Project Objectives:                          

Team Project Evaluation Worksheet (Dec9 - in Submit Assignments Area)

The team projects will give us a chance to get an in-depth understanding of an existing or an emerging technology and the associated societal impacts.  You will gain knowledge in a specific area of technology and assess its present and potential future impacts on our society.  After gaining additional knowledge and insights around your chosen area of technology your team will play the role of a new start-up company that is working to establish a presence in the market with a new product or service that utilizes the technology that your team has investigated.

The purpose of the group project is threefold:

1. To research and apply course learning to a certain area of technology and assess its impacts on society and associated issues (e.g. ethical, environmental, social, economics, business, etc.)
2. To take the research findings and develop a product/service idea that will exploit the technology in the market or provide an innovative way for a non-profit organization to meet its organization’s objectives.
3. To practice a key skill that is required as you prepare and step into you careers—working as a team to accomplish a common objective.

 

Project Deliverables:

• Technology Research Document  (2-3 Pages)
• Societal Impact Assessment Document (2-3 Pages)
• New product/service description and introduction (1 Page)
• Website that features project information (4 page website)
• Meet project completion date—Tuesday Dec. 6.
• New Product/Service Launch Presentation—Tuesday Dec. 6 or Thursday Dec. 8

Please Note:

It is important that every team member participate fully and make a measurable/tangible contribution to the overall project. It is everyone's responsibility to make the team work. I will not serve as arbiter of group disputes. You will have the opportunity to rate how each of you work in the group and this peer assessment will be counted in each individual's grade.

 

Each team will be responsible for the following:

1. Establishing a Team Work Plan that highlights team members, task, schedule, and tracks progress.
2. Writing a 2-3 research paper on chosen technology focus. Your research must include both secondary and primary research. Part of your primary research should be a market survey. You can use our campus survey tool, Flashlight, for this purpose. Build your primary research with the objective of understanding potential applications for the technology. This paper should outline the technology—how it works, its evolution, present applications and potential future applications. Paper will be incorporated into the team’s website.
3. Writing a 2-3 technology societal assessment paper that should outline the societal impacts of this technology today and into the future. Paper will be incorporated into the team’s website.
4. Establish a new product or service that uses the technology of interest. The new product should be described in detail (features and benefits). Your team should also highlight the target market, price (if applicable), and how product/service will be delivered (distribution). The last step is to build a web page that markets your product/service.
5. Conducting peer evaluations of team work. Each group member will evaluate the other group members and will submit the evaluation in writing.

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Here is what you need to do:

One: Hold first team meeting. (Project Work Plan Worksheet)

1. Brainstorm potential areas of technology to focus on.
2. Assign team members with task of conducting preliminary on-line research on brainstormed technologies. Also Identity additional emerging or prevalent technologies that are having a tremendous impact on our world to bring back to team.
3. Establish next meeting dates and times.
4. Log all your interactions in your Worksheet or Group Blog - Document your work and contributions in the Groups area in Blackboard

Two: Decide on area of focus.

Some Suggested Focus Options:

• Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
• TikiWiki Web Content Management Technology
• Blog Web Application Technology
• Nanotechnology
• Bluetooth Wireless
• Wi-Fi Wireless
• Wireless networks/infrared communications/cellular devices
• Browser and search technologies
• Open Source software technologies
• Storage technologies
• Database Management Systems -- Relational, Object Oriented
• Digital video
• Handwriting recognition systems
• Internet/Intranet, The Web
• Mobile network technologies (LAN/MAN/WAN topologies)
• Network access consumer technologies
• Network technologies: Fiber optics, ATM, fast Ethernet/VG100
• PC/TV information appliance
• Smart phone technologies
• Speech recognition
• Speech synthesis and voice technologies
• Ubiquitous computers - computers that are invisible to the user
• Voice recognition systems
• RFID
• Text messaging
• PIDs (Palm etc.)

 

Three: Write the proposal. [ Submit in the Dropbox in your Group's area in Blackboard - Due 11/17]

The One-page proposal will include the following:

1. A clear statement of the research strategy proposed (how, exactly, are you planning to do this project?)
2. A list of each team member's responsibilities: editor, communications manager, on-line researcher, library researcher, and presentation production manager, on-line survey developer, etc..
3. Work Plan that includes required actions, owners, start and target complete dates.
4. A preliminary bibliography
5. A preliminary list of on-line sources to be consulted (e.g., web sites, news groups, etc.) Primary research strategy

 

Four: Write your report (White paper):

Each report (technology research and societal impacts) should include a sound literature review. Your reports need to include the following:

1. A bibliography (e.g., books, articles, etc.). Minimum of 10 sources required.
2. A list of on-line sources consulted (e.g., web sites, news groups, etc.)
3. A page summarizing each member's contributions
4. Analysis of primary research data (use charts, tables, and/or graphs)

 

Five: Product Introduction Presentation

The 15-20-minute presentation about the project will be a discussion of the team's research. Main focus of the presentation will be to introduce your new product/service that is based on your technology focus.

I will evaluate the report taking into account first and foremost the depth and thoroughness with which the subject matter is treated, and second the creativity and professionalism of the group's presentational style.

 

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Evaluation and grading of the team project

Both the team presentation and team paper are research projects, and I will evaluate them as such. This means that I will take into account the depth and thoroughness with which the subject matter is treated, and the scholarly form of the paper (e. g., writing, citations). Although this is a team project, each student will receive an individual grade based on the quality of her/his contribution to the overall project. For evaluating your presentation, I will gather student feedback from in-class, written responses to team presentations, by using an audience evaluation sheet. Note that the team will receive this feedback with the graded report. I will calculate the overall grade for the team project as follows:

Peer/Self-Evaluation
Peer evaluation of team work	5 points
Self evaluation of team work	5 points
Audience evaluation of project & presentation	10 points
Instructor evaluation
Proposal [due 11/17]	20 points
Presentation  [due 12/6 or 12/8]	20 points
Project website with all components [due 12/6 or 12/8] Technology Research Document  Primary Research Bibliography On-line resources Societal Impact Assessment Document New product/service description and introduction Member page with contributions link to resume and personal bio of each member in their own web directory list of components and who did what 1 excel web page, 1 access report web page, 1 powerpoint of one component	40 points

Peer evaluation of team work. This evaluation will be done by using a teamwork peer evaluation sheet. Each team member will evaluate all team members' work, including her or his own work. Evaluations will be seen only by the instructor.