1. Present on one of your favorite Lab Exercises from the semester. Think about the following questions in your presentation:
- What were you expecting to learn from the exercise?
- Where there any surprises or unanticipated results?
- Are there anything you would do to improve this lab?
- How might you continue to research this topic in the future?
__ Successfully presents on 1 Lab Exercise. Covers the exercise in sufficient detail to answer the questions about what you expected to learn, surprises/unanticipated results and possible future research on this topic.
(75 points)
__ Presents on more than 1 Lab Exercise or provides only basic details about the exercise without covering the questions posed above.
(40 points)
__ Talks about the class in general instead of covering a specific Lab Exercise.
(0 points)
2. Your presentation should be between 5 and 7 minutes long. You are welcome to use any visual aids, including PowerPoint, that you choose to but you are not required to.
(25 points)
__ Presentation lasts for 5 to 7 minutes.
(25 points)
__ Presentation last for less than 5 minutes or more than 7 minutes.
(0 points)
Monday, June 28, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Lab 16 Rubric
1. Select one gamer site that you do not ordinarily visit where gamers self-identify as a culture or subculture (e.g., women, people of color, gays and lesbians, immigrants, or another minority group). Identify three discussion threads on the site where questions of personal identity and gaming are thematized explicitly.
(45 points)
Lab resources: http://www.racialicious.com/category/video-games/, www.gaymer.org, www.fragdolls.com.
__ Successfully selects a gamer site where gamers self-identify as a culture or subculture and identifies 3 discussion threads where questions of personal identity and gaming are thematized explicitly.
(45 points)
__ Successfully selects a gamer site where gamers self-identify as a culture or subculture and identifies 3 discussion threads but the threads do not directly address questions of personal identity and gaming.
(25 points)
__ Does not select a gamer site where gamers self-identify as a culture or subculture or identifies fewer than 3 discussion threads.
(0 points)
2. For each discussion thread, address whether or not the discussion is moderated by a forum moderator. Then summarize the topic question or debate for each discussion thread. Then, identify at least three positions on each topic question or debate taken by posters in each thread. Answer the following questions about each thread:
(45 points)
- What is this debate about, and what are the main points of contention?
- Where does agreement emerge in the discussion?
- What contentious points remain unresolved?
__ Successfully summarizes the topic question and debate for each discussion thread. Identifies at least 3 positions on each topic question or debate for each thread.
(45 points)
__ Successfully summarizes the topic question and debate for each discussion thread. Identifies fewer than 3 positions on each topic question or debate for each thread.
(30 points)
__ Does not summarize the topic question and debate; instead, provides a copy of the entire discussion thread or a summary is provided for fewer than 3 discussion threads.
(15 points)
__ No summary is provided of each discussion thread.
(0 points)
3. Publish your results to your blog in the form of a report. It should be clear, concise and grammatically correct.
(10 points)
__ Report is published to blog by 12:30 on Monday.
(10 points)
__ Results are published late.
(0 points)
(45 points)
Lab resources: http://www.racialicious.com/category/video-games/, www.gaymer.org, www.fragdolls.com.
__ Successfully selects a gamer site where gamers self-identify as a culture or subculture and identifies 3 discussion threads where questions of personal identity and gaming are thematized explicitly.
(45 points)
__ Successfully selects a gamer site where gamers self-identify as a culture or subculture and identifies 3 discussion threads but the threads do not directly address questions of personal identity and gaming.
(25 points)
__ Does not select a gamer site where gamers self-identify as a culture or subculture or identifies fewer than 3 discussion threads.
(0 points)
2. For each discussion thread, address whether or not the discussion is moderated by a forum moderator. Then summarize the topic question or debate for each discussion thread. Then, identify at least three positions on each topic question or debate taken by posters in each thread. Answer the following questions about each thread:
(45 points)
- What is this debate about, and what are the main points of contention?
- Where does agreement emerge in the discussion?
- What contentious points remain unresolved?
__ Successfully summarizes the topic question and debate for each discussion thread. Identifies at least 3 positions on each topic question or debate for each thread.
(45 points)
__ Successfully summarizes the topic question and debate for each discussion thread. Identifies fewer than 3 positions on each topic question or debate for each thread.
(30 points)
__ Does not summarize the topic question and debate; instead, provides a copy of the entire discussion thread or a summary is provided for fewer than 3 discussion threads.
