This assignment spells out the steps you will take to collaborate on the development of your project reports. For this task, there is one goal (to deliver strong reports) and four main outcomes:
- Develop a group plan with milestones and expectations
- Assist one another to develop a set of research sources and to identify good sources for each project
- Produce successful report drafts
- Learn the names of and get to know your project team members
As you work, you can plan around the following schedule:
- January 16 -- 60 minute meeting (draft group plan; [additional tasks])
- January 21 -- 30 minute meeting
- January 23 -- 45 minute meeting
- January 28 -- 30 minute meeting
- January 30 -- complete work
- Whatever other deadlines or milestones you set outside of these designated meeting times
You will need to break down the outcomes above and build expectations and deliverables into your group plan. You can decide the focus or activities for each of the designated meetings in whatever way will help you meet the goal.
For the group plan activity today, here are some parameters:
- Build your group plan around the main goal of the project (deliver multiple successful report drafts).
- The group plan should include a prioritized list of items for project success. Use a format for prioritizing around must, should, could constructions. For instance, you might decide that project must include progress reports from members, it should include feedback on early stage work, and it could include copy editing of drafts. You can take an agile approach during the two weeks, moving items from the should and could lists up depending on progress.
- The group plan should break down the larger task into smaller goals, using the meeting opportunities to help organize the work and timing. In conjunction with your prioritized list, you can line up these smaller goals with dates and meeting times. Depending on your priority list, you may assign group members to items.
- The group plan should spell out expectations for successful group participation. For instance, you might decide something like: strong work = meet all deadlines, attend all meetings, and provide strong feedback; average work = meet all but one deadline, attend all but one meeting, and provide feedback; below average work = miss more two or more deadlines or meetings, fail to provide feedback, etc. Set the expectations after you have sorted out the tasks and milestones.
You can also develop initial plans for communication, etc. You may want to use a shared folder system--e.g., google folders and docs to facilitate your work. Make sure to pick a technology that facilitates rather than makes extra work.
You will compose the plan in class today using a google document. Please add group members to the document.
A sample outline might look like:
Members
Key dates and meeting plans
Prioritized list
Must do
Items with dates and assignments
Should do
Items with dates and assignments
Could do
Items with dates and assignments
Expectations
When finished, make the document viewable with a link and add a comment to this posting with the URL.
Group work can be exciting and challenging. There will be an opportunity to share with me a reflection on these activities and account for both this process and the work produced as you develop and refine your own reports.
Comments