reflection to tutors' feedback; drafting the tutors manual, july 23, 2004 (belongs to a set of...

8/6/2019 Reflection to Tutors' Feedback; Drafting the Tutors Manual, July 23, 2004 (belongs to a set of attachments for a cas

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IF YOU ARE FEELING LONELY THIS IS TO HELP YOUCollected by Irmeli Aro, July 23, 2004, based on my learning experiences of IntCultNet Spring 2004.

During the IntCultNet course I occasionally felt lonely working together only with my computer.

Tutors and co-learners were in the web environment, to share their learning experience: Somebody

else may have found out exactly something I needed, to be able to get forward with my

assignments. We make choices, complete our assignments with different speed. It can happen, thatwhen you should need assistance or an example, nobody is right present in Verkkosalkku. I made

this IntCultNet study collection to help you through these moments. Im sharing here my

experiences ofDISCUSSING CASES, SEVEN TESTS and TWO SELF-EVALUATIONS. Ive

made links (and back buttons) to each chapter, to ease e.g. seeing only one or two tests at a time.

The graphs are in the format, which I chose to edit them for my portfolio.

IntCultNet is a journey of mind, a long process of thoughts. These approaches helped me to

learn. I hope my perspectives support you to find good ways for yourself to proceed.

DISCUSSING CASES

1) Discussing casesincludestwo examples of web team work: A confusing case in the beginning

of our course and A successful discussion in the end of our course

SEVEN TESTS

2) Public and Private Self - (not included in the HCCA) my analysis got a connection to

analyzing my HCCA result as wellincludes a chapterthis is what I chose from my test

result = what I chose for analysis, a chapterhow the analysis became actual for me in

the end of this course = starting to find good things and a chapteran aspect I need toremember = what I learned about my self development needs

3) Diversity Analysis - (7 - 2 points for the HCCA)includes the result graph, a chapterthis is

what I chose from my test result = what I chose for analysis, a chapterwhats good =

what does the result tell about my strengths and a chapteran aspect I need to remember =

what I learned about my self development needs

4) DiSC - (8 - 3 points for the HCCA)includes the result graph, a chapterthis is what I chose

from my test result = what I chose for analysis, a chapterwhats good = what does the

result tell about my strengths and a chapteran aspect I need to remember = what I

learned about my self development needs

5) Team Member Selector - (not included in the HCCA)includes the result graph, a chapter

this is what I chose from my test result = what I chose for analysis, a chapterwhats

good = what does the result tell about my strengths and a chapteran aspect I need to

remember = what I learned about my self development needs

6) Communicative Competence - (not included in the HCCA) includes the result graph, a

chapterthis is what I chose from my test result = what I chose for analysis, a chapter

whats good = what does the result tell about my strengths and a chapteran aspect I need

to remember = what I learned about my self development needs


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7) Motivational Value Scale - (6 - 1 points for the HCCA)includes the result graph, a chapter

this is what I chose from my test result = what I chose for analysis, a chapterhow are

these values expressed in my present life = what examples did I find, a chapterthis is how

I analyzed how my values affect to my behaviour = how I tried to clarify this to myself

and a chapterhow do I use this information

8) Learning Resources - (4 - 2 points for the HCCA)includes a chaptermy key areas ofdevelopment = I completed my self-development-plan with the ideas risen from this test and

a chaptermy learning in brief = I reviewed my learning methods during the course with

the help of this test result, to know my strengths and areas needing development

TWO SELF-EVALUATIONS

9) Self Evaluation - my level of understanding the meaning and the use of the tests and

evaluationsincludes: as these tests formed so crucial part of my learning, I practiced the self-

evaluation by analyzing my attitudes to the tests

10) Self Evaluation: the level of my socio-cultural competence the self-evaluation in the

chapter 9 concerns the tests and evaluations only, this is about thinking of my

understanding of my whole cultural competenceincludes: Im reaching for the same result

as given by the HCCA calculation but by explaining the situation for myself in plain

language to be able to do the same e.g. in a job interview

1) Discussing cases back

EXAMPLE 1 Team work: A confusing case in the beginning of our course

Reviewing my experiences was useful - it was difficult to wake up others interest though

We were asked to: Review our own experiences and collect some cases / occasions of team building

/ people getting acquainted in a new situation. I decided to pick up my cases from my work

experiences as I felt I had the most of them in that field. An overflow of negative memories filled

my mind. This was confusing. I didnt want to give a picture of me to the other web team members,

that Im a very negative thinking person. So I started to really try to recall and review a lot of cases

to be able to choose positive ones. I ended up with telling about three occasions; two nice and

successful and one less successful. The last one included a question to the others It would be

interesting to hear, how they would suggest me to have acted differently.

