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Group Project Two

 

Research Topic: HUMAN IMPACTS UPON THE LANDSCAPE.

Project Overview

In this course you will explore a range of topics about humans as agents of change. Human agency expresses itself in many ways over time, and, as you can see in the syllabus, we will begin by looking at how prehistoric people changed their environments, and then we move forward historically through the origins and spread of agriculture and the industrial city to contemporary post-industrial landscapes.

This second group project is an opportunity for you to explore one topic about human impacts upon the landscape for eight weeks. Please select a topic from the Project 2 research topic list. Each group will select a different topic. You will research this topic and publish your findings on a website. Each week you will have specific tasks to complete depending on the group role that you have selected. You will inform your TA each week about your progress through brief Individual Learning Reports. Every 2 weeks your group will give an informal progress report to your discussion section when you will show your website and solicit feedback on your sources, methods, and website construction.

The project will culminate in a group presentation during the week of November 17th. You will report on the results of your research and show the group website. [See Project Schedule] Your website will be evaluated by your classmates after this presentation, and you will have the opportunity to revise the website based on their feedback before final grading at semester's end by your TA.

 

Requirements for Final Group Website

The group website should have each of the following components and meet the minimum length requirement in order to be judged SATISFACTORY - these minimum requirements must be exceeded in order for a site to be judged GOOD or EXCELLENT.

  • Title page
  • Summary of Research Topic - A one paragraph description of your research topic which defines terms and introduces the topic.
  • Statement of the Research Issues - The main text of your group's report on this topic. It should be between 3 to 6 pages long. The quality of your writing and information is much more important than the quantity.
  • Reference Page - This is a list of library, Web, and geography resources with an explanation of relevance to your topicfor someone to use to learn more about the topic.

Additionally, each week during Project Two you will hand in:

Individual Learning Reports

These are written by each group member and handed in to your TA each week at your discussion section. They are reflective, informal statements charting the course of your personal learning during the project. Each week of the project you will write 2-3 paragraphs describing what you have learned that week in three areas:

  • The research topic
  • Technical skills - library research, web research, website building
  • Geography
[Click for an example of an Individual Learning Report ]

 

Project 2 Weekly Research Schedule

Week 1 [Sept. 28 – Oct. 2]

  • Topic and Group Roles Selected
  • Begin Research

Week 2 [Oct. 5 - Oct. 9]

  • Set up structure of website
  • Begin putting research online
  • Weekly Tasks Completed

Week 3 [Oct. 12 - Oct. 16]

  • First discussion section progress report
  • First draft of outline for Statement of Research Issues
  • Weekly Tasks Completed

Week 4 [Oct.19 - Oct. 23]

  • Weekly Tasks Completed
  • Second draft of outline for Statement of Research Issues
  • Switch Group Roles at end of week

Week 5 [Oct. 26 - Oct. 30]

  • Second discussion section progress report
  • First draft of Statement of Research Issues
  • Weekly Tasks Completed

Week 6 [Nov. 2 - Nov. 6]

  • Weekly Tasks Completed
  • Second draft of Statement of Research Issues

Week 7 [Nov. 9 - Nov. 13]

  • Final discussion section progress report
  • Final draft of Statement of Research Issues
  • Reference page completed
  • Prepare group website for final presentation

Week 8 [Nov. 16 - Nov. 20]

  • Presentation in discussion section
  • Revise website based on class feedback

 

Project 2 Weekly Research Plan

 Week 1 Group Tasks

During the first week, the group should work together to complete the following tasks:
  1. Select a topic from Project 2 research topic list and notify your TA of your choice.
  2. Assign each individual a role from the following list:

    3. [Click on them to find out more about the duties of each role]

    Each group member will switch roles after the fourth week of the project.

    3. Decide on your group’s objectives for your research of the topic which you have chosen:

    • What do you want to learn about the topic?
    • What specific questions do you want answered?
    • How does this topic fit into the study of geography?

    4. Set up a page on your group website that includes the following:

    • the title of your research topic
    • a one paragraph Summary of Research Topic

    5. Hand in Individual Learning Reports

     

    Week 2 Group Tasks

     

    BEGINNING RESEARCH – Gathering resources.

    Your group should be organized and researching your topic by the end of Week 2.