(15 points)
__ No summary is provided of each discussion thread.
(0 points)
3. Publish your results to your blog in the form of a report. It should be clear, concise and grammatically correct.
(10 points)
__ Report is published to blog by 12:30 on Monday.
(10 points)
__ Results are published late.
(0 points)
Lab 15 Rubric
1. Play one game on each of three different gaming platforms: 1 console game, 1 PC game and 1 mobile game. List the games played by each group member in your report.
(45 points)
__ Each group member plays 1 game on each of the 3 gaming platforms and list those games in the group’s report.
(45 points)
__ Most but not all of the group members play 1 game on each of the 3 gaming platforms or the games played by some but not all of the group members are listed in the group’s report.
(25 points)
__ Every group member doesn’t play 1 game on each of the 3 gaming platforms or the games played by each group member aren’t listed in the group’s report.
(0 points)
2. Write a short report about the group’s experiences playing games on the different platforms. The report should be organized by platform and should answer the following questions:
(45 points)
- Which platforms enable networking?
- What functionalities does the mobile device have that the console and PC systems do not have?
- How is each game title classified (which genre), and why?
- Who published each game title?
- What are three other game titles published by each game publisher within the same genre?
__ Successfully publishes results in the form of a report organized according to platform. Report answers all of the questions that were asked about the gaming experience.
(45 points)
__ Successfully publishes results in the from of a report but organized in a way other than according to platform or does not answer all of the questions that were asked.
(25 points)
__ Results are published in a form other than a report, such as a chart, or none of the questions are answered.
(0 points)
3. Publish your results to your blog in the form of a report. It should be clear, concise and grammatically correct. Each group member should publish the completed report to their blog.
(10 points)
__ Report is published to blog by 12:30 on Friday.
(10 points)
__ Results are published late.
(0 points)
(45 points)
__ Each group member plays 1 game on each of the 3 gaming platforms and list those games in the group’s report.
(45 points)
__ Most but not all of the group members play 1 game on each of the 3 gaming platforms or the games played by some but not all of the group members are listed in the group’s report.
(25 points)
__ Every group member doesn’t play 1 game on each of the 3 gaming platforms or the games played by each group member aren’t listed in the group’s report.
(0 points)
2. Write a short report about the group’s experiences playing games on the different platforms. The report should be organized by platform and should answer the following questions:
(45 points)
- Which platforms enable networking?
- What functionalities does the mobile device have that the console and PC systems do not have?
- How is each game title classified (which genre), and why?
- Who published each game title?
- What are three other game titles published by each game publisher within the same genre?
__ Successfully publishes results in the form of a report organized according to platform. Report answers all of the questions that were asked about the gaming experience.
(45 points)
__ Successfully publishes results in the from of a report but organized in a way other than according to platform or does not answer all of the questions that were asked.
(25 points)
__ Results are published in a form other than a report, such as a chart, or none of the questions are answered.
(0 points)
3. Publish your results to your blog in the form of a report. It should be clear, concise and grammatically correct. Each group member should publish the completed report to their blog.
(10 points)
__ Report is published to blog by 12:30 on Friday.
(10 points)
__ Results are published late.
(0 points)
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Lab 14 Rubric
1. Test and evaluate Skype, Google and Yahoo! video chat services. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each service. Consider the interface, the ease of use and the quality of service.
(40 points)
Lab resource:
Skype - http://www.skype.com/
Google - http://www.google.com/chat/video
Yahoo! - http://messenger.yahoo.com/features/webcam/
__ Successfully evaluates the Skype, Google and Yahoo! video chat services. Considers the strengths and weaknesses of each service by examining the interface, ease of use and quality of service.
(40 points)
__ Evaluates the three video chat services but provides only a list of features for each service.
(20 points)
__ Does not evaluate all three video chat services.
(0 points)
2. Compare and contrast the three video chat services based on your evaluations of the strengths and weaknesses of each service and the interface, ease of use and quality of service. Determine which service you would prefer to use in the future. Also decide if you would prefer to use video chat over telephony.
(40 points)
__ Successfully compares and contrasts the three video chat services and determines which service you prefer.
(40 points)
__ Compares and contrasts each service but does not make a decision on preference of service.
(20 points)
__ Does not compare and contrast the three video chat services.
(0 points)
3. Publish your results to your blog in the form of a report. It should be clear, concise and grammatically correct (20 points)
__ Report is published to blog by 12:30 on Thursday.
(20 points)
(40 points)
Lab resource:
Skype - http://www.skype.com/
Google - http://www.google.com/chat/video
Yahoo! - http://messenger.yahoo.com/features/webcam/
__ Successfully evaluates the Skype, Google and Yahoo! video chat services. Considers the strengths and weaknesses of each service by examining the interface, ease of use and quality of service.