I received very little comment on my cases. I was disappointed. Creating my first message had

taken me several days (of course beside other thoughts and studies) of reviewing and processing my

experiences. I had recalled a lot of feelings. I had really written a part of myself in that message.

And I didnt get more replies. I think that the slow start = little participation affected to our whole

case: Nobody really summarized our input, to decide how to find a conclusion.

Im writing this after the course. Now I realize that the case anyway taught a lot :

1) The so called reflecting. In front of a new case any case collect and review you experiences,

your previous feelings. Find yourself a perspective your personal point of view. I utilize this skill

e.g. with all new courses, essays and assignments of my studies: I concentrate in things around the

point of view I choose. Like this I learn more (and consume less time!!) than trying to do a little bitof everything.


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2) Web discussion in general. This part was difficult for me: To be brief! Because all discussion

topics include so many connections. All the theoretical including all new terms used in the course

material. And all the practical and the meaning anyway is to learn to utilize all course material in

practice! So: Instead of sending one long message, send several shorter. Your idea does not need

to be absolutely ready. Throw a question to discussion forum! Continue your idea after getting

replies. This is what web team work is developing ideas together.

3) Related to the previous: Pay attention to the message headline. Like: A new idea A question

about utilizing DiSC test. It easily happens, when you reply to a message you get new ideas in

the middle and decide to add a question. It happened to me several times, that I glanced new

messages, saw headlines with old topics = replies. I did not read them because I was not

participating in that particular discussion but later happened to find them to include new questions

anyway!!! Make the headline a summary of your message!

EXAMPLE 2 Team work: A successful discussion in the end of our course

We liked the tutors idea. We were active. We were sharing each others experiences.

Learning from them. This is what successful web team work is about!

This happened during the last ten days, before I got my portfolio ready. There were several

discussions going on. Not clearly centralizing in anything. But I got a positive experience of

international web team work. One tutor had suggested an idea, to review our old discussions. As we

were reviewing everything anyway for our portfolios.

I was helping the others: I sent many replies to questions. And as there were case related questions I

shared my own experiences in my replies.

I got help: People continued my ideas. Chains of discussions were formed. I got what I was missing

in my thoughts to complete my portfolio.

2) Public and Private Self (not included in the HCCA) my analysis got a

connection to analyzing my HCCA result as well back

THIS IS WHAT I CHOSE FROM MY TEST RESULT

Originally nothing! Not even filled in the test form.

I read the questions, and thought, that I could discuss really the majority of the topics e.g. in

the web = the amount of private topics would be very small.

So I thought that in terms of this test result Im a very public person no needs to improvethis field. And I went on with the next tests.

HOW THE ANALYSIS BECAME ACTUAL FOR ME IN THE END OF THIS COURSE

HCCA RESULT CAUSED IRRITATION

My HCCA result told me, that Im on the level very good. As Im a person, who wants to

head for results, I started to check, what was needed to reach the next (=highest) level.

I studied the HCCA sheet and noticed that I should change my behaviour towards S Peace

Maker and i Innovator from D Result Maker and C Quality Maker. Only that would

bring enough points.

I became really irritated! I had managed to find good things and constructive self-

development ideas from the other tests, but now this final result tells that, in order to


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improve my cultural competence, I should change something I consider natural and big in

my personality. Im a D-C type! Thats the good old stubborn myself!!!!!

LEARNING AGAIN

After a couple of weeks I started to think, that what if widening my perspective after all

would be worth a try.

Cultural competence is very much about communication. I reviewed my tests, and read fromthe Public and Private Self test introduction that being public or private makes a difference

in how well we are able to communicate and share to each others.

Getting this irritated of the comment (in form of the HCCA calculation) about needing to

change my behaviour actually shows that Im naturally a very private person!

AN ASPECT I NEED TO REMEMBER

The S and i approach means I pay attention to feelings when I communicate. When I e.g. work in

the web, I pay attention to my feelings behind my behaviour and learn to sense the feelings of the

others. In order to adapt to situations; to understand why somebody acts differently than I expected.

I pay attention to impact. What feelings do I use to encourage the others? What impact do I accept

myself this is actually about learning to accept encouragement from the people around me.

3) Diversity Analysis (7 2 points for the HCCA) back

level 1

points 8-15

Level 2

Points 16-24

level 3

points 25-32

Tolerance21

Freedom from

expectations24

Adaptation 21

Respect27

Empathy22

Self-

awareness28

Situational

awareness23

Motivation

24


I completed this test as the first this was though for me the most difficult test result, when

trying to pick up things for self-analysis. As it includes so wide variety of everything we

deal with in our lives.

