Collaboration reflection:

1. Were you able to be an active listener and support and encourage others? Give an example.
2. Were you able to hear different points of view and disagree respectfully. Give an example.
3. Reflect on how you were able to give, receive and act on feedback.
4. How successful were you in working with others to achieve a common goal?
5. What roles and responsibilities did you take on in the group?

I was an active listener throughout the mandala project by listening to my group member’s ideas and opinions. Whenever they would share ideas or their opinion, I would try to incorporate some of them, and tried to find different ways of including them if they didn’t fully work until we were all satisfied. I also supported my group by encouraging them to keep going when they were stuck or when they lost motivation. I gave my group advice on what colour or pattern design they could incorporate into their mandala, and complimented their art as they worked on it.

Throughout the project, me and my teammates had some different ideas and points of views. For example, one of the members in my group wanted to do the mandalas into squares, when I was more interested in doing a circle. Also, they wanted to do things in quarters when I wanted to do things in eighths. Although we had a disagreement on that, we managed to work things out and they decided to go with my idea since I showed some thumbnails on some of the ideas we could do, and I soon convinced them.  Even though they went with my idea, I made sure to be respectful of their ideas by telling them that I really like their idea and I can see great potential, but I also have this idea, and asked them what they thought as well. In general, me and my group just agreed right away when we shared ideas.

Throughout the project, I was able to give feedback to my group members when they needed advice. When some of my group members asked me for advice, I would show them different ways of approaching a certain technique, or drawing quick thumbnails to see an idea more visually. I also asked others for advice and guidance as I was doing my own mandalas, and I took their advice and tried to incorporate their suggestions and commentary.

Ways we have worked together collaboratively to achieve a common goal was by first planning together as a group what theme, colour scheme (which was already chosen in the beginning) and other details we could do to that we all agreed on.  Ways we have worked collaboratively throughout the project was by giving each other advice, sharing new ideas and what markers and techniques could work with each other’s art.  As we worked half way through our first mandalas, we put all of them together to make sure everyone’s mandalas was on the right track, and if it started to look a little different from the others, we would give some advice. While working, we continued to shared our mandalas throughout their progression, and asked for each other’s opinions.

Roles and responsibilities I have taken throughout the project was first by doing my own two mandalas. Each of us chose to do bigger circles so we did two each. Another thing I did was starting off a conversation. Every day, I would try to talk about general things as well as the project to get other members talking more. I would mention how nice our mandalas are coming along and complimented their art. Another thing I did was by asking the other members more of their opinion when we were deciding on our theme and how we were going to show unity throughout our piece. I have also helped with the decision of our six markers/pencil crayons we wanted to use as well as the layout while we were putting all the mandalas together.