Project development issues assignment

After you have had a chance to talk in your groups during class, post a blog entry that discusses what project development issues you foresee with your capstone. Upload the URL to that post here for your points.

Be sure to discuss these issues:

• time management issues
• skills needed to complete the project
• resources needed (people and technology/materials)
• budget
• team issues (even if it is just you and your mentor, that forms a team)
• other issues

Peer support group assignment

Post on your blog the general category you think your capstone might fit into. For example, Video, web dev, audio, interactivitiy, etc. This is the overarching umbrella for your project. The point is to allow us to group up in class next week based on capstone interests/subject/technology. Think of them as peer capstone support groups.

Once you have identified your "theme" look at the other students' blogs and see who you would like to be in a discussion group with. Email that person in Oncourse and CC me in the email. Also post their name on your blog so I (and other mentors) can see how the groups are shaping up from reading the blogs. Be prepared to sit together in class next week. If you can't find anyone you want to be in a discussion group with I will assign you to a group. This is your chance to group up on your own.

Remember, the point of these groups is to help your capstone develop, not to be social, so choose wisely.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Secondary mentor assignment

Create a blog entry that discusses the idea of a secondary mentor. What do you think their role is? Where can you find a secondary mentor? Who would NOT be a good candidate for this role (the kind of person, not necessarily a name?)

Identify at least 2 people who would make a good secondary mentor for your capstone. Interview them in a similar manner you did your mentor candidates.

Upload the URL(s) here for this assignment. This is also due Sept. 20.

Mentor profile assignment

Create a blog entry that discusses the faculty available to you as mentors.

1. State your capstone idea in 100 words or less.
2. Identify and discuss 4 key components you are searching for in a mentor.
3. Identify 3 potential mentors from the MAS faculty you would like to approach to discuss your capstone. Make sure one of them is someone from whom you have never taken a class.
4. Explain what these faculty members coud bring to your capstone and why you are interested in working with them.
5. Either via web research, email, phone, or in person interview, discuss the following topics about each faculty member you are interested in working with:
   1. Their area of expertise
   2. Their expectations of a capstone student
   3. Their general availablity for mentoring next semester
   4. If they have any project types they are not interested in working with
   5. Their thoughts on a secondary advisor
   6. Anything else you might want to add

This profile should be completed and posted for each mentor candidate (total of 3) no later than Sept. 20. If you want, you may post them as individual blog entries and submit all 3 URL's here, or you can do it as one big blog entry.

If you already have your mentor selected, please still do this. The fact that these are such directed questions will only help you and your existing mentor(s) work together better. Exploring other mentors, even if you already have one, serves 2 purposes:

1. It helps you learn what other faculty resources might be available to help you
2. Possibly more important, in the event that your current mentor becomes unavailable for some reason you have already made strides toward becoming familiar with other faculty (you should ALWAYS have a plan B and a plan C at the very least...)

Please let me know if you have any problems or questions about this assignment.