The first week of the group white paper project focused mainly on getting acquainted with the assignment and the group. We decided rather early on that we would split the major deliverables up, with each one of us being primarily responsible for one aspect of the project. A Google Docs account was created for our group to use, and we have already begun to utilize it by adding to, editing, and commenting on our initial proposal. We are also looking into ways to send messages through Google Docs so out inboxes will not become overly cluttered with emails back and forth.
My individual participation this week dealt mostly with helping the group decide on our subject, then narrow it down to a specific topic. I sent a few group emails detailing ideas about what approaches we could take for this project. It was decided to create a white paper intending for use by lawmakers regarding solutions to America’s oil dependence, including renewable energies and smart gird technologies. I also contributed to the proposal through Google Docs, and added comments and suggestions before it was finalized. We have a face-to-face meeting scheduled for tomorrow where we will discuss how the rest of the work is going to be divided up specifically.
re: Individual Activity Report - Week 12
Your individual reports should focus more on your contributions and less on the group (the group activity report handles that). You should explicate statements such as: "I sent a few group emails detailing ideas about what approaches we could take for this project," and "I also contributed to the proposal through Google Docs, and added comments and suggestions before it was finalized." What was the substance of your emails? What specific additions did you make to the proposal? Concrete contributions should be your focus, because they reveal what you individually added to the project. This is important, because your group mates will be reviewing these blogs later as a record of your value to the group.