I needed to study further. And I returned to the analysis of this test result about one month

and a half later, when I was analyzing my Learning Resources test. I got help and support

for writing that analysis from this test result and vice versa.

When I was reviewing this result, I picked up the following:

WHATS GOOD


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Ive got endurance: Ive got ability to maintain my motivation, Im a good organizer.


My natural way of working is: Alone. I need to pay attention to my adaptation and situational

awareness: To transform my good abilities from my individual working methods to my team

work. I need to consciously pay attention to what a collaborative approach means my ability

to help my team members in increasing mutual and collective understanding, synergy andfinding ways to solve problems. back

4) DiSC (8 3 points for the HCCA) back

Dominance

Result maker

Influence

Innovator

Steadiness

Peace maker

Consciousness

Quality maker

7

6

5

4

3

2

1


Im very result oriented: I want to get results, get things done, reach targets and goals.

Im not people oriented: In my work I concentrate in the processes and background

information.

WHATS GOOD

My result orientation includes a natural stubbornness: I dont easily give up. If something is

unclear to me, I put effort in clarifying things. This forms a very positive snowball effect: I

work hard to get properly started, so I get results, and being successful increases my motivation.


I need to consciously pay attention in my impact how I approach people around me. My

natural orientation in technical matters can make people around me feel like they were parts of

machines to me (this is what my DiSC result told me). And I dont want that to happen. I must

remember that there are always feelings included, when people are performing things, no matter

how technical the contents and the surrounding may be.

5) Team Member Selector (not included in the HCCA) back

Member 8 7 Self Thinker 8 7 Feeler

Planner 7 8 Juggler


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Researcher 7 8 Closer


The test result shows, that Im in the middle, right in the average, of the four fields. This

was confusing. What to pick up for the analysis? I asked this in the discussion forum. And a

tutor told me whats good in this kind of result:

WHATS GOOD?

Im a very flexible team member. Im capable of taking many different roles.


I need to pay attention in remembering to always concentrate on whats the most important in

my current team work. Considering things from too many sides or gathering too much

background information can delay my decision making and action.

6) Communicative Competence (not included in the HCCA) back

Explicit 14 17 Implicit


I chose one definition of the Implicit communication from the test questions:

Discussion is conducted in a circular movement, developing context around the main point,

which is often left unstated when you have a relevant information, you will just know

what I mean. Thats definitely my natural way of communicating! When I e.g. write an

essay, I set a target, create a vision in my mind. Then I glance a number of source

information documents (books, websites, magazines) and think about the target point Istart writing, and count on, that all the source material around me helps me to create a path

towards my target.

WHATS GOOD

Im able to control and organize large amounts of information, when needed.


When Im writing and speaking, I need to summarize my points every now and then. Otherwise

my reader or listener may get tired in waiting for me to finalize my circulating around the target.

7) Motivational value scale (6 1 points for the HCCA) back

Individual

level

green =

average,blue =

personal


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My highest scores, from the test result graph, are: Universalism, Self-direction, Security.

HOW ARE THESE VALUES EXPRESSED IN MY PRESENT LIFE?

I used the explanatory article: Motivational Types of Values According to Schwarz, S. H.

(files, Module 3) to help me. What in my life corresponds to these explanations of values?Universalism: My studying of environmental sciences, my interest to work for projects e.g.

progressing the sustainable development and the cultural diversity, my interest for teaching and

tutoring, my commitment to follow my personal development plan, which was completed

during this course. Self-direction : Commitment to develop my self management, especially

with reflections to the community where I act. Security: My appreciation of my home and

repeated daily routines, my appreciation of everything Ive got exactly now, willingness to learn

sensitivity to recognize when I can be of help or on the other hand, can ask for a favour.

THIS IS HOW I ANALYZED HOW MY VALUES AFFECT TO MY BEHAVIOUR

From my narrative My values and behaviour, which was a part of my portfolio: This

narrative is a continuation to my essay I as a Cultural Person, which I wrote during the firstmodule of this course. In that essay in ended up with that I understand culture to be a continuous

interaction between the ideas in the heads of people and their actual behaviours. Within our

culture we do what we do because we have acquired the knowledge that this the right or normal

way to do things (a quotation from the article Intercultural Finland from the Sledge Library of

this course). My conclusion was, that the choices Ive made in my life until now, Ive made

exactly because Ive felt that it has been the right way to do things. The perspective given by the

period of time between the writing of that essay and today further encourages me to think, that

my life up to the present time has been my special valuable life: Constant glimpses from the

past help me to figure out the present and to get warm reflections from the future. From the

many definitions for what values mean, I choose the following from our course material.

