Today’s Plan:
- Spreadsheet Issues
- Report / Proposal Assignment
- Homework
Spreadsheet Issues
As I emailed out yesterday, there were some issues with the spreadsheet. I went through everyone’s Google Doc Workspace. If you’re Workspace link worked and you submitted 10 jobs, then you got a 1-10 score. Only 6 people got a score, which means the majority of you didn’t quite understand the assignment. I will try and find time to regrade the other submissions, but I don’t think I will get to them until Monday.
Let’s look at the spreadsheet. So:
- If a job entry is green, then everyone who worked on it got full credit. It is complete. Bravo!
- If a job entry is orange, then everyone who worked on it got 1/2 credit. It is missing some necessary codes. In some cases I have highlighted what I think is missing. It needs to be fixed before you begin your research analysis for the report.
- If a job is red, then everyone who listed it got 0 credit. It is not coded. Do not pass “Go,” do not collect $200 dollars.
Let me make this explicit: you cannot start working on your research report until you have all green jobs. If you have orange jobs in your list, go fix them.
Report / Proposal Assignment
Let’s review the work from Wednesday.
Report Structure/Deliverables
- Summary
- Report
- Methods: Here is where you write up the methodology of our job analysis research. I am testing you on how well you can elaborate a complex research protocol into concise, easy-to-follow instructions. The methods section of a research article should enable another researcher to recreate your work. What does that person need to know?
- Data / Findings: For each of the following, I want to know at least the 3 highest coded attributes. I want to see a graph that tells me in what percentage each attribute appeared. We will learn how to make a simple graph in Google Slides next Wednesday.
- Tools and Tech
- Professional Competencies
- Personal Characteristics
- Discussion / Conclusions: If you’ve ever read any science research, then you will be familiar with the genre–first, the research shows you the numbers, next they tell you what it means. What number is surprising, most significant. How do the numbers compare to previous research (hint: Brumberger and Lauer). I also expect you to identify how this research resonates with YOU. For instance, last semester we found a high expectations for familiarity with social media and CMS. Many students indicated that they already had some level of experience with social media (though there was a wide discrepancy between personal and professional use). But far fewer students had experience with a CMS. So even though more more jobs called for SM, many of the student proposals focused on learning a CMS.
- Proposal
- Rationale / Problem / Goal: This section of the proposal concisely reiterates the discussion section above. Then it moves to propose (like a mini-introduction) what you will do over the next three weeks
- Costs / Materials:
Includes a review of possibilities and a justification for why you are using what you are using. If, for instance, you focus on a CMS, then tell me what CMS you will use and why you picked it (I recommend either Squarespace–if you are willing to spend money–or Google Sites if you are looking for a free alternative. There is also Weebly and Wix, though I find their interfaces kind of annoying). Do some research and make an argument for what tool you will use. ALSO, tell me about the research process you used to identify a meaningful tutorial. If you tell me that you just selected the top Google hit, then I will think less of you. Be better. Be smart. - Deliverables:What you plan on giving me as a final product
- Gantt chart [timeline]: We will work on this next Wednesday, essentially, it is a calendar. Make your own syllabus
A complete draft of this proposal report will be due in class next Friday. A final version of this project will be due Sunday, February 3rd at 11:59pm. Length will vary, but I expect a report between 800 and 1200 words (and 1000 is an absolute ceiling, I’ll knock a letter grade off the paper if you go above 1200).
I have office hours on Tuesday from 12:30-3:00. I will also make myself available next Thursday from 2:00-3:00.
Homework
Remember that we are discussing the Herrick reading on Monday. You will find a .pdf of the Herrick in the files section of Canvas, and a discussion forum. Post in the forum prior to Monday’s class.
Fix the fracking spreadsheet.
Begin drafting the Report/Proposal.
