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Charles Yin
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Josi
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Josi

Josi


Posts : 16
Join date : 2011-05-06
Location : Kitchener

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PostSubject: Groupwork   Groupwork EmptySat May 21, 2011 4:37 pm

Just wondering if there were any iSci students who hated groupwork as much as I did in highschool and then started enjoying it in iSci. I know that the general approach of the program is very well suited for me but the groupwork, being the cornerstone that it is, is bothering me a little. I was one of those people in highschool that if there was any possible way to cajole the teacher into letting me do a project on my own, I would. I had some really lousy experiences with people not putting any effort in (or even showing up), obviously not a problem in iSci as we'll all have pretty high standards...anyway, reading people's discussion on this will help me decide. bounce
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Unknown




Posts : 30
Join date : 2010-10-31

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PostSubject: Re: Groupwork   Groupwork EmptySat May 21, 2011 6:43 pm

Hey, this is my concern exactly too! I'd much rather work by myself than with a group but I don't know if that disposition came about because of people just sucking in high school or if its just my tendency to want to work alone regardless of the group members' calibers.

Guess iSci will decide that. If I still hate the group work I'll probably end up switching out after first year. Sad

That said, I doubt either of us dislike it. I talked to some of the first years during the October Open House and one of the girls said a lot of them had crappy group work experiences in high school. I also posted a question like this awhile back and here was the response:

Subject: Re: Grade 12 prospective students Sat Jan 01, 2011 3:56 pm
Hey Adam, same question many of us were asking ourselves when we applied.

To put it bluntly, you soon realize the Think Space is a roomful of people used to pulling the weight of their entire group towards standards only they strived for. It was a hilarious experience for me, realizing how useful the selection process (with the high average cut-off and supp form) are in collecting people like this. I used to work alone whenever I could in high school, but iSci changed all that. Everyone in your group is a capable and willing individual or they wouldn't have gotten into the program. We also have group contribution forms, so yes, it is the dynamic experience you think it is.

I hope that helped, all the best with your applications!
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Charles Yin




Posts : 27
Join date : 2010-05-05
Age : 31
Location : Hamilton

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PostSubject: Re: Groupwork   Groupwork EmptySat May 21, 2011 9:56 pm

Hello Josi and Adam! Let me begin by asserting that I definitely know where you're coming from and that groupwork was an issue for me as well coming into the program. In my opinion, working effectively in groups was one of the biggest challenges for everybody at the start.

However, I think that as the year went along, our collective ability to work together improved dramatically. It had to - because quite frankly it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for any one person to complete a research project alone. Yet, in retrospect, I believe that effective academic collaboration was amongst the most crucial of skills that the iSci program teaches, especially in the first year. I can only speak for myself, but am confident that many of the other iSci students will agree.

As a final thought, if your first teamwork experience in the program doesn`t go smoothly, don't worry. In many ways, it's not supposed to! But by the end of the first year, I think you`ll be surprised at how good people have become at working as a team.
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Unknown




Posts : 30
Join date : 2010-10-31

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PostSubject: Re: Groupwork   Groupwork EmptySat May 21, 2011 10:03 pm

Your reply is very reassuring! Thank you!
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Prateek Gupta
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Posts : 408
Join date : 2009-12-23
Age : 32

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PostSubject: Re: Groupwork   Groupwork EmptySat May 21, 2011 11:34 pm

Hey, in my case, I came in as someone who loves groupwork, and learns best in group settings, so I may have a different bias.

The cornerstone of the program is groupwork, because that's exactly how real science behaves today -- it's people working in labs, consulting companies working together, business members interacting with the others. It's an important skill to have and learn. In terms of this comparison between high school groupwork and university groupwork, I want to say that it is an invalid comparison. Things change in university, as you will soon see. And you will have terrible groups, where you have clashing personalities -- this is the nature of things, and iSci is no different. Working through them, and learning about myself in the process has been some of the most valuable learning experiences of my life though -- and that's not even an exaggeration in the least. My recommendation is embrace all of the learning that "isn't being graded," and that will lead you through success in university ultimately.
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valdron

valdron


Posts : 6
Join date : 2011-05-20
Age : 31
Location : Moncton, New Brunswick

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PostSubject: Re: Groupwork   Groupwork EmptySun May 22, 2011 9:06 pm

I don't mind group work as long as group-members are motivated an willing to resolve problems. I've hated group work most of my life, but I really enjoyed it this summer when I attended the Shad Valley program. I'm sure at isci there will be similarly talented individuals and the group work will be an absolute pleasure!
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D.J. Fernandes




Posts : 5
Join date : 2011-06-22

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PostSubject: Re: Groupwork   Groupwork EmptyWed Jun 22, 2011 2:11 pm

I hated group work in high school. I thought i was just selfish at the time, but i found that no one did a good job so i just did the whole thing anyway. Its not their fault, they wanted to get a B and I wanted an A: it was simply a difference of standards.

Groupwork in iSci is a lot more fun. In iSci there is not just one star who basically does everything, but rather a group of individuals, each with different strengths, working together. Trust me when I say this, you WILL need a group for these projects simply because the project is too big to do alone. But you also have to remember everyone else in your program as roughly the same standards as you. Groupwork in iSci results in marvelous creations, that is far greater that if the projects were tackled individually. PLUS it is an excellent opportunity to make friends, and learn from others.
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Nicholas Pun




Posts : 164
Join date : 2009-12-24
Location : Keyes, 413!

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PostSubject: Re: Groupwork   Groupwork EmptyWed Jun 22, 2011 8:18 pm

Ditto to what Darren says, not only do you learn the project material we learn the benefits of proper scientific collaboration in each year which is really important in real science jobs (at least in the two labs I've worked in, I've found that the groupwork in iSci has allowed me to know when to be independent in my research and when it is a good time to ask for help from profs/grad students)
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Prateek Gupta
Admin



Posts : 408
Join date : 2009-12-23
Age : 32

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PostSubject: Re: Groupwork   Groupwork EmptyThu Jun 23, 2011 12:52 am

iSci groupwork = work experience

I currently am working on a mobile app start-up venture with 3 students in other schools. so not only science collaboration, but working in a business as well... isci groupwork prepares way more than any excuse of 'groupwork' high school had.
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