Service Learning Project
During the Service Learning Project, students will learn how to work collaboratively to produce a professional project for a real world client. Groups of 3-5 students will produce specific documents for a local non-profit organization determined by the instructor. While producing these documents, students will demonstrate their understanding of audience awareness, research, documentation, ethos, professionalism, conciseness, document design.
project prompt and summary
The instructor will form student groups and assign each group professional documents based on the demands of a specific non-profit agency. Based on an analysis of the non-profit agency, an understanding of their specific requirements, and comprehension of the course principles, the groups will research and produce the necessary documents. Because each group will be producing the same documents as the other groups in its section, clients will vote at the end of the project to select the documents they will use. This means that there is a competitive element to this project.
deliverables
Step 1: Group Gantt Chart. In a thoroughly executed Gantt chart, students should lay out group goals, a time table for the completion of each goal, and the individual responsibilities of each member. Each Gantt chart must include all duties and deliverables necessary for project completion as well as color coding and a key that specifies which group member will complete each duty. There are many resources online to help you produce your chart, including instructions for using Microsoft Excel to make it. Just Google "gantt chart" for more information, and use the samples provided on Week 5 of the calendar. Due Friday, July 13.
Step 2: Group Activity Reports. Groups are also responsible for weekly activity reports (250 words) in order to keep the instructor informed of the progress that the group has made over the week. Activity reports (submitted as professional emails) are due by midnight, each Sunday, starting with week five (week five's report is due Sunday, July 15, and so on) and concluding in week eight. Please always give this email the subject "Group # Activity Report."
Step 3: Weekly Individual Work Blogs. Because the course and the professional world stress the value of documenting work, individual students are required to keep weekly work blogs of the tasks they have completed. These blogs (200 words each) should briefly and professionally describe work completed by the author and how this work contributed to the goals of the group. Work blogs (posted to the "Work blogs" category) are due by midnight, each Friday, starting with week five (week five’s activity report is due Friday, July 13th, week six's is due Friday, July 20, and so on) and concluding in week eight. Please label all work blogs "LASTNAME Work Blog Week #."
Step 4: Group Document Drafts: Because these documents are for a professional client, several drafts are required to ensure quality. Groups will turn in a draft of the project in weeks six and seven, July 18th and 24th. Each draft should demonstrate significant progress towards completion of the project.
Step 5: Group Peer Review: Each group will have their project peer reviewed by members of the other section. Your instructor will partner your group with a group in the other section. Each group member should post a 200 word review comment to that project by midnight of Wednesday, July 25th. For peer review to run smoothly, it is vital that each group posts its draft by midnight of Tuesday, July 24th.
Step 6: Group Final Draft: A final draft of the project is due at the end of the course. The final draft should meet all of the standards specified by the client and be ready for professional use. Final drafts are due Wednesday, August 1st.
Step 7: Individual Assessment: At the end of the project, each student will fill out the Project Assessment Form evaluating the final project and each group member's participation. Project Assessment Forms are due Friday, August 3rd.
grading
The Service Learning Project is worth 20% of your course grade. The group portion of the project is worth 80% of project grade, and the individual portion is worth 20%. The breakdown for each of its components is as follows: Step 1: Group Gantt Chart (5%); Step 2: Group Weekly Activity Reports (10%); Step 3: Individual Work Blogs (10%); Step 4: Group Drafts (10%); Step 5: Group Peer Review (5%); Step 6: Group Final (50%); Step 7: Individual Assessment (10%).
grading criteria
For the service learning project, the client will contribute to the final grading process. The client will select one project for professional use, and that project will be the only project that receives an A. Other projects will receive an A- or less based on the following criteria:
- The project conforms to the demands and needs expressed by the client.
- The project effectively addresses its specific multiple audiences.
- The project follows the principles of professional, clear, correct, concise, writing as elaborated in the course.
- The project demonstrates awareness of design principles discussed in the course.
- The project is ready to function in the appropriate professional environment.
revision
The final course project cannot be revised because of time constraints. However, multiple drafts will ensure that groups get plenty of feedback to improve their projects.