Belonging to a culture is: Cultures and other groups are sources for self esteem, as well as

knowledge, values and beliefs (Module 1.2, chapter 1). In the beginning of this narrative I

described how my cultural knowledge forms a base to my thinking. And my thinking forms

my self esteem, values and beliefs. The quotation mentions the other groups. My self esteem,

knowledge, values and beliefs guide my behaviour as a member of all groups around me.

This is how I understand the relation between my values and behaviour.

HOW DO I USE THIS INFORMATION

I need socio-cultural competence in my studies, work, everything I do with a network of people.

Knowing my values is one aspect of defining my competence. And knowing my values helps

me to find my place in all groups of people Im surrounded by by recognizing what values arecrucial to the other people, but also, what are the core values of my polytechnic, employer, my

home country

8) Learning Resources (4 2 points for the HCCA) back

FROM THIS TEST WE DID NOT GET A GRAPH. I USED THE SENTENCES WE

MARKED (SCALE 6-1) IN THE TEST SHEET TO REVIEW MY LEARNING PROCESS

THROUGHOUT THIS COURSE AND TO COMPLETE MY PERSONAL

DEVELOPMENT PLAN. THIS IS HOW I WROTE ABOUT THOSE IN MY PORTFOLIO.

From my portfolio: My key areas of development Self management: from the point of view ofthe group I collaborate with. Methods: Deepening my understanding of my impact by consciously

paying attention to it, using self-assessment tools. Development themes from around the world:


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Related to my studies Ive recently familiarized with the development themes of the European

Union: Europe to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based society in the world

by the end of this decade. I intend to learn the corresponding themes regarding the Asia-Pacific,

the Americas, Africa. Method: Collecting and analyzing information from the media. The meaning

of the spirit: Learning more about, what was the theme of the chapter 8 of the module 1.2:

Harmony exists in many collective cultures - Holy Spirit in Christian cultures - Internal energy.

Method: Collecting and analyzing information from books. Schedule: I start today, keep a diary,write weekly summaries, rewrite the plan every six months with a critical reflection.

From my portfolio: My learning in brief: Ive attached the whole collection of my inputs to the

discussion forums. That proves my determination, endurance and a required ability of maintaining

mymotivation to participate to the course work with a patience. Ive been very successful in

utilizing the course material with a self-directive approach: To practice the use of the self-

assessment tools and to analyze the themes of the articles. Ive during this course learned to

appreciate and to utilize my previous experiences: To use an intuitive approach to everything

thats new in an optimistic meaning. Ive learned to recognize and to value my impact. Ive

practiced the implicit and the explicit way of communication. And Ive learned about what I need to

further practice the most: Collaborative approach my ability to understand and increase mutualand collective understanding, synergy and problem-solving. Im good in organizing my own work

and performance I need to put effort to transform that ability to my behaviour in a team and

to develop my adaptation and situational awareness skills. I head for the future with a faith, that my

present self-awareness and my natural flexibility in selecting a team role and the proactive way of

thinking that has been encouraged during this course, will help me to improve this field as well.

9) Self Evaluation my level of understanding the meaning and the use of the

tests and evaluations back

I did the practicing of the self-evaluation in two parts. As these tests and the thinking processes theystarted in my mind were so crucial content of this course, I first made an evaluation of my attitudes

towards the tests and my understanding of why they are actually made. The following chapter 10 is

about evaluating my whole cultural competence.

I used the scale Phases of Cultural Learning (Files of the Module 3: Socio-Cultural

Expertise Cultural Competence, last chapter (5)) to help me to perform this self-evaluation.

Withdrawal Defence Minimizing was my level until year 2002.

I was a lot involved with the tests as the companies I worked for had a lot of development projects

going on. The development of e.g. the quality systems included a lot of testing of the personnel and

a lot of filling in of evaluation forms. At that time my relation to the tests was between thewithdrawal and the minimizing. I recognize elements of all three phases difficulties to orientate

and change attitudes and difficulties in questioning old interpretations. I felt that the tests and the

evaluations were consuming my valuable working time not helping anything at all. When

complaining about this, my bosses told me that its very sad, that I have such wrong attitudes.

Acceptance was my level during 2003 and the beginning of 2004 and this course in Spring.

At first my maternity leave and then concentrating for a while in full time studies, gave me some

distance and perspective. I began to think that no way can the tests and evaluations have been

created to, on purpose, cause difficulties for people. I started to understand my former bosses. They

cant change the conditions, in which the constant change around us requires constant developing.

