Assignments
This page provides an overview of the work that contributes to your final course grade, and connects you to descriptions for those projects and workshops through the links below. (Note that no descriptive detail appears on SVSU Canvas for any of these assignments.) I activate assignment pages as we need them, so do not worry if you cannot access all of the descriptions at the beginning of the semester.
Your course grade is computed from the points you earn on 3 projects and 8 workshops. Combined, these assignments total 1400 points.
You can read more about grading and what factors might influence your grade on the Policies page.
Projects
I use the term projects to categorize assignments that are significant undertakings, and that require development and refinement time that may span several weeks of the semester. You will complete 3 projects this semester that collectively contribute 1000 possible points to your course grade.
Each project description details several elements of the work, including design requirements, hints and tips, and submission guidelines. Use the links below to access those descriptions.
- Proposal (Prop). 600 points. The Prop project requires you to design a formal proposal to seek funding for a project of professional significance to you. This project develops over 5 stages, including 4 segments that build toward a complete draft of the proposal. The Prop project is challenging because it requires you to think strategically about how a problem might be addressed and then craft persuasive arguments based on evidence most likely to influence the prospective funding agent.
- Assessment Plan (AP). 200 points. The AP project results in a brief report that describes the metrics by which your proposal might be judged successful, how they ought to be implemented to evaluate the project, and what obstacles might negatively impact the project's success. The AP is challenging because it requires you to predict both success and failure with equal effectiveness, and communicate how each might occur. Note. I have removed this project from the calendar.
- Project Report (PR). 200 points. The PR project results in an 5 to 6 minute screencast video that traces the chronology of the Proposal project: problem exploration & understanding, proposal development & design, refinement & revision, what implementation might look like. The PR is challenging because it demands careful presentation of the project's history from a reflective research-design perspective.
Workshops
I use the term workshops to categorize assignments that are smaller scale than projects, work that can be completed in the space of a single class session, or within the space of a single class week. The concepts, strategies, and practices examined through workshops build and reinforce your working knowledge for the course. You will complete 8 workshops this semester that collectively contribute 400 possible points to your course grade.
Each workshop description details several elements of the work, including design and discussion requirements, and submission guidelines. Use the links below to access those descriptions. Some workshops may require less explanation, and in that case their descriptions will appear in SVSU Canvas. I will direct you where you need to look in the weekly modules.
- Document Design. 50 points. Using Microsoft Word, you design a 1-page profile that discusses your professional development interests, and your experience with information design.
- Screencast Design. 50 points. Using Techsmith Capture and the Screencast.com streaming service, you create and share a screencast focused on the profile document you created during the Document Design workshop.
- Problem Exploration. 50 points. You examine strategies for investigating and describing problems for exploration. See SVSU Canvas for details.
- Asset Identification. 50 points. You examine strategies for connecting prospective assets with problems & solutions. I have removed this workshop from the calendar.
- Peer Review 1. 50 points. You participate in peer review of the first stage for the Proposal project.
- Funding Sources. 50 points. You examine strategies for identifying and researching potential funding sources for your proposal. See SVSU Canvas for details.
- Worst-Case Scenario. 50 points. You engage in strategies for identifying possible outcomes and obstacles for your Proposal project. I have removed this workshop from the calendar.
- Peer Review 2. 50 points. You participate in peer review of the final draft stage for the Proposal project.