While you are finishing up your last individual project in the class, we are moving ahead to begin the team-based collaborative projects in the class.
Think of each of the following projects as part of an interconnected larger project. Each team member should contribute to each part, but individual team members may take the lead on one part versus the others depending on their skill set and interests. For example, one team member may take the lead on the research report and collect contributions from the other team members for the first draft, and another team member may take the lead on the presentation or the website.
These are the parts of the collaborative project from the syllabus:
- Collaborative: 4000-6000-Word Analytical Research Report, 20%
- Each team member contributes 1000-1500-word contribution to a 4000-6000-word analytical research report on a scientific or technological problem that demonstrates: 1) knowledge of the history and context of the problem, 2) knowledge of the causes and nature of the problem, 3) ideas for solving the problem, 4) the ability to explain the problem and offer possible solutions to a general audience, 5) the ability to integrate written work with the written work of a partner or partners in a coherent report, and 6) knowledge of proper research report format. At least six library-sourced citations must be included (non-library-sourced citations are encouraged, but they do not count toward the six library-sourced sources). Any outside sources cited should be documented according to APA format.
- Collaborative: Seven-to-Ten-Minute Oral Analytical Research Report on a Scientific or Technological Problem, 10%
- The goal of this part of the project is to transform your written report into an spoken presentation anchored by a PowerPoint or other visual presentation supplement. As a team, adapt and present your analytical research report as an oral presentation that demonstrates: 1) knowledge of oral presentation techniques and conventions, 2) the ability to organize a presentation effectively, 3) the ability to incorporate various media into the presentation, including appropriate computer software, 4) awareness of audience, 5) the ability to communicate the value of the product or service in clear spoken English, 6) the ability to answer audience questions, 7) the ability to collaborate productively with a partner or partners, and 8) the ability to explain the problem and offer possible solutions to a general audience.
- Collaborative: Website Advertising a Product or Service Responding to the Analytical Research Report and Oral Presentation, 10%
- The goal of this part of the collaborative project is to imagine a service or product that your team can offer that is related to your research report and oral presentation, both of which will be featured on the website in some way. The website should demonstrate: 1) knowledge of the product or service offered, of pertinent market forces, and of the potential customer base, 2) basic knowledge of web page design and composition, including appropriate software. The website will be based on your presentation and it is encouraged to be integrated into your presentation (perhaps to demonstrate how your team is promoting your product or service). All graphics, logos, design, and text must be created by your team.
- Collaborative: 500-Word Report on Collaboration, 10%
- During the collaborative project, the team as a whole needs to track and document their progress, challenges, and successes, and each individual delegated responsibilities needs to keep track of what they contribute to the project. As the last component of the collaborative project, write a brief report of 500-750 words reflecting on how the team worked together and what each individual team member contributed to the overall effort. Each team should submit only one report.
Another way to consider these interconnected projects is through the following illustration:
The main part of the collaborative project is the research report. It anchors everything else. It should be completed first and adapted or transformed for use in the other deliverables: the website and the presentation. The report, website, and presentation will be submitted on our OpenLab Course Site. Also, throughout the project, the team should keep track of the work that each person does and compile that into a reflection report that will be submitted via email to me after your collaborative project is completed.
To distribute the workload better, you will work in a new team of five or six persons. These teams are randomly assigned using a number list that I generated on random.org.
For your reference, I am including the teams below. I will get in touch with each team via email for this week’s weekly writing assignment.
Remember, don’t confuse these teams with your peer review teams on the first three projects in the course. If you are still working on individual projects and need peer review feedback, you should give and receive it with your peer review teams that you’ve already been working with.
Separately, you will begin working with this new team on the collaborative projects. There may be some overlap between your peer review team and the new collaborative teams–this was just by chance and not by design. In addition to reaching out to you by email, I will detail how I would like you to begin the project together in this week’s Weekly Writing Assignment, which I will post soon.
And, make sure that you all watch this week’s lecture and listen carefully to the details that I provide about the collaborative project.
Team 1 Barbu L. Tan Arias Romanowski Clarke Beauge Team 2 Requena Dominique Barbu T. Anny Anika Team 3 Abdulla Persaud Ferreira Patterson Htut Team 4 Andiappen Cifuentes Chan Pritom BK Team 5 Adeyemi Campbell Su Lin Bah
