Research Project

TIME-BASED COMMUNICATION 2
YSDN 3013 (S) Winter Term I Academic Year 2008/2009

RESEARCH PROJECT.
Assigned: February 27, 2009

Length of Project: Classes 7-9 (Feb 27–March 13)
Project grade breakdown: 10% of final grade.

Deadlines:
March 6: Research projects selected. Initial proposal posted to the blog (option C).
March 13: Hard copies due. Test results posted to blog (option C).
March 20: Final blog versions due, including revisions where applicable.

Objectives.
The Technical Research Project is designed to strengthen students’ technical research, analysis and problem solving skills. For students whose knowledge of time-based media technologies is relatively rudimentary, the research project is an opportunity to develop confidence and skills required to learn on your own in the future. For students with relatively advanced technical learning skills, the assignment is an opportunity to acquire knowledge of and/or develop expertise in a specialized area of interest.

Assignment Overview

OPTION A
Pick a research question from the list. Undertake the research required to understand the question, and to answer it. Write up your answer. Append a list of the (formal and informal) sources you consulted throughout the research process, and a 1 paragraph description of two of your resources, including the text or online resource you found most useful.

OPTION B
Answer the series of questions on the take home quiz. You are free to consult any resources you want, including your peers, instructors, or technical support staff, but you must answer in your own words (or pictures) and note the source (s) of information, whether formal or informal, you turned to for each answer.

OPTION C
Choose a technology or technique that you would like to work with for Project 2, that you are not at present familiar with. Propose a plan for learning what you will need to know in order to attain the level of proficiency required to complete the relevant aspect of your project work. Include a set of tests or trials, and at least 3 resources you will turn to for information and advice. Post a sampling of failed and successful trials and/or tests to your blog. Incldude a description of your aims, method, and an analysis of what you learnt, for at least three different things you tried.

Deliverables

OPTIONS A & B
1. A hard copy of:
– your answer to the question(s) (aprox 500 words).
– ¬¬a list of resources consulted, including, where applicable: bibliographic information for print sources; site names and full URL’s for online sources; and the names and titles of any individuals consulted.
– a descrirption of two of your sources, including the print or online resource you found most useful.

2. A page on your individual blogs that includes:
– your answer to the question (s), corrected and revised, where applicable.
– your list of resources, edited to include only those that proved useful.
– your one-paragraph descriptions of two resources.

OPTION C
1. A hard copy of
– your research proposal (aprox 250 words) including a description of what you want to discover or learn, an outline of how you plan to go about learning it, and a list of (at least 3) resources you could consult.

2. A page on your individual blogs that includes:
– your initial research proposal
¬– your list of potential resources, and a one paragraph description of the one you found most useful.
– 3 examples of things you tested or tried out (whether successful or not), including an explanation of your aims and methods, links to visual elements of any tests or trials, and analysis of what you learnt through each.

Guidelines & Expectations

You are welcome to avail yourself of any resources you find useful, and trust to be accurate, including but not limited to: print resources, texts on the ‘recommended reading’ lists; online texts, user forums, tutorials et al; personal contacts with peers, instructors, technical staff. In all cases you should try to answer the question in your own words, and must give credit to the source of your information, whether formal or informal.

You are welcome to use drawings to illustrate or to clarify your written answers if you want.

Please attach a cover page to your hard copy submissions, with the following information:
- course code and name
- instructor’s name (Mary Daniel)
- date of submission
- your name

Evaluation

Concept development, ideas: Analysis of the problem; initiative and inventiveness in coming up with resources, research strategies and plans. 30/100

Refinement of the Concept: Effective execution of research plans, including the ability to critically assess the trustworthiness and usefulness of consulted resouces, and to rethink, refine and revise research strategies and resource lists if necessary. 30/100

Technical Quality: Clarity, accuracy and completeness of the technical research results. 10/100

Presentation: Materials ready for deadlines. Demonstrated work ethic and professional conduct. Quality of documentation of your research, and of your ability to communicate your findings to others. 30/100.