Hello Everyone,
We’ve reached the end of our blogging journey! As we take the final bow, we decided to look back and share our experiences and insights from this brief yet interesting project. Read along as we dive into our thoughts and feelings about our writing process, evolution as development researchers and thinkers, challenges encountered, lessons learned,connections made, and much more.
Reflecting on the purpose of the blog and the key takeaways from the project, Liam writes:
This blog has attempted to explore the contemporary issues and critical approaches in development studies. Through collaborative and individual research and discussions, we examined existing and future forms of development studies, ethical research methods, global justice and global power dynamics in the aid sector, pointing to various critical frameworks to generate a discussion that hopefully provided readers with thought-provoking insights. The variety of subject matter deepened our understanding of the complexities surrounding development, particularly underlining the importance of the need for inclusive, multi-perspective approaches to shape a more nuanced understanding of development issues. With that in mind, it’s clear that the discussion and learnings we each take from this project should not end with the last post on this blog. As we look to complete our degrees and continue in our careers, the thinking and resources we have uncovered while maintaining this blog will no doubt prove incredibly useful.
Underscoring the effectiveness of blogs in thinking about development communication, Anna says:
Writing the blogs have been a journey, a reflective practice to help think about aspects of development communication. It has been an opportunity to explore subjects around the coming masters thesis. But it has also been an opportunity to read the work of others, which has been very helpful in developing your own thoughts. Working as a group has been challenging in some ways. If one or two persons fall behind schedule, it means that others have to cover for them, but in the end all contributed and it has also been a part of discovering that we can each bring to a project.
Focusing on her learning experiences, Jessica writes:
Writing about development studies has been an eye opening experience for me. I think I focused so much on development studies being in the classroom until I researched and wrote for this blog. Through this blogging experience I have learned that it extends beyond the classroom. Rethinking our understanding of development goes beyond what we teach in the universities. Expanding our knowledge on development practices and emerging methodologies can happen anywhere – through the books we read, podcasts we listen to, social media, or through practical experience with development projects, whether through work or volunteering! I think our group did an excellent job exploring all the elements of development studies – from ethics, to referencing methodologies with relevant events, how decolonization plays a role, and how we implement new ways of thinking into current development practices.
Delving deeper into the factors that made her blogging experience enjoyable, Gina says:
This blog has been a unique opportunity to consider and delve into subjects that have interested me or caught my eye in development studies. As a process, the fluidity of structure has given me room to develop my own practice self-reflection and the range of topics my group has investigated have been insightful and inspiring. The level of writing in my own and the other groups has been impressive, and I am in awe of the knowledge, critical eye, and awareness that this cohort possesses.
In reflection, creating one single blog for the entire class might have been more beneficial in creating a feeling of togetherness. I sometimes struggled to follow other groups’ blogs, and it felt disjointed. To build a readership and create sustainable content, an ongoing blog that carries over from year to year would potentially lead to something that means more than points scored on LADOK. The potential is there to create an impactful development blog that would reach beyond 10 weeks of writing and into a sphere of influence that could be essential and potentially critical in the ComDev environment.
I’ve really enjoyed the process and am excited to follow my fellow cohorts in the future of their writing.
Sharing her insights as a first-time blogger, Clare writes:
As we wrap up our blog journey, it’s nice to have a moment to pause to reflect on the experience as a whole and the knowledge we’ve both shared and gained while working on this blog.
Blogging was a totally new experience for me and I found each post has been a chance to connect with, reflect on, and question the world around us.
I relished diving in and writing about these topics as much as I did reading the thoughtful contributions of my teammates. I found the theme of the blog was broad enough to allow for creativity while each member applied their own interests and covered topics close to their hearts.
However, there were bumps in the road. Technical hiccups, like struggling to log into WordPress for weeks, occasionally slowed the process. I know I wasn’t alone in facing these obstacles, as some of my teammates experienced similar frustrations. Additionally, assignments like the interview techniques task required significant organization, especially as I had no connections in certain fields.
Despite these hurdles, the blogging experience was very rewarding. One huge positive I have found from the blog was the sense of connection with my fellow students on the ComDev course. This blog project marked one of the first times I was in constant, meaningful contact with my contemporaries on this Master’s course through the WhatsApp group and the occasional Zoom call. I found the WhatsApp group invaluable for staying in touch, making quick decisions, deadline reminders, and collaborating on ideas for presentations.
Overall, while I can’t deny that this assignment was challenging, I’m deeply grateful for the collaborative and supportive team I was on the blogging journey with.
Summarizing her blog journey from beginning to end, Anubhuti says:
I remember feeling really anxious when I first read the assignment instructions about this blog project. “Why, why, why?” shot out of my mouth as I tried to make sense of this ‘absurd’ expectation of creating a blog from scratch. To work in a group with students in different time zones, for approximately two months, is no easy task. Moreover, to write and post my work in the field that I am just beginning to make sense of kicked in my impostor syndrome. However, being on this roller-coaster journey has been fun. It was the much needed push that brought me out of my shell. Seeking readership for the blog meant getting back into the world of digital media, forming new connections, and sharing our posts. Furthermore, writing this blog has allowed me to be an active participant in uncovering the different critical trajectories that wish to ‘unsettle’ top-down development initiatives that do more harm than good. Reading about decolonial approaches and alternative development pathways also enabled me to dissect my practices, privileges, and assumptions. Most importantly, the project brought me in touch with some of the amazing thinkers, planners, and writers in my class. I am really grateful for the opportunity to learn from them.
Ultimately, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our readers for encouraging us by reading, sharing, and commenting on our posts. As we pursue new goals and exciting projects, we will forever treasure the opportunity afforded to us by this platform to make new connections.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Love,
Group 7