    Group Coordinator

    1. Make a list of group member’s email addresses and phone numbers
    2. Create a file for storing group information
    3. Work with the Website Master to create the group website structure - Reference page
    4. Collect the Week 2 research from group members and work the Website Master to put it online
    5. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Website Master
    1. Collect the work of the other group members from the Group Coordinator and work together to build the website structure
    2. Create a page entitled References and put online the references collected by the other group members.
    3. Create a page entitled Statement of Research Issues
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Library Researcher

    1. Using the University’s UTCAT system look for books and journals relevant to your topic
    2. Learn how to use the search features of UTCAT (subject, title and keyword searches) – If you have questions about how to conduct a search, ask the library staff for help!
    3. Note the title and author(s) of 5 books and 5 articles/chapters relevant to your topic.
    4. Give these references to the Group Coordinator either by email or on a disk.
    5. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Web Researcher

    1. Learn how to use various search engines to do research on the Web
    2. Note the URLs of 5 sites that you find with information relevant to your topic
    3. Give these references to the Group Coordinator either by email or on disk.
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Geographer

    1. Using the University’s UTCAT system do a subject search of geography and look for any books, journals, articles, etc. related to your topic.
    2. Find the geography section in the PCL and look at introductory human/cultural geography books for references to your topic.
    3. Make a list of references that you find and give them to the Group Coordinator
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

     
    Week 3 Tasks

    Discussion Section Progress Report

    [5 minutes for each group]

    • This report is an informal feedback session! YOU WILL NOT BE GRADED ON THIS REPORT.
    • Your TA will bring a projector to your discussion section, and your discussion section will get to see your group website.
    • You will show what you have done so far and get feedback from your discussion section.
    • You can share information on website building and get/give help on problems.
    • You can learn about what other groups in your discussion section are researching.
    • Working with your TA, each group can decide how they want to do these reports – one spokesperson or more, content, etc..
    • These are only 5 minute reports. Be brief and to the point.

     

    Group Coordinator

    1. Organize the first Progress Report
    2. Collect this week’s research from group members and add it to the group file
    3. Work with the Website Master to organize any material that needs to be posted on the website.
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Website Master

    1. Participate in the Progress Report
    2. Put online the references collected by the other group members.
    3. Research webpage building
    4. Put online the first draft of the outline for the Statement of Research Issues
    5. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Library Researcher

    1. Participate in the Progress Report
    2. Work with the Web Researcher and the Geographer to complete the first draft of the outline for the Statement of Research Issues (give to the Group Coordinator)
    3. Begin outlining the topics covered by the 5 books/articles/chapters which are most relevant to your topic
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Web Researcher

    1. Participate in the Progress Report
    2. Explore each of the websites that you found – outline their structure and content (give to the Group Coordinator
    3. continue researching the Web and pass on any references to books or articles to the Library Researcher
    4. Work with the Library Researcher and Geographer to complete the first draft of the outline for the Statement of Research Issues (give to theGroup Coordinator)
    5. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Geographer

    1. Participate in the Progress Report
    2. Visit the PCL Map Collection and become familiar with the map resouces there and note any maps that are relevant to your topic
    3. Work with the Web Researcher and the Library Researcher to complete the first draft of the outline for the Statement of Research Issues
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Week 4 Group Tasks
    At the end of this week, all group members will switch group roles.

    Group Coordinator

    1. Collect weekly research from group members
    2. Work with Website Master to put the first draft of the outline for the Statement of Research Issues on the website
    3. Give the group file to the new Group Coordinator
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Record

    Website Master

    1. Put weekly group research on website Reference page
    2. Put first outline of the Statement of Research Issues on the website
    3. Train the next Website Master
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Record

    Library Researcher

    1. Write a detailed outline of the article/chapter most relevant to your topic (give to the Group Coordinator)
    2. Work with the Web Researcher and Geographer to complete the second draft of the outline for the Statement of Research Issues (give to the Group Coordinator)
    3. Train the next Library Researcher
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Web Researcher

    1. Collect and outline more websites (give to the Group Coordinator)
    2. Work with the Library Researcher and Geographer to complete the second draft of the outline for the Statement of Research Issues (give to the Group Coordinator)
    3. Train the next Web Researcher
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Geographer

    1. Look for map resources on the Web - find some which are relevant to your topic (give URLs to the Group Coordinator)
    2. Work with the Library Researcher and Web Researcher to complete the second draft of the outline for the Statement of Research Issues (give to the Group Coordinator)
    3. Train the next Geographer
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Week 5 Group Tasks

    Everyone should have a new group role beginning this week. During this week you will give the second group Progress Report in your discussion section.

    Group Coordinator

    1. Organize the second Progress Report
    2. Collect weekly research from group members
    3. Work with Website Master to put the second draft of the outline for the Statement of Research Issues on the group website
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Website Master

    1. Participate in the second Progress Report
    2. Learn how to load images onto the group website
    3. Load the weekly group research onto the website - work with the Group Coordinator to put the second draft of the outline for the Statement of Research Issues on the website
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Library Researcher

    1. Participate in the second Progress Report
    2. Outline another article/chapter which is relevant to your topic
    3. Using the outline for the Statement of Research Issues work with the Web Researcher and Geographer to write the first draft of the Statement of Research Issues (give to the Group Coordinator)
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Web Researcher

    1. Participate in the second Progress Report
    2. Find 5 images from the Web that can be used for your group website
    3. Using the outline for the Statement of Research Issues work with the Library Researcher and Geographer to write the first draft of the Statement of Research Issues (give to the Group Coordinator)
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Geographer

    1. Participate in the second Progress Report
    2. Write several paragraphs about how your topic fits into the geographic themes in this course
    3. Using the outline for the Statement of Research Issues work with the Library Researcher and Geographer to write the first draft of the Statement of Research Issues (give to the Group Coordinator)
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Week 6 Group Tasks

    This week you should begin to prepare your website for your final presentation.

