Professor Gorman's Email

28 April 1997

Several students had questions about the final. Those of you who want to do something creative or risky for the final can ignore this response, except for two requirements and one aption:

REQUIREMENTS:

(1) Every reflection paper/ memo must cite some of the sources we have used throughtout the semester -- readings, WEb pages, whatever.

(2) Every reflection paper, like every assignment, must be pledged.

OPTION:

(1) We designed this as an individual reflection assignment, but at least one group wanted to do it as a group on the second module. I am comfortable with this, but will expect a more thorough analysis than I would from an individual.

Those of you who need to be told what to do, at least so you have a default you can follow, should pay close attention to what follows:

Prepare a diagram for each of the two modules, describing his/her group's processes on same; this can be a flow chart (see Alexander Graham Bell's Path to the Telephone), or any alternate format the student prefers.

You have an individual reflection paper on the first module, so it should be easy to create a diagram for that one. You will need to reflect hard on the second module in order to come up with a diagram.

Provide one synthesis diagram describing what was common to both modules and about a page or two of texty to describe the structure of the diagrams.

Now you will have to compare the two diagrams, and synthesize. What was common about your own thinking processes? What was different? What have you used that you will apply to future problem-solving situations? How did your group work on the seecond module? Give us some text that addresses these questions and shows where they play a role in the diagrams.

DIAGRAMS can also have captions.

In fact, I strongly recommend you include captions that describe each diagram.

Put these diagrams on the Web for sharing with others. We will take the fianl exam period for a web poster exhibit, in which we will study each others' diagrams and reflect on what we have learned about invention and design.

Both diagrams and text should be on the Web -- the complete final so that we can look at it and so that I can link it to the 315 page for future students. If any of you object ot having this amterial linked in this way, I will not do it. The pages should bear your name, so that you have the copyright, which is automatically assigned when one puts material on the Web.

Larry Richards will structure the presentations on Saturday, and he may have additioinal advice about the Web pages. WE will have very limited time for each student, because we woudl like to reflect a little as a class on the problemo-solving process and what we have learned about it. What we are trying to do is spark you on the road to life-long learning-- teaching you how to improve your group and individual problem-solving processes as you move into new situations.