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Research Guides

Albright Institute

Group Project: Planning

Set aside time to plan:

Making decisions about file organization, storage, and project management practices before you start can help avoid confusion and conflict later on. Here are some elements to consider:

File organization

Speak as a group to determine how files will be shared, named, and organized so the group work can move along smoothly.

File storage

We recommend using Google Drive to store and share your working documents. If you have file storage needs beyond Google Drive, your own computers, and/or back-up drives please contact us. We can talk about other options.

Timeline

Google now has a Timeline View built using information in Google Sheets

Project Management

Five Structures for Helping ... Learn Project Management: The resources on this site are intended for teachers to help their students learn about project management. I found the context and choices informing the structures to be as helpful as the structures themselves. You can also learn about the structures via text in the blog post; podcast [24 minutes] (included in the blog post); video: The Project Management Process [1 minute 34 sec); and graphics

Step 1 - set goals and chart progress, Step 2 - Break down tasks and set deadlines, Step 3 - Choose and implement specific strategies, Step 4 - Monitor, adjust, and problem-solve

 

 

Narrowing Your Topic

Having trouble approaching your topic? Work through these topic narrowing questions as a group to get started.

Borrowing Equipment

January 2024: Email Rebecca Darling or clappequipment@wellesley.edu if you need equipment. Availability might be limited due to preparations for Clapp Library renovations. 

Data Visualization Tools

Recording Interviews

WHY are you recording?

  • Will you use the audio or video clips in your presentation? Is it a backup for taking notes?
  • If you're not sure, aim for the highest quality audio - starting with the best quality possible means less clean up in post-production

WHERE will you be recording? - Online? in person? Over the phone?

WHAT are you and your subject comfortable using to record? 

  • For example, would your subject prefer not to have their face captured on video?
  • Is your subject distracted by the recording equipment? How obtrusive is your recording device?
  • How much time do you have to get comfortable with new equipment?

Consider recording limitations:

  • ​Storage space
  • Power Source
  • Location

Quick Tips

  • **** Practice and Test ****
  • Listen to what you’re Recording! Use Headphones!
  • Have one person monitoring audio quality while another member of your group asks questions\

Sound Editing

Presentations

These presentation examples are given by individuals. What opportunities / complexities does having multiple presenters create / introduce?

DESIGN GUIDELINES: CRAP

In her 1994 book, The Non-Designer's Design Book Robin Williams introduced the basic design principles of CRAP:

Color/Contrast Alignment
Repetition Proximity

Learning about CRAP - In Class PresentationPoster Examples 

While Robin Williams was speaking directly about web design, these basic principals apply to many different types of media, from presentations to posters to film and more. 

At their best, interactive elements in your presentation can help participants remember your message and content. They can also enrich your presentation with other perspectives and experiences. When they don't work, they can come across as gimmicks or even distract from what you really want your audience to remember.

So, before you incorporate interactive elements in your presentation, ask yourselves:

  • Why we including these elements?
  • How are these elements enhancing our presentation?
  • How are we connecting the interactive experiences to the presentation as a whole?

Interactive Elements 

  • Q&A
  • Group Brainstorm
  • Physical changes
    • Ex: Present from other spaces in the room.
    • Ex: Get your audience up and moving
  • Group & Share
  • Polling

Including Streaming Audio or Video

You can always link to web materials, but a common question is how to grab a section of a streaming audio/video file on the web for use in your presentation. Sometimes we are able to help download these files using DownloadHelper plugin for Firefox.

For those files that are protected from download there may be a way to “capture” the screen with an application like Snagit or QuickTime Player Pro. If you have questions/problems with grabbing video clips from the web let us know as soon as possible so we can help you find a solution.