educational model at home where I resentfully soaked up information in lecture halls. I believe though, that this model has flourished for us due to our dedication and if someone were to be forced to accept this model, it would not have the same effect.Cloe Frankohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12252019898841734685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145117592063944458.post-28984635753381009422008-10-20T04:16:00.000-07:002008-10-20T04:16:00.000-07:00It is a refreshing why and when I have enjoyed the...It is a refreshing why and when I have enjoyed the group process model. Sometimes I struggle with whether it is the group process that I enjoy or the alternative mode of education-education through experience. Perhaps they are inseparable.<BR/> On another note, I found that we as individuals, while we wrestle with the incessant amount of time we spend together, and the struggle to maintain our unique individualities in the midst of the collective conscience, it is in these struggles that we grow the most. Not only as students exposed to the interests and passions of other intellectuals, but as people who must learn to encourage, be aware of, listen to, and challenge the rest of those in our immediate community.<BR/> No doubt, we will probably never been in another situation where we will be "forced" into such a model. And I admit, I fear the return to reality-to the original mode of education, and even individualized lifestyles. But I look forward to seeing what exactly I have learned here, and how it has changed me and how I relate to others and my communities at home.Kellynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01828095089850515625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145117592063944458.post-51274923168101257152008-10-16T20:13:00.000-07:002008-10-16T20:13:00.000-07:00I must admit that I came into this program thinkin...I must admit that I came into this program thinking that in all likelihood, I would love group process despite the fact that I had no idea what it is. I was under the misconception that group process meant we were going to talk about our feelings and analyze ourselves and our role in society especially when dealing with issues of globalization, development, human rights, etc. It was through this unit on dams that I too began to see the true power of using the group to educate and learn. When you have a group of twenty three students ranging from 19-22 years old, the opinions are going to vary greatly if only for the fact that not every person has been raised with the same values, beliefs, and ideas. Using the group to mesh many diverging views together creates the most dynamic discussions, debates, and ideas. Learning the facts and figures from the pre-departure lectures pail in comparison to the value of the discussion that occurred after EGAT said if someone disagrees with them, they will “make them understand.” Upon completing the dam unit, if I could recommend two words to Corporations like EGAT that take on large scale development projects and consequently cause protests, unrest, and economic losses, it would be group process.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09312155080867541246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145117592063944458.post-28234583200500790572008-10-16T01:58:00.000-07:002008-10-16T01:58:00.000-07:00Matt, I absolutely adore this piece. After reading...Matt, I absolutely adore this piece. After reading it, I found myself all riled up again, and ready to further explore the many issues that came up during the water unit. I'm sure that when the CGE students read this, not only will they better understand the content of our program, but they will also feel challenged to consider the model of education to which we are all exposed in the States, and how we might better our learning by using alternative models, like the one we use here in Thailand. I appreciate your insights on exactly how, why, and when group process really started to work for us, and what we, as a group, were then able to achieve throughout our remaining time in the water unit. I think that many of us had some sort of epiphany during the EGAT exchange, and it's exciting to think that these many individual realizations then translated into a very powerful moment for the whole group.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com