Whatsapp is something we access everyday for chat, personal and professional purposes. Is there something beyond this — a new dimension? I was particularly interested in creating something meaningful using this technology. The idea of creating a learning group using Whatsapp germinated in my mind. Hence, the Discovering Life group began in September 2014; it was a forum I created, with like-minded resourceful people from different sectors, to celebrate our common interests. Currently, we are a team of 24 members comprising doctors and research scholars, government and IT professionals, businesspersons,teachers, students from various backgrounds, artists and home-makers. The idea is everyone can pitch in and contribute their thoughts and ideas, enhance each other’s knowledge, enrich our minds and remain connected and inspired.
Balanced mixMy vision was to create a unique content, a balanced mix of learning different components of life and also to accommodate all the members who have diverse, interesting styles of learning. I designed themes structured daywise: Mondays are called Holistic Mondays, where we share and discuss ideas to enrich and rejuvenate body, mind and soul to meet the coming week. Then there are Traditional medicine and Scientific innovation Tuesdays; quotable quotes Wednesdays; Environmental Thursdays; Spritual Fridays and Talent Saturdays. The group is silent on Sundays with no posts.
Learning togetherOur Discovering Life group model encourages meaning in collaborative learning experience. Opportunities to interact are plenty. Theme-based question and answer sessions provide space for learning. Being a small group, it allows for high degree of participation, attentiveness and contribution from members. It is very important to orient new members into the group with a warm welcome message as it establishes connection. Guidelines and themes are to be communicated as gentle reminders. Good communication creates a sense of feeling connected to the group.
We celebrated a caption writing contest on “Earth day.”
Each caption was read out, thoughtfully commented upon and prestigiously judged by soil biologist and ecologist Dr. Sultan Ahmed Ismail.
In such a group, with participants who show individuality, I believe trust, healthy dialogues, open-mindedness and understanding can help establish positive connections and build beautiful relationships.
Despite these strategies, there was low participation from some members with respect to contributions or discussions. It could be a matter of time before this changes, or perhaps this just has to be endured.
The writer is pursuing her PhD in pharmacognasy at Bharathiar University, Coimbatore.
