The Project Report (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.
This project requires only a final submission. Submit the following files to an Project Report folder in your shared course space on Dropbox.com.
Document type: memo, video, screening doc
Document length: 150 words (memo), 5 to 6 minutes (screencast), variable (screening document, see below)
Project value: 200 points
Evaluation rubric: _RPW336_Eval_ProjectReport.pdf
The PR requires you to present the core details about your Proposal project journey. To do so effectively, your vid must frame for viewers the problem you addressed, your reasons for engaging with it, and your strategies for approaching the problem and potential solutions. This project thus emphasizes your ability to distill information, to frame your activities, and to reflect upon work processes such as those you explored here this semester.
Your screening document (that is, the document from which you record your screencast video) should stand alone as an effective representation of your report even without your presence as a presenter. That means viewers (or readers) ought to be able to discern the core details and explanations from the content available on each screen. However, the document should be designed to serve primarily as the on-screen object during your screencast recording. That is, although you present from the screening doc, your voice brings it to life.
To meet these ends, your screening document must incorporate the following content and design elements.
Record your screencast using the screening document as your designated recording window. Note that I list recommended below a selection of tools for this work. Use the content from your screening document as the basis for your presentation. However, avoid reading it to viewers. Rather, bring it to life through your discussion.
Test the resulting video file prior to submitting your project. Make sure that the audio is strong and clear and that the video is free of glitches or background sounds.
Set up your report for streaming by posting the video file to Screencast.com (or another streaming service). Remember, one advantage of Screencast.com over some other services is that you control whether or not your files are publicly accessible. If you created an account here for the Screencast Design workshop, then you may remember that your video file is accompanied by a SHARE link. Copy that link and add it to your final Memo of Transmittal (see below) prior to submission of the project.
A memo of transmittal introduces the accompanying document to its audience(s). Your memo should be addressed from you to me, and should introduce the accompanying project. Your memo should incorporate the following content elements.
Recommended tool(s): Techsmith Capture, or Camtasia for video recording; Microsoft Word for the screening document; microphone; headphones
This section offers guidance for how to interpret the project, and for how to proceed with your work on it. Therefore, as you work, consider the following strategies.
Approach this project as an information strategist. That is, recognize that this project requires quality writing and quality information design. Consider how audience needs and expectations for documents of this type ought to impact your design decisions. Consider how all of the design components that go into screencast production (e.g., text, images, page layout, audio) might coordinate and complement one another. Evaluate how your video does or does not meet the standards of excellence you note in similar designs.
Establish a connection with your audience. What do viewers need to know to understand your project, to imagine your approach to addressing the problem on which you focus? What strategies might help your audience connect? Sustain that connection throughout your video.
The visual content you provide and implement will be important to your success at creating and maintaining quality content and connection with your audience.
This section is designed to help you anticipate and avoid problems as you work on this project. Therefore, as you work, consider the following hints and tips.
Remember that communication in professional and technical contexts values highly the ability to write and speak with economy, directness, and professionalism. Another way of saying this is to make every word count. Stay focused on the details necessary to understand your OoS, the research you conduct, and the conclusions you draw from your work. Write and rewrite until your explanations make sense, and represent careful, concise, professional communication.
Focus on the little and big details. Proofread your on-screen document carefully. Make sure your audio is strong and clear. Review what you say and how you say it. Check the quality of your audio and video. Redo material that does not meet expectations. Test your SHARE link after you add it to the Memo.
Design a document that presents completely the report's core content. Because you will record a screencast of your movement through this document, it is most effective to design a document that fits on screen and requires no scrolling. That means using the landscape orientation rather than portrait in your design package.
Your transitions between pages during the screencast will go more smoothly if you convert your screening document to PDF before you record your video.
I offer this caution about using Microsoft PowerPoint. Although a slideshow created in PowerPoint suits your needs in general for this task, I strongly recommend that you avoid using any templates provided by Microsoft. Such templates are designed to meet outdated standards for projected documents, and are not at all appropriate for a professional document such as the one you need to create here.
Screencasting tools allow you to designate a recording window, which may be a portion of your computer screen or the whole screen. The contents of that window are recorded during the screencasting process. Designate the report document as your recording window, rather than the whole screen. This is more professional. However, it is also more effective because it eliminates unnecessary screen content, and may allow you to record the screencast document at a larger scale.
Plan and rehearse your lessons so that you use the time allotted to you for your presentation. It is often obvious when presenters have not planned well or rehearsed their presentation. In such cases, they may have little to say, or struggle to do more than read from their screening document, or or simply stop because their time is running out. You do not have much time to discuss your topic, and thus need to emphasize organization in your planning. Plan the general presentation sections and the key details from each. Work your way through the topics toward your conclusion.
Once you have completed your recording, review your screencast to make sure that (1) your delivery is professional, coherent, and well paced, (2) your video is clear and free of flaws, and (3) your audio is clear, audible, and free of distracting clicks or other background sounds.
Although it is possible to upload a video file (typically an .mp4 format file), such files can be large. Screencast.com allows you to share a link with others that, when selected, provides access to a video stream. Because most email packages (including SVSU Vmail) have limits on file size for attachments, this sharing option is often the most effective. Always test your link before you submit your project.
Read and attend carefully to these submission guidelines. Failure to do so may result in delays in receiving feedback on the draft of your project, or in points lost on the final evaluation of your project.
Create a project folder inside your shared class folder on Dropbox.com. Remember, I can only view files that you place inside the shared folder. Until you place files in that space, you have not in practice submitted them.
Name the folder Project Report.
Your report submission on Dropbox requires 2 documents. Model your filenames on the examples listed here.
Note. Do not share the files with me. By placing them in your project folder, you have already shared the files by default.
There are 200 possible points for this project. You will earn points according to the standard described on the policies page (40% content development, 40% design execution, and 20% professionalism & attention to detail; see Policies). The specific areas of emphasis for this project are drawn from the description and discussion of the project, and are detailed in the evaluation rubric (_RPW336_Eval_ProjectReport.pdf).
Remember that I will only post the point values for projects on the Grades page in SVSU Canvas. I will post the details relevant to that evaluation in your class folder in a project-specific file.
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