“3 Women in 1 Kitchen”: Books-to-Eat Teamwork, 2014

Posted by jlubans on March 18, 2014

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Caption: The outcome/result.

As readers of this blog know, I have the students in my Democratic Workplace class participate in the international Books to Eat (B2E) event. This spring, well ahead of the official April 1 celebration, five teams (of 4 people each) planned, shopped, baked and prepared their productions and 20-minute presentations. Our B2E deadline was March 13, during week 6.

The theme was a folk story or children’s book, chosen by each team, from Latvian literature.

Now, I know, some of you may be dismissing the concept: “I bet it was fun – and as a librarian I kind of like the literary link - but what on earth is Lubans thinking? Kids books and teamwork? Fairy tales and group development? Legends and leadership? Maybe fun, but what’s gained, what’s learned?”

Well, a bountiful plenty. For one thing the assignments are prefaced with lectures, readings, activities and discussion about groups, democracy, conflict, leadership, and teamwork theory. And, each group does a plus/delta debrief immediately following the presentations, just before we indulge in the baked goods.

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This year, as part of its 20-minute presentation each team – spontaneously - included an assessment of how the process went. From what they said, I am convinced that the teams were keenly aware of the reasons behind the project, their own development as a team and their overall successes and failures.

The five titles selected by the teams:
1. "Trīs tēva dēli" (Father of three sons. Latvian folk tale with a not-so0happy ending - anonymous)

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2. "Kaka un pavasaris" by Andrus Kivirähk. (“Poo and Spring”)
Illustrated by Heiki Ernits. Estonian. (A cleverly done and controversial kid’s book, just like it might be in the USA.)

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3. “Zīļuks" by Margarita Stāraste.* (An egotistical acorn.)

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4. "Kas notiek Dižmežā?" by Margarita Stāraste. (What happens Dižmežs?)

5. “Zvēri rok upi” (God’s digging the river Daugava.) Latvian folk tale – anonymous)

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From the teams’ own assessments (the + Δ) of what went well and what could have been better:

“3 women in 1 kitchen is explosion, but not in our case. ☺
(Note: team member #4 lived at a distance and aided the team in other ways)
“We saw ourselves in each other like in mirror and we could evaluate our leadership style.”

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“Improvisation.”
“The team was self-organizing.”
“We would choose different group, because it is complicated to have four leaders in four-member group. Too high competitiveness.”
“’Yes’ and ‘sheep’ followers could (improve and) become effective followers.”
“No leaders – the same; we all were on the same level.”

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“Lots of smiles.”

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Caption: One team included a chorus – the class! - as part of its presentation.

“The tasks we accomplished singing.”
“We could put to ourselves higher requirements.”

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Caption: Fairy food.
“We had some issues shopping for the right ingredients, since the shops don’t really cater for the needs of pixies and dwarfs.”

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Caption: Enjoyed by all!

*Margarita Stāraste, famed Latvian children’s book illustrator and writer, died on February 18 of this year at age 100. She was born February 2, 1914.


@Copyright John Lubans 2014

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