Communication and Motivation
By Ben Parungo, Kyle Pritchard, PaulĚýand Chad Brouhard
Theoretical Framework
Lack of communication as a problem:
- We will define communication here as interpersonal interaction, and in-person university classes facilitate repeated interpersonal interactions
- Re-iteration of social interactions forces people to behave more positively because they will face reciprocal treatment the subsequent iterations of the interaction
Lack of motivation as a problem:
- Motivation defined here is an incentive to commit some sort of labor, whether it be physical, mental, or emotional
- Part of what makes this problem intractable is that lack of communication is causal to the lack of motivation
- The lack of motivation we are currently facing is thanks to the inherent disconnect between remote learning and in-person classes.
Personal Frameworks
Ben’s Personal framework:
- On a global level, nation states vy for life-saving equipment and politicians are more concerned with the distribution of blame than the distribution of goods
- On a national level, the government is divided on how to handle the crisis and state governments deviate from federal government rhetoric, reopening choices, and material necessities.
- On a local level, quarantine makes it impossible to organize in public spaces and people are either living in their houses or working in dangerous conditions.
- I provide a framework for discussion by assuming that the worst case scenario will occur and social fracturing will further deepen, so that we can be prepared and to avoid having the circumstances we take for granted swept out from beneath us so unexpectedly
- Collaboration is incredibly difficult and initiating it takes continuous back and forth communication. Email is most commonly used but checking it is actively distressing for many
Kyle’s Personal Framework
- Locally, my creative problem solving has seemed to halt. Overall the problem-solving has be done at a larger level and locally all that is to be done is to each personally do our own part to stay at home and practice social distancing. Furthermore, my interpersonal problem-solving has been greatly diminished as there is not much to problem-solve, all social aspects of college have basically ceased to exist, without any solving possible.
- Nationally and Globally, the problem-solving seen is identical to that of CU Boulder. Remote learning is the way to solve the problem at hand without any other option.
- The sense of connection with fellow students and professors has slowly been lost completely in my opinion. Zoom dissociates the sense of learning usually done between student and teacher and isolates the teacher, seeming to make the teacher feel very alienated and not connected with the students they’re teaching.
- Collaboration is now done primarily through email which is not a very time sensitive mode of communication for modern day students.
Paul's Personal Framework
- I believe that creative problem solving has played a big role in alleviating the situation we are living through. In my personal experience, I have had to find ways to keep myself entertained in the midst of this quarantine, which has been difficult at times. Where I think that the real problem solving has come at the local level, with businesses, restaurants and schools all having to accommodate to our new “social guidelines”.
- School projects like these are a great way to bring in outside people into the discussion.
- Keeping in touch with my friends and family has been strange. Most people choose not to leave their homes and rightfully so, however, this creates a literal gap that inhibits the human contact we are so accustomed to. Thanks to this, I have found myself calling up a lot of my friends over the phone which is something that young people these days don't often do.
- It has definitely been harder to collaborate in group projects thanks to remote learning but it can be done over zoom, email, text, etc.
- I think that the first and most important step in taking initiative in these types of groupe projets is to form a relationship with the people you're working with. I find that getting along with the my peers makes whatever workload we have seem like less of a chore.
Brainstorming
- Slowly open the less at risk parts of society, such as the younger population. Begin adding the youngest members of society, such as daycares and preschools.
- Along with this slow inclusion, the most at risk individuals must remain under strict quarantine for their own safety.
- In addition to emails, an instant messenger system over canvas should be established to broaden communication between teachers and students.
- Social distancing conditions will normalize a state of lonely atomization and utter lack of community.
- When things return to normal, local and interpersonal bonds will have been strained.
- Human services will have been denegrated and have even fewer resources.
- Local aid, short and long term sustainability projects, supporting local workers and vulernable individuals.
Motivational Issues, Processes, and Solutions
Issue
- As mentioned before email is a secondary method of communication for many, and often being sent one doesn’t automatically notify the person
- Texting would be better but feels a degree more personal, and most students don’t have their number displayed on canvas
- Virtually impossible to hold another person accountable
- Online interaction is alienating and emotionally devoid and strange
Processes
- Another method for communication?
- More class facilitated interactions between students?
Solutions
- A discussion board for each class exclusively for students
- Canvas instant messenger
- Regular check ins with counselors and student support
Communication issues, processes, and solutions
Issue
- As mentioned before email is a secondary method of communication for many, and often being sent one doesn’t automatically notify the person
- Texting would be better but feels a degree more personal, and most students don’t have their number displayed on canvas
- Virtually impossible to hold another person accountable
- Online interaction is alienating and emotionally devoid and strange
Processes
- Another method for communication?
- More class facilitated interactions between students?
Solutions
- A discussion board for each class exclusively for students
- Canvas instant messenger
- Regular check ins with counselors and student support
Synergy of solutions and desired outcomes
Solutions
- A discussion board for each class exclusively for students
- Canvas instant messenger
- Regular check ins with counselors and student support
Solutions
- Planning out the day/week/month somewhat in advance
- Using to-do lists
- Allocate time for specific tasks and using general time optimization skills
Synergy
- Online text and video chats with friends to stay sane
- Development of time management strategies
- More methods of communication should be made available
- Facilitated contact between students, with staff and professors
- Doing what you can in the long and short term to ameliorate the crisis
Communication and Motivation- Addendum
Hailee Pritchard- Senior attending the ÁńÁ«ĘÓƵ18
How has the pandemic changed the way you communicate with friends?
“UMMMM, well I really can only talk to them via, technology so I really haven’t been keeping up with my friends… And I really don’t like being on my phone so much and I have to already be on it for school so when I’m done I'd rather just watch a show.”
How about with Teachers?
“I get a lot more emails, but it’s really hard to stay updated with what’s important in the calls because we aren’t physically there. And it’s really hard to communicate with them on zoom during class because it’s either everyone talking and trying to ask a question, or no one is and there’s no room for discussion so it’s just awkward.”
Has your motivation changed following the pandemic?
“I am way less motivated, even if I have the time to do things there is no schedule or routine and it’s so hard to get anything done, and it’s all over technology which I just think is overall harder to communicate and focus on.”
Pritchard, Hailee. Interview by Kyle Pritchard. CU Boulder: 25 April 2020.