GENERAL GUIDELINES: COLLABORATIVE PROJECT FALL 2009
The class will work in groups to produce an
informational formal report about a current academic trend. The topic of
the report is electronic textbooks.
The objectives for
this report are as follows:
- The audience
for the report will be UMBC administrators who will decide whether to
replace print texts with electronic ones.
- The purpose of
the report is to give the audience information about electronic texts so
that the administrators will learn what students and faculty think about
this trend and whether a change is feasible, worthwhile, economical, and
effective.
- The groups will
need to
- create,
administer, and compile the results of a questionnaire/survey taken by
faculty and students .
- research
this idea, consulting primary and secondary sources, ex. bookstore
employees
- keep
track of sources cited, and write down bibliographic information to be
included on the Works Cited page
- research
colleges that have adopted electronic texts to see the effects, both
positive and negative
- make
a specific recommendation as part of the conclusion
Groups
The class will decide
what kind of groups the project requires, and then students will join one of
the groups.
Students will decide which part they wish to play in the project: group
member, group leader, or project coordinator. The first group meeting
should concentrate on sharing contact information and selecting a group leader.
Each group will have a place within Blackboard with its own chat
"room," file exchange, and other useful features.
Project Coordinator(s)
One or two people will
work with the group leaders to insure the smooth progress of the project.
Individual tasks
- attend all
group meetings
- complete all
assigned tasks ahead of or on schedule, for instance, the progress report
- communicate
with group members and leader by e-mail*
- contribute
suggestions for efficient completion of tasks
- write a
progress report (memo) about past, present, and future work group has to
do
- write an
evaluation memo about the project work done by each group member
Group leader tasks
- delegate tasks
to various members, keeping an equal amount of work assigned to each
person.
- see that all
work is done by indicated deadlines
- meet regularly
with group to discuss project and modify or refine tasks
- keep up-to-date
on member tasks and completion schedule
- work with
project coordinator to create project schedule and make other project
decisions
- communicate
with group members, other group leaders and project coordinator by e-mail*
Project coordinator(s) tasks
- work with the
group leaders to create a project schedule (ex. Gantt chart).
- stay in contact
with each group to know what its tasks are and if the group is on
schedule.
- write a
progress report and an evaluation memo about the entire project.
Articles
Thompson, Dan.
"7 Textbook Publishers Move to Electronic Format" Campus
Technology. 29 July 2009. 12 Aug. 2009.
<http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2009/07/29/7-Textbook-Publishers-Move-to-Electronic-Format.aspx?p=1>
Travis, Scott. "College Students Like Texting and I-phones, But Are
Wary of Electronic Textbooks." Dapaulia
Online.
5 June 2009. 12 Aug, 2009. <http://media.www.depauliaonline.com/media/storage/paper1414/news/2009/06/05/News/College.Students.Like.Texting.
And.Iphones.But.Are.Wary.Of.Electronic.Textbooks-3751269.shtml>
Vaknin, Sharon. "E-Textbooks v.s. Kindle DX: Which Will
College Kids Pick?" Cnet.com
28 May 2009. 12 Aug.2009 <http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10235937-1.html>
*All e-mails should be cc'd to Ms. Harris.
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