Introduction
Working in a group is a significant ability in many professions, and social work is not an exception. Representatives of this area should know how to cooperate with colleagues, combine their efforts, and achieve shared goals. The importance of cooperation is high irrespective of the fact whether social workers aim to address individuals at micro, mezzo, or macro levels. The Group WikiProject is a notable case for me to understand the importance of this activity. Even though the project implied both advantages and disadvantages, adequate efforts contributed to the fact that the activity was productive and appropriate for all the participants.
Main body
To begin with, I would like to present my initial experience in starting the Group WikiProject. I worked with two Hispanic classmates, meaning that our group consisted of three females of different cultural backgrounds. I attentively approached the given activity from the beginning because I understand that the ability to work with groups is a core competency of a social worker (Bellamy et al., 2013). Consequently, I try to achieve the maximum possible benefits from this activity, and that is why my experience is entirely positive.
Our first mutual activity was to initiate contact, and we successfully coped with it. In particular, we used Discussion Board, an E-learning platform, to exchange phone numbers and email addresses. Then, chatting through text messages allowed us to schedule Zoom meetings to gather and discuss our further plan. It is possible to mention that this approach was practical because it allowed us to schedule the first meeting in a short period of time, which contributed to our group’s increased productivity. It is also worth admitting that working on the project implied an excellent level of comfort for me and, I hope, for the other members. The rationale behind this statement is that we broke the ice by organizing a preliminary session where we introduced ourselves in 2-3 minutes. Simultaneously, the activity resulted in significant benefits personally for me. On the one hand, I had already worked with a group member in the past, meaning that we already had contact. On the other hand, working on a project online was convenient and safe. Consequently, this information demonstrates that I appreciated participating in the activity.
Furthermore, the process under analysis implied both advantages and disadvantages. Positive opportunities include sharing workload and responsibilities, effective communication, and learning new skills. According to Franklin et al. (2013), group interventions are more effective in social work under some conditions, denoting that it is beneficial to learn how to deal with groups. Furthermore, Wheeler and Bragin (2007) highlight that people can use the combined group energy in the interest of change. This information denotes that the skill of working in a group is essential for social workers. However, our project also implied some disadvantages that referred to an organizational aspect. For example, an issue related to the fact that we lived in different time zones, and it was challenging for us to schedule a meeting that would be convenient for each member. Simultaneously, the e-platform implied some technical difficulties because we were not well familiar with the resource. Since we managed to overcome the challenges, I can firmly state that the group project’s advantages significantly outweigh its drawbacks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the reflection has demonstrated that the Group WikiProject is associated with positive experiences for me. This process allows me to cooperate and share the experience with colleagues, which is significant for my future. In addition to that, literature findings have revealed that working in a group is an essential skill for social workers who should know how to deal with many individuals at the same time. Even though the process implies some drawbacks, they can be mitigated to maximize positive effects.
References
Bellamy, J. L., Mullen, E. J., Satterfield, J. M., Newhouse, R. P., Ferguson, M., Brownson, R. C., & Spring, B. (2013). Implementing evidence-based practice education in social work: A transdisciplinary approach. Research on Social Work Practice, 23(4), 426-436. Web.
Franklin, C., Jordan, C., & Hopson, L. (2013). Intervention with families. In. M. J. Holosko, C. N. Dulmus, & K. M. Sowers (Eds.), Social work practice with individuals and families: Evidence-informed assessment and interventions (pp. 265-294). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Wheeler, D. P., & Bragin, M. (2007). Bringing it all back home: Social work and the challenge of returning veterans. Health & Social Work, 32(4), 297-300. Web.