Seminar 3

Seminar 3 introduced an alternative perspective to problem solving.

It used the traditional method of identifying problems and solutions as a basis for understanding the nature of the problem.
It then expanded to include; how is the problem being sustained. This led the group to try to identify the key factors which made the problem a longstanding one.

It was interesting to discover the root cause of a situation from a different point of view.

Learning Set Meeting 3

Monday 24th November was the third learning set meeting which went well.
After addressing several points on the agenda, the group went through the learning module Positioning: the discursive production of selves.
I found it helpful to go through the questions with the group as there were several elements that I did not take into condsideration.
Question 5 asked about 'categories' what they are and what the implications of fitting into more than 1 would be.
I used the example of a transexual to illustrate the implications of a person fitting into many categories, which both Charon and Harry noted this could only be a problem if the categories they fit into are mutually exclusive/ contradictory.
From the discussion we concluded that categories could be seen as a person's version of truth. For instance the category one person may think they fit into, may be completly different to the category another person may put them into.

Harry inputted a valid assumption about categories. Can they change? For which Charon and I were in agreement that they can change and are a representation of the culture at that moment in time. I suggested just by the fact of calling some a transexual has therefore categorised them, which wouldn't have been the case 100 years ago.

Question 7 threw up a disagreement of the interpretation of the text. Charon and I found that our explanations of the questions contradicted each other, however we both based our reasoning on information from the article.
Charons explanation of the difference between role and positioning said that a role is opened up by a speaker and positioning is the stance which the other speaker positions themselves within the discourse.
My exaplanation used role as a subject position which is made available through a discourse and positioning is how they position themselves within that particular discourse.

For the meeting next week we are to complete the final question of the positioning article, but focus on essay 2, for which I am going to prepare an essay plan for.

Learning Set 2 Meeting (unable to attend)

I was unable to attend the second learning set meeting due to being ill, but I have caught up with the rest of the group and gone through what I missed.

They looked at the 'What's going on' questions which identified taken-for-granted assumptions in people's conversations.

I must admit I am struggling to get my head around this and will pay it some attention over the nect week.

10th November Learning Set Meeting

The first learning set meeting went reasonably well. We have all agreed to meet on Mondays at 2 after our strategic management lecture as we are all in the vacinity of each other and the library.
We set several objectives that we wish to achieve from the learning set over the course of the year:

• Understand the course content.
• Review the reading activities.
• Provide a support network.

The activities that we intend to have looked through by next weeks meetings are;

• The stories under What's going on? learning set activities.
• Questions from Postioning: The discursive production of selves.

The group will meet up next Monday and discuss our findings ... until then.