TECH 621 Fall 2011 – Presentation Structure

Remember that we will meet back in Knoy for the last class session: Your final project presentation.

Please keep your presentation short – no more than 5-7 minutes, and follow this structure:

1. Research Question – explain the purpose of the research
2. Methods – explain how you collected and analyzed data
3. Findings – describe your sample and your most important findings
4. So, what? – explain what your findings mean, why they are important and to whom and their implications

The presentation is not graded – but if you do not present or don’t give it due attention, your APP points will suffer.

The main goal is to inform each other about our projects – it will be interesting to see what people did and what they found.

I will bring some snacks. If you’d like to, you’re welcome to bring something, too – but you don’t have to.

Research Article Analyses

For each of the 5 articles, write a blog post that follows this structure, more or less (OK, more, rather than less):

1. Full article citation in APA style, linked to full text if full text is available online.
2. Purpose of the research: Explain what the authors set out to accomplish.
3. Methods: Explain, very briefly, what methods the authors used to accomplish the research goal.
4. Main findings: Summarize the main findings
5. Analysis: Write your own thoughts about the article. You, could, for example, address some of the following: What does this article mean to you, is it useful or not for your research interests and current/future projects? What are the main things you wish to remember about this article? What are some of the limitations of the article? What directions for future research does this article suggest to you? Etc.

Keep them short, concise and very clear. The purpose of these RAAs is to expose each other to research we would not otherwise read or even hear about. So, make them quick and easy summaries that others can read to get an idea about what other social media research is out there.

In addition to writing these, make sure you read your classmates’ article analyses – comment on them so I know you read them.

Please make sure your RAA’s are tagged and categorized as “Research Article Analysis.” It would help me if you begin the title with: RAA# (where the actual number of your RAA – first, second, etc.).

Apologies for not posting this sooner – and shame on you for not asking me

Assignment: Research Plan

If you have an approved topic for the final project, it is time thinking about your research plan.

Please download this file, think through it, then fill it out. This file will be the road map for your final paper in TECH 621. It is also available on Blackboard. Please submit it on Blackboard (look under Assignments) no later than Oct 13 by midnight.

 

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Final Project Topic

It is time we start a conversation about your topic for the final project.

First, remember that your final project has to be or include original research with/about social media. Most students will write a research paper, but if you would like to negotiate a more applied topic with me, please bring me your idea and let’s discuss.

I’ve talked to many of you one-on-one about topic ideas already, but I would like to have a written record of your topic.

So, write a blog post.

In your blog post, explain:

1. The topic you want to address in your final project. Explain it enough detail so I understand.
2. What about the topic you want to research? From what perspective?
3. Draft some research questions.
4. Explain who should care about your research and why. Who will find your findings useful, and why?
5. Explain how this research is related to your larger interests and/or life goals.
6. Questions – make a numbered list of questions you have at this point.

I will read and comment on your blog post, and we will engage this way in a conversation that should result in a refined, finalized topic and research question(s) by September 29, when your topic is due.

The submission of the topic itself is not graded. However, you cannot proceed with your final project unless you have an approved topic posted by September 29.

You may want to become familiar with Radian6 and Visible Technologies before you decide if you’d like to use them for your final project. Please make sure you learn about them by watching the videos. I will let you know as soon as the test accounts are ready so you can start experimenting.

As a reminder, here are your deadlines and point assignments:

• Topic & RQs: Sept 29
• Research plan: Oct 13 – 3 points
• Literature review: Oct 27 – 5 points
• Draft: Dec 1 – 5 points
• Presentation: Dec 8 – 2 points
• Final: Dec 12 – 10 points

Assignment: Internet culture presentation

You are again in charge of class next week, Sept. 22. The purpose is to create and deliver presentations about Internet culture.

I suggest taking the following steps:

1. Brainstorm topics (make sure you understand what does and does not belong. Hints: lolcats, rickrolling, 4chan do belong). Include me in this part of your work.
2. Select, assign, organize topics
3. Prepare presentations
4. Deliver presentations

You can use any social media tools you want. Please try to stay away from email and meeting face-to-face.

Please PARTICIPATE – monitor your messages on Twitter, engage with others. If you only remember to check about this the day before, class members may opt to leave you out.

These presentations should be informative and fun – but not offensive.

The entire experience is graded out of 4 points and includes both the collaboration process and the end result.

Please let me know as soon as possible if I can have 20 minutes of class time to show you Radian 6. If not, I will record a demo and post it online.

Assignment: Social media adoption & uses presentation

Coordinate and prepare presentations about social media adoption and uses.

Students or student teams will create & deliver the presentations. You need to make sure all the following topics are covered:

• Social media adoption
• in the U.S.
• internationally
• at the individual level
• at the organizational level (Enterprise 2.0)
• Social media uses
• in the U.S.
• internationally
• at the individual level
• at the organizational level (Enterprise 2.0)

This does not necessarily mean you will do 8 presentations. You can combine and organize topics as you wish. You also need to determine the order in which you present, so that class flows logically.

Some resources for this presentation are available on Blackboard. Other resources are available on delicious. As you find reports and statistics, please bookmark them on delicious and tag them with the following two tags: “TECH621″ and “report” – in addition to whatever other tags you wish to use.

Please find and bookmark 1-2 useful reports as soon as possible.

To coordinate and organize the presentations, you will use Twitter. Please check often and respond/participate. You cannot use email or phone to organize this class. You may meet or use whatever communication means you wish to prepare the presentation itself.

The presentation will be graded out of 3 points. All team members will get the same number of points, unless you notify me of any issues. As I evaluate your presentation, I will look for the following:

1. Content is informative and interesting.
2. The source and methods (including sample) are explained. Statistics without information about the samples they come from are meaningless.
3. Presentation is clearly organized.
4. All content on slides is clearly visible (one topic per slide; limit the amount of text)
5. Sources are cited as information from them is used.
6. Presentation style is coherent, well organized, loud enough, and professional.

Questions about this assignment? Please ask in the comments below.

TECH 621 Final Project

Please see below information about your final project. Upload on Bb.

Ask questions in the comments below.

ATTENTION: the final project is graded out of 12, not 10, points.

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