Preparing for Week 01:
Nice and easy
Group formation, teamwork & topic brainstorm
Week 01
Introduction & Lecture Preview
- Important Points:
- Read Learning Outcomes. I want you to know what you are going to have achieved by the end of the year.
- Read Coursework Information on the VLE and scan available resources (Marking Rubrics, Critical Proposal Brief, Mini-Dissertation Templates/examples). More resources will be added gradually as the term progresses, but if you think there is anything you’d like but can’t yet see.. Post on the forum.
- Preparatory Reading or Thinking:
- [Prep 1] Think about potential topics and/or methods that excite you for your Mini-Dissertation
- [Prep 2] Consider how you are going to work, and with whom. You will be keeping detailed notes and communicating regularly. How will you want to manage that?
- [Prep 3] Think about your timetable and deadlines. When are you going to do your regular independent study. Where will you do it? With whom?
Lab Sessions
Before the Lab, please set up an email signature for your College email
If you email anyone and they have to look you up on they system to find out your Personal Tutor, or your Student Number, or your Lab Group.. it will slow down responses.
Please follow the instructions here Common email functions | Goldsmiths, University of London.
1 - Log in to your email https://www.gold.ac.uk/it/email/
2 - Go to Outlook Settings and include the following information in your signature.
Main Lab Activities
- Lab Challenge!
- Research Skill Audit
- Topic Speed Dating
- Methods Matching
- Goal Alignment and Group Ethos
Module Milestones
Slow down, my dude. It’s only Welcome Week. Give me a chance.
In weeks to come, this will give you an idea of what you could/should have done by now, and things you may wish to prioritise.
Reflection and Meta-Cognitive Practice
Suggested Reflection: Think about Team Work you have done before. What did you enjoy? What were the problems you faced? How will you address them this time?
Imagine describing how you operated as a team this year to a future supervisor/employer. What would you want to say?
Here are some thoughts:
Communication is Key
- Maintain open, honest, and respectful communication with your team members. Good communication leads to seamless collaboration. Make it as frictionless as possible. Maybe try something like Slack or Jira, specifically for the project, so that you don’t use it for anything but the Mini-Diss. Slack and Jira are almost ubiquitous in modern business, and by having a passing knowledge of them, or being able to name drop them in an interview… boom.
Define Roles and Responsibilities
- Clearly define what each team member is responsible for. This eliminates confusion and ensures that everyone is accountable. If you aren’t going to deliver, communicate that fact to your team.
Set Deadlines
- Establish realistic deadlines and stick to them. This fosters a sense of urgency and helps you keep the project on track. The Weekly Standup meeting is an ideal way to do this in a short, and slightly longer term.
Embrace Diversity
- Utilize the diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives within your team to enrich your project. Diversity fosters creativity and problem-solving. Some aspects of the project may be things that you KNOW will be important for you next year… Take responsibility for that and try it on for size.
Conflict Resolution
- Conflicts are inevitable in any team setting. Address issues directly but diplomatically, aiming for a resolution that benefits the team as a whole. And if a team-member disappears… What are you going to do?
Reflect and Adapt
- After each major milestone, take some time to reflect on what worked well and what didn’t. Adapt your strategies accordingly for future tasks. This might not be until next year, when it really counts, so having these ideas to build on will be amazing.
Document Everything (e.g. Lab Notebook)
- Keep records of conversations with your Lab Tutor, decisions you made as a group and individually, and any changes you make along the way. This will not only help you stay organized but will also be useful for future reference, think of it as a love letter to future you.
By following these guidelines, you’ll not only deliver an exceptional Mini-Dissertation but also gather compelling stories and examples to share with future employers or a supervisor next year. When asked, “How would you work as part of a team” you’ll have a well-rounded, articulate answer that demonstrates your team skills, problem-solving abilities, and commitment to achieving goals.
If you’ve made it this far, please help me assemble a furry research cheer-leading crew and email me a picture of your cat/dog/hamster or anything cute/amusing. And make sure you have your Signature in place. Let’s have a great year!