Week One

Tues, Dec. 3:  First we were assigned to find our own process documentation example. We then went over the examples and analyzed which example was a good source of process documentation. The online documentation project was handed out to us and the connection to this assignment became much clearer. We went over many examples of different process documentation to help us get a full understanding of the project and what is expected from us. The professor explained what our topic choices could be such as research tool, research game or information resource. The class put on their thinking caps and began to think of project ideas.

Thurs, Dec. 5: The class met in the computer lab A540 and formulated into their groups. We discussed our thoughts and ideas for the project. Some brief research was done on each topic to help come to a conclusion. After debating back and forth about what topic to settle on, we came to a mutual consensus and decided on constructing an “information resource” website to find affordable textbooks and other reading materials for college students. We then were instructed step by step on how to set up the early stages of our personal webpage on OpenLab.

Once we were informed on how to host the project, we began to customize the site based on the small amount of research we gathered.  We chose a name for our project, the URL, the avatar, selected the theme, added a background color, and selected the default image for the header.  The progress was unfolding quite nicely.  Before class ended, we delegated work for each member of the group to find reliable and different websites supporting our sources on our topic.

Week Two

Tues, Dec. 10:  We met in class and discussed the research that we all found. We investigated further into each website to make sure the information was valid and up to date. Further research was conducted for sources for our works cited and still continues.

The customization of our site progressed as more pages were being generated. The details such as the template layout, color scheme, and widget were also all chosen. The menu tabs were rearranged in the dashboard of the site and the information was becoming more organized and finalized. When class was coming to an end, we broke up the proposal into four parts. Each group member received a bullet point and was required to write 200 words explaining their part.  This was designed to form deadlines for us as a team and to finish the project promptly.

Thurs, Dec. 12: We started to generate content for the website. We wrote the introduction multiple times to make it precise and yet to the point. We organized the tab bar in the order of our mutual liking. We collected the written parts of the proposal from each group member that was assigned last week. After the information was gathered we tried to combine each member’s contribution to make the proposal flow nicely. This process was the most lengthy because each member had their writing in a different tense and some reiterated each other. Writing our Proposal was the most difficult process thus far.

After class finished we continued to work on the project together to further fine tune some other needed details and to further delegate the additional work that still needed to be accomplished. The extra two hours spent together, we were able to get a better grasp on what each member was expected to do for the remainder of the project. This was a very successful day! Our website is coming along quicker than we all anticipated.

Week Three

Tues, Dec. 17: The website and PowerPoint was reviewed by all members in the group. The final touches were made to the pages that needed some more information. The content was revise and each group member double checked each others work to make sure there weren’t any errors on the site. The PowerPoint was tweaked for perfection for our presentation this Thursday.

One suggestion we would think would have been useful is to write everything down as you work. Relocating links and significant information that you already researched is frustrating and time wasted. One recommendation we think that would have been helpful is to create a concrete timeline for the whole project. Staying on track would become much easier which would help complete the project in a more orderly fashion.

Thurs, Dec. 19: Our group will present a Microsoft PowerPoint and discuss our website for ten minutes long, followed by five minutes of questions generated from the class.