SUMMARY & REFLECTION
On November 19, 2014 after the bake sale the class reflected on the experience and lessons learned, progress, accomplishments and areas of strength and areas of weakness.
Many students said that they felt like the project was too rushed, and did not provide an opportune time to become settled into the group dynamics. The experience according to many students was that they felt they were given a lack of time and even out of instructional time...
Additionally the class said that they did not feel like a unified "team". The class said that they felt fragmented.
The class felt that they learned a lot about group work and all of the effort that it takes to implement a bake sale. Like the steps that it takes to fundraise and how one should raise awareness for a cause.
With regards to progress, the class had a shaky start in the beginning to of the term to select a topic and according to the class it was difficult because individuals where pursuing their own interests instead of the collective group effort.
The class had collectively attained the fundraising goal of $2,100. The class did accomplish its goal and worked very diligently towards that goal.
The following are project challenges and Next Steps...
Project Challenges:
Planning last minute
Anemic alternate established
Responsibilities where unfulfilled as were ownership of them
Resistance to event planning
Confusing the event with the project
Next Steps:
Maintain a consensus on the project mission
From the onset, establish communities with corresponding responsibilities
More class time and better/more productive use of allotted class time
Abide by more structure and leadership; class agendas, meetings and a general project deadline
Inspire more people to promote the cause and recruit ambassadors for our cause (i.e., aim for more donations of a smaller amount than few donations of a larger amount)
Engage the beneficiary agency
Strengths of group: moving past conflict, raising the financial goal, social media advertising and organization.
Weaknesses: generating a lack of awareness in educating the school community about the cause and relying on the bake sale as the only source of revenue.
It was my role and responsibility to solicit for donations either in the political, corporate or social domain. Despite the fact that the outcome was not ideal, I learned a lot about what it entails to fulfil this role. Like my professor always says, "you can only learn by doing and making mistakes". I was not perfect but I tried my best.
Kind Regards,
RMK