And to see if the development is successful going to the correct direction, the test and evaluationresults are needed. So the tests and evaluations are there to help us to handle the changing situations


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in our studies and work, which we otherwise could feel to be confusing, even scaring. And this is

exactly why we do these tests during this course. We practice to handle new situations in our lives.

Adaptation: I got my result of the DiSC test during this course.

The result told me, that Im a combination of a strong result and quality maker, some innovator in

me, hardly any peace maker. My strong will to reach for results was the leading theme in the

analysis. My result and task orientation can cause me treating people around me like they weremachines thats the way I can make them feel. My first reaction to that part was getting

frightened for a while. But hadnt I actually been encouraged to think like this. If I dont take the

tests seriously, Ive got an attitude problem! - My former bosses were speaking about a good

organization (service branch = people driven) being a Lean and Mean Machine. Following the

discussions in Verkkosalkku helped me to open my eyes. I started to understand that if a

development plan includes tests and evaluations what really counts is to listen to the people,

whose work or studies are in concern. If they say, that something in the procedure is wasting their

time, not helping at all they are the experts of their own work. They must be taken seriously and

corrective action taken. What I think now is the most important, related to the test and evaluations,

is to explain their meaning. The idea how they are supposed to ease everybodys every day study or

work conditions. Its extremely important, that this kind of dialogue exists everywhere, where testsand evaluations are used. Because only that brings all the helpful and constructive ideas behind the

test and evaluations in action; by the users telling what they still need in order to make the tests

and evaluations as a familiar and useful every-day tool for them, for home, studies, work, hobbies

I ended up with that my understanding of the meaning of the tests, was on the level

adaptation.

Integration: Im writing this a couple of months after preparing my portfolio and the last tests and

self-evaluations. The definitions of the integration level are e.g. taking moral responsibility in

action, committing to teach and defend integration. By sharing these examples of my learning

process in order to support my co-learners taking my response of our learning community, I show,

that Ive reached the beginning of the integration level.

10) Self Evaluation: the level of my socio-cultural competence the evaluation in

the chapter 9 concerns the tests and evaluations only, this is about thinking

of my understanding of my whole cultural competence back

Im reaching for the same result as given by the HCCA calculation but by explaining the situation

for myself in plain language to be able to do the same e.g. in a job interview. To transform results

received in forms of graphs and numbers into practical examples.

SELF EVALUATION TO CHECK AND UNDERSTAND THE MATHEMATICAL

RESULT OF THE HCCA BY PREPARING MY OWN WRITTEN REASONING

I used the article Useful Knowledge for Survival in Multicultural Context, chapter 7: The best

way to cope is transformation (life long learning) towards cultural competence (files of Module 2)

to help me to perform this self-evaluation. I picked a sentence or two from each level, which

would describe my present thoughts and self-development ideas. And then tried to summarize

the change this course started in my thoughts the transformation. This is what I ended up with. In

the beginning of this course my cultural competence was on the level Minimization = Satisfied:

From the referred article: Human similarities are more important and powerful than cultural

difference. While differences are seen to exist, they are defined as relatively unimportant. This is

how I thought: I kind of counted on my natural behaviour being enough that increasing my

understanding of reasons behind culture related behaviour would not be that important. My present


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level is Acceptance = Good: A quotation from the referred article: Question is the respect of

different cultural life styles and behaviour and value differences. My present thoughts: Ive

widened my world view. One important notice was related to the impact. Our feelings are

always present in our behaviour we make choices according to what feels right and normal.

Our culture has impact in our feelings. Its important to understand, which feelings are

encouraged (or even allowed on the other hand!) to show in a particular culture. My personal

development plan includes though the search for reaching the Adaptation = Very Good level.From the referred article: The new adaptation skills process a different world view, and the

intentional perspective-taking shifts ones cultural frame of reference for the purpose of

communication, which is called empathy.

The HCCA calculation model became ready during our course right after I had finalized all the

self-evaluations described in this article. I can say that it was very useful for my learning, to

really go through all the manual evaluation, the critical writing process, to complete my

portfolio not starting by calculating the HCCA points and then trying to match my written

explanations to that. Because thats the way I think I probably would have done, if the HCCA

model already had been ready.

The HCCA calculation gives me 19 points, which means having entered the Adaptation =

Very Good level. Which proves to me, that Ive learned to use the self-evaluation tools of this

course Im able to give an exact reasoning of my cultural competence. As I was very critical

to myself, I stated my level to be Good instead of Very Good. The calculation shows Im in the

beginning of the Very Good level = 19 points of 18-21 possible. So the HCCA result is so very

close to the written reasoning I made by myself. back

reflection to tutors' feedback; drafting the tutors manual, july 23, 2004 (belongs to a set of...

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