(40 points)
__ Evaluates the three video chat services but provides only a list of features for each service.
(20 points)
__ Does not evaluate all three video chat services.
(0 points)
2. Compare and contrast the three video chat services based on your evaluations of the strengths and weaknesses of each service and the interface, ease of use and quality of service. Determine which service you would prefer to use in the future. Also decide if you would prefer to use video chat over telephony.
(40 points)
__ Successfully compares and contrasts the three video chat services and determines which service you prefer.
(40 points)
__ Compares and contrasts each service but does not make a decision on preference of service.
(20 points)
__ Does not compare and contrast the three video chat services.
(0 points)
3. Publish your results to your blog in the form of a report. It should be clear, concise and grammatically correct (20 points)
__ Report is published to blog by 12:30 on Thursday.
(20 points)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Updated Syllabus
Updated Schedule
Video Games
Reading: Chapter 12: Video games
Reading questions: When did video games begin using dedicated computer hardware? Who are the major players in video game hardware development? Software development? Why have some video games developed franchising relationships with film studios? What is an example of a MMORPG? How have fan cultures emerged around gaming world-wide?
Thurs, June 24:
Lab exercise 15: (Group work) Gaming platforms. Play one PC game, one console game, and one mobile game in the game lab. If possible, select game titles with which the most members of your group are NOT already familiar. Address each of these questions for a short report to publish to your class blog. Which platforms enable networking? What functionalities does the mobile device have that the console and PC systems do not have? How is each game title classified (which genre), and why? Who published each game title? What are three other game titles published by each game publisher within the same genre? Lab resources: Video game lab.
Fri, June 25
Lab exercise 16: Game communities. Do ethnographic research on virtual communities of video gamers. Look for places online where gamers self-identify as a culture or subculture (e.g., women, people of color, gays and lesbians, immigrants, or another minority group), and for whom video games are a meaningful part of their lives. Select one gamer site that you do not ordinarily visit. Identify three discussion threads on the site where questions of personal identity and gaming are thematized explicitly. For each discussion thread, address whether or not the discussion is moderated by a forum moderator. Then summarize the topic question or debate for each discussion thread. Then, identify at least three positions on each topic question or debate taken by posters in each thread. Address the question, what is this debate about, and what are the main points of contention? Where does agreement emerge in the discussion? What contentious points remain unresolved? Lab resources: http://www.racialicious.com/category/video-games/, www.racewire.com, gaymer.org, www.fragdolls.com.
...
Monday, June 28
Odds and Ends
We'll discuss items that have been on the borders of our discussions. For instance, we can discuss more about graphic design, about jailbreaking hardware, privacy/legal issues, and any other items you may have questions about. This day will be designed to give you a better idea and feel of communication technology as an industry, hobby and part of life. Everyone should have at least one item to bring into the discussion; feel free to e-mail me at lucasvlogan@tamu.edu beforehand with the topic so that we can work on a more in-depth discussion. However, the e-mail isn't required.
June 29
Final Review
June 30
Final
Each student will be given ten discussion questions from the syllabus and will need to pick five to answer thoroughly. You will have the entire class period to complete this assignment. The amount of time each student takes will vary, as some students are faster or more concise writers than others. There is no right or wrong length and in some cases no absolute answers; you will use your own critical thinking skills and judgment to decide if you address the discussion question properly.
July 1-2
Lab Exercise 17
Each student will give a 6-8 minute presentation on one of your favorite lab activities from the semester. Explain what you were expecting to learn, any surprises or unanticipated results you achieved, and what research questions the lab has led you to now. Illustrate your account with clear examples. You may record a video podcast in lieu of presenting live before the class. We will show the podcast in class.
Video Games
Reading: Chapter 12: Video games
Reading questions: When did video games begin using dedicated computer hardware? Who are the major players in video game hardware development? Software development? Why have some video games developed franchising relationships with film studios? What is an example of a MMORPG? How have fan cultures emerged around gaming world-wide?
Thurs, June 24:
Lab exercise 15: (Group work) Gaming platforms. Play one PC game, one console game, and one mobile game in the game lab. If possible, select game titles with which the most members of your group are NOT already familiar. Address each of these questions for a short report to publish to your class blog. Which platforms enable networking? What functionalities does the mobile device have that the console and PC systems do not have? How is each game title classified (which genre), and why? Who published each game title? What are three other game titles published by each game publisher within the same genre? Lab resources: Video game lab.
