A Note on the Work Blogs and Activity Reports
The Service Learning Project seems to off to a good start. Judging from the activity reports the groups are sending, everyone seems to be working hard and making progress. However, we just wanted to give a gentle reminder to produce detailed, quality work blogs and activity reports. Remember, the project description specifies that "These activity reports (250 words each) should briefly and professionally describe work completed and how this work contributed to the goals of the group." Work blogs should be at least 200 words and describe your specific work and how it contributed to the group. Activity reports should be written from a group standpoint updating the instructor on your progress. Both should be professional in tone and error-free.
Though these assignment may seem like busy work, it is important for two reasons. First, because you will all verify each others' work blogs at the end of the project, they help ensure that no one in your group is slacking or taking a free ride. The second and more important reason is to get you in the habit of documenting and communicating your work. Once you reach the corporate world, you need to develop a reliable and effective method of documenting the work you do at your company. That way, when promotions or layoffs come around, you'll have evidence of your value to the company. There are many ways to document your work, including progress memos or emails to your boss, quarter or year end reports, or meeting minutes, but you'll want to make sure to find a method for cataloguing your work. These work blogs are an effort to get you in that habit.
As you write for the next few weeks, strive to produce relevant, informative work blogs and activity reports that represent you well. Write something that you would want your boss to see at a performance review.