    Group Coordinator

    1. Collect research from group members
    2. Work with Website Master to put the first draft of the Statement of Research Issues on the website
    3. Work with the Geographer to revise the one paragraph Summary of Research Topic
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Website Master

    1. Load the weekly group research on the website - work with the Group Coordinator to put the first draft of the Statement of Research Issues on the website
    2. Work with the Web Researcher and load some images onto your website
    3. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Library Researcher

    1. Work with the Web Researcher and Geographer on the second draft of the Statement of Research Issues (give to the Group Coordinator)
    2. Give any new references to the Website Master to load on the Reference page
    3. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Web Researcher

    1. Collect images to use on your website and work with the Website Master to begin loading them onto your website
    2. Work with the Library Researcher and Geographer on the second draft of the Statement of Research Issues (give to the Group Coordinator)
    3. Give any new references to the Website Master to load on the Reference page
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Geographer

    1. Work with the Group Coordinator and revise the one paragraph Summary of Research Topic to include how this issue fits into geography
    2. Give any new references to the Website Master to load on the Reference page
    3. Work with the Library Researcher and the Web Researcher on the second draft of the Statement of Research Issues (give to the Group Coordinator)
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Week 7 Group Tasks

    This week you will give your final progress report before your group presentation. You should finish all research and writing this week.

    Group Coordinator

    1. Organize the third Progress Report
    2. Work with the Website Master to put the final draft of the Statement of Research Issues on the website
    3. Collect final references and research from group members
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Website Master

    1. Participate in the third Progress Report
    2. Work with the Group Coordinator to put the final draft of the Statement of Research on the website
    3. Put final references and images on the website
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Library Researcher

    1. Participate in the third Progress Report
    2. Working with the Web Researcher and Geographer complete a final draft of the Statement of Research Issues (give to the Group Coordinator)
    3. Give the Website Master any final references for the Reference page
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Web Researcher

    1. Participate in the third Progress Report
    2. Working with the Library Researcher and Geographer complete a final draft of the Statement of Research Issues (give to the Group Coordinator)
    3. Give the Website Master any final references and images for the website
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Geographer

    1. Participate in the third Progress Report
    2. Working with the Library Researcher and Web Researcher complete a final draft of the Statement of Research Issues (give to the Group Coordinator)
    3. Give the Website Master any final references for the website
    4. Hand in your Individual Learning Report

    Week 8 Group Tasks

    Your group project will end this week with a ten minute presentation in your discussion section. All group members are expected to participate in this presentation. It is your chance to report what you have learned and to show your completed website. Your classmates will evaluate your website, and you will have be able to revise the website up to the last day of classes for the semester.

     

    Group Roles

     

    Group Coordinator

    Your job is to be the "point person" for your group - to coordinate, communicate, and help build the group website.

    Your duties are:

    • communicate with your TA about the progress of the group and any problems encountered.
    • communicate with other group members and arrange meeting times
    • collect and organize the group’s research
    • maintain a file of group work
    • work with the Website Master on building the group website

    Your weekly tasks:

    Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8,

     

    Website Master

    Your job is to construct your group website

    • Work with the Group Coordinator to organize group research and build the group website
    • Research website construction
    • Upload and organize material for the website
    • Work with Web Researcher to study web resources for your topic

    Your weekly tasks:

    Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8,

     

    Web Researcher

    Your job is to research the World Wide Web for information on your topic.

    Your duties are:

    • Review websites and pass on information to the Group Coordinator and Website Master
    • Collect and summarize information from the Web and create a list of Web resources for the Reference page of your group website
    • Work with the Library Researcher and Geographer to write the Statement of Research Issues

    Your weekly tasks:

    Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8,

     

    Library Researcher 

    Your job is to do research in the University's libraries for information on your topic.

    Your duties are:

    • Research library books, journals, articles, etc. relevant to your topic
    • Collect and summarize information from the libraries and create a list of Library resources for the Reference page
    • Work with the Web Researcher and Geographer to write the Statement of Research Issues
    • Help write a summary and the statement of the research problem for the group website

    Your weekly tasks:

    Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8,

     

    Geographer

    Many of the topics that you will research will lead you into subjects in other academic disciplines, your job is to look for linkages between your topic and the discipline of geography. Specifically, your job is to show how your topic is relevant to the main themes of this geography course by pointing out aspects of the topic that relate to:

    1. man-land relationships
    2. human agency
    3. changing attitudes toward the environment.

    Your duties are:

    • Research and write about the connection between your topic and geography for the Statement of Research Issues
    • Collect map resources for your project
    • Work with the Library Researcher and the Web Researcher to write the Statement of Research Issues

    Your weekly tasks:

    Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8,