Prevention Through Detection 

Teaming and Communication

          

               One of the biggest difficulties in any group project is maintaining communication. In a group made up of five busy people, it was initially difficult communicate effectively. I feel the team grew as communicators by learning when to admit we needed help. Our guides throughout this process were our teachers, as well as our technical adviser. Our teachers were always readily available to guide us if we needed aid. Our adviser was an invaluable resource to the team, because he provided the medical insight needed to narrow the focus of the project. Communication was well maintained throughout the project's completion.  

 

Research and Innovation 

             

               Innovating solutions to global issues was initially difficult because of the misconceived complexity of the task. Fortunately, we learned that our prototype could be a accumulation of present scientific knowledge. Our research was primarily composed of acquiring data that could facilitate the creation of our design. Through our research, we found products similar to our own. The team’s innovation shined through the amalgamation of various prototypes. As with all scientific prototypes, this was a trial and error process. We learned that science is a mere cultivation of past innovations, and through this we understood the importance of past research development.

 

 

Lessons

 

               Through the ISTF project the team learned to be more self-sufficient. We stopped asking so many questions and became more confident in our own abilities. We relied on our own judgment and still contributed to the project. We realized we could still ask the other team members for help and suggestions, but each member also realized that if the team trusted him or her to do work correctly, then that member should trust himself or herself as well.  

               By working on a project for an extensive amount of time, the goal to stay on top of the work and finish the tasks in a timely manner were challenging for those who were not as motivated as the leaders. The procrastination of team members resulted in a stalling of progress, which was difficult to work through. The team members learned that some people need some encouraging and pushing along the way to avoid procrastination and get the work done in a timely manner. With the help of the dedicated team leaders, the group learned how to accomplish tasks in a timely and effective manner.

                Through working on a team in three different classes, we learned the importance of good communication as a key to success. If no extra effort is made, deadlines can threaten to fly over one's head, and team members' efforts can become out of sync. In our experience, a 5-person group chat provided a virtual space for questions and conversation, which always remain on record and can be referred to in the case of a memory lapse. When working with a group of people, it is important to know what your partners need, and in turn to be able to let them know what you need.