HERTTONIEMI GROUP

13.10.2016

Group number 5 focused the observation field in the Helsinki Area of Herttoniemi.

Briefly we divided the area in 4 main parts:

1. old part with metro station and market area,

2. and new part, opposite side of metro station and Herttoniemi Ranta,

3. the industrial area

4. Roihuvuori

We decided to do individual observations in each one of this areas, gather information

and then meet and discuss our feelings and impressions. We made a video about the

surroundings, but also people. The video mainly represents Herttoniemi through our

point of views and feelings.

The video was made by Gloria in collaboration with Miro, and it covered the Metro

Station area, the Industrial area and Roihuvuori.

Our summary will include each one of our thoughts, impressions and feedbacks .

Annina:

“The Herttoniemi group already had a Whats app group when I joined them. In the first

meeting at school we talked about Herttoniemi and how well we all knew the place or

was it a totally new area. We also decided we would go there individually in our own

time and how we would try to visit the place at different times of the day.

We took a lot of pictures and shared them in our “Whats app” group and in the ICO-

Instagram profile. I think we talked a lot about the task at hand through Whats App since

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meeting together at first was a bit hard. Eventually when we found time together, we

made a schedule that we could follow lightly. We also divided the specific areas in

Herttoniemi so we all had our own part to do for the padlet and some of us visited

Herttoniemi together as well.

I think we rotated the roles and we kept each other informed at all times. We didn't

really have a secretary or a chairman, but we all made suggestions and decisions. I

think we all were present most of the time and since we all knew our part, the work

wasn't depending on one person. The padlet was ready in the end of the week 40 and

on Monday 10.10. we talked mostly about our presentation. Who would start, who would

end it and how we would use the time.

I think all and all we did a good job with our first major group work and also with the

padlet which none of us had used before in our previous studies or work. The

communication in our group was good, a part from the fact that at first there were seven

of us and in the end only 5. I feel that we didn't have any “free riders” but the work was

shared equally. The padlet was versatile and we all shared our own experiences in our

presentation.

The look of the padlet was probably one of the feature's that we can think about the

next time we do an assignment with the padlet. It probably had too many pictures and

lots of text to be visually neat or tidy, even though we edited it a lot. In the end I feel

good about the work we did and it was good practice since I'm sure we are doing a lot of

this kind of work in the future as well. It was also nice to see how others had used

padlet and what they had done with it. I am sure there are features that we didn't realize

yet.”

Jarkko:

Doing the group work was nicely done from my perspective. We agreed a plan to go

observing on our own to different areas of Herttoniemi and making notifications how we

felt and what we saw there.

Apart from two of our group members missed their participation, we managed to do

tasks in the given time and all the group members came up with good ideas what to do

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with the padlet. We had weekly meetings where we agreed what roles everybody had

and what there is to do until next meeting. It was well organized and also it was

delightful to see that all the remaining group members were participating and committed

to the given task. Our team was communicating in our “Whats app” group on daily basis

if there was no meeting. It was good to throw up different ideas between members, and

in the end we did not need to do much sacrifices or changes for the final version. I think

you can see all the group members personal point of view quite clearly and it can be

seen that everybody was doing their part well. I also liked the support and open

atmosphere in our group while discussing about the progress of the group work.

About the actual presentation, I think it went quite smoothly and it had personality with

some music clips and in the end there was video which was filmed by Gloria.

Still, there is something that can be made better next time. I´ m not completely satisfied

with my own presenting skills, I was little bit nervous and got stuck in some parts in the

middle of presentation though I had planned and prepared for that. But I got to say most

of the things I wanted and got good practice on presenting in front of the class. I also

had some other new ideas what I would like to have added there afterwards but since

we had already finished the Padlet to final version I did not feel like changing it

anymore. But it is good to keep in mind that this was the first ”real” group work we had

done so far, so next time it will be probably easier. Overall I am pretty satisfied for the

Padlet and the presentation we did and all the group members participation.

Miro:

My task in our observation group work was to focus on Herttoniemi industrial area. I

visited that area twice and decided to go there during early afternoon. Each time I spent

there at least 30 minutes or even an hour. During my first time there I did not take any

pictures and just walked around the area because I wanted to get to know it better

although as a Helsinki native I was already quite familiar with Herttoniemi region. The

second time I went there, I took several pictures and created some notes about them.

Overall I took seven or eight photos and they were all used in our presentation. I

observed the area from my point of view as were told and tried to avoid interpreting the

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area from a social scientific perspective. In addition to all this, I was also helping

another group member to make a video about Herttoniemi. We had all prepared for the

presentation somewhat differently and had a fairly clear plan which definitely helped us

in my opinion. It was our first presentation together and bearing that in mind I thought

that it went quite well. I talked probably for at least three or four minutes and played a

small part in the video. I was slightly nervous and I should have probably made more

eye contact with the audience. Another thing is that I normally talk fairly quietly and

sometimes too fast but I believe that this time everyone was able to hear and

understand what I was saying. There is always room for improvement but everyone did

their part and thanks to that we managed to create a decent presentation. I felt that

every group member was satisfied with how it went in the end.

Gloria:

This was the first group work I had in Diak. It was an interesting and nice experience,

lavished with positivity.

I really appreciate the quietness that surrounded our group, how we respected each

other and how we divided our tasks. For instance, if somebody was working he was in

any case active and we could count of him.

I am also pleased about the sincerity of Nora, previously in our group, that she decided

to get herself out since she was not able to participate for health reasons.

A small critic regard our presentation is that in my opinion we should had practiced it

more together. I was a bit lost about the time since I did not know precisely the contents

of everyone. I was the last one that had to express my own opinions and experiences

and, after it, I showed the video that I made to the class and I did not have enough time.

However, this is something we learn through experiences and, overall, this practice was

quite satisfying. Working in a group it´s not easy at all, especially when there are

different cultures, different lives and different commitments of the group members.

The video mainly represents Herttoniemi through our point of views and feelings.

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When I went to this area of Helsinki, I realized that not some part where very busy and

other the opposite, quite and calm.

I felt in the metro station many people were very on a rush and their expressions were

tired, empty and probably they most of their wishes was to reach home as soon as

possible.

The video covered the Metro Station, the Industrial area and Roihuvuori neighborhood.

It shows exactly how I felt during my observation and what I saw.

Delia:

Working with my group was easy, we were committed and we took our work seriously.

From day one we created a “what's app” group, where we were able to exchange ideas

and give help if needed. It wasn't always easy to meet all in one place due to everyone's

busy agenda, however we were able to compromise. We met regularly and worked on

the padlet and discussed about our first presentation as a group. What I liked the most

was the fact that we were able to complement each other, we didn't struggle with our

time or decisions. Regarding our presentation, all in all went well, of course each one of

us has room for more improvement when it comes to communication skills. Looking

back on my own speech, I defiantly struggle with my emotions, I had in mind a scenario

but in reality, it came slightly different. Eye contact and controlling my anxiety was a bit

demanding, however with more practice I will do fine.

“ There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”

Aristotle

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