Fri, June 25
Lab exercise 16: Game communities. Do ethnographic research on virtual communities of video gamers. Look for places online where gamers self-identify as a culture or subculture (e.g., women, people of color, gays and lesbians, immigrants, or another minority group), and for whom video games are a meaningful part of their lives. Select one gamer site that you do not ordinarily visit. Identify three discussion threads on the site where questions of personal identity and gaming are thematized explicitly. For each discussion thread, address whether or not the discussion is moderated by a forum moderator. Then summarize the topic question or debate for each discussion thread. Then, identify at least three positions on each topic question or debate taken by posters in each thread. Address the question, what is this debate about, and what are the main points of contention? Where does agreement emerge in the discussion? What contentious points remain unresolved? Lab resources: http://www.racialicious.com/category/video-games/, www.racewire.com, gaymer.org, www.fragdolls.com.
...
Monday, June 28
Odds and Ends
We'll discuss items that have been on the borders of our discussions. For instance, we can discuss more about graphic design, about jailbreaking hardware, privacy/legal issues, and any other items you may have questions about. This day will be designed to give you a better idea and feel of communication technology as an industry, hobby and part of life. Everyone should have at least one item to bring into the discussion; feel free to e-mail me at lucasvlogan@tamu.edu beforehand with the topic so that we can work on a more in-depth discussion. However, the e-mail isn't required.
June 29
Final Review
June 30
Final
Each student will be given ten discussion questions from the syllabus and will need to pick five to answer thoroughly. You will have the entire class period to complete this assignment. The amount of time each student takes will vary, as some students are faster or more concise writers than others. There is no right or wrong length and in some cases no absolute answers; you will use your own critical thinking skills and judgment to decide if you address the discussion question properly.
July 1-2
Lab Exercise 17
Each student will give a 6-8 minute presentation on one of your favorite lab activities from the semester. Explain what you were expecting to learn, any surprises or unanticipated results you achieved, and what research questions the lab has led you to now. Illustrate your account with clear examples. You may record a video podcast in lieu of presenting live before the class. We will show the podcast in class.
Lab 13 Rubric
1. Install Skype on the iPod Touch.
(10 points)
Lab resource: http://www.skype.com/intl/en/download/skype/iphone/
__ Successfully install Skype on the iPod Touch.
(10 points)
__ Unable to install Skype on the iPod Touch.
(0 points)
2. Take an inventory of the functions of the Skype software. In particular, compare the functions of Skype to other technologies by thinking about the following questions:
(40 points)
- What will Skype allow you to do that you cannot do on a cell phone?
- From a desktop PC?
- From a laptop PC?
__ Successfully compiles a list of the functions of the Skype software. Makes note of functions that stand out as innovative or harder to use when compared to other technology.
(40 points)
__ Compiles a list of functions of Skype but does not look beyond the basics, such as “can make calls” or “can put people on hold.”
(20 points)
__ Does not compile a list of functions.
(0 points)
3. Publish the group results to your blog in the form of a report. The report should include the inventory of functions the group identified and also the group’s overall impressions of the Skype software, such as ease of use and whether or not the group would consider using Skype in the future. Also answer the following questions in the report:
(40 points)
- What are some advantages of using this software rather than a cell phone?
- What are some disadvantages?
__ Successfully publishes the results in the form of a report. Includes the inventory of features and the group’s overall impressions of the software.
(40 points)
__ Results are published in the form of a report but all of the requested information is not included or results are published in a form other than a report, such as a list or table.
(20 points)
__ Results are not published.
(0 points)
4. Results should be published to each group member’s blog before class on Monday, November 2.
(10 points)
__ Results are published by 12:30 on Wednesday, June 23.
(10 points)
(10 points)
Lab resource: http://www.skype.com/intl/en/download/skype/iphone/
__ Successfully install Skype on the iPod Touch.
(10 points)
__ Unable to install Skype on the iPod Touch.
(0 points)
2. Take an inventory of the functions of the Skype software. In particular, compare the functions of Skype to other technologies by thinking about the following questions:
(40 points)
- What will Skype allow you to do that you cannot do on a cell phone?
- From a desktop PC?
- From a laptop PC?
__ Successfully compiles a list of the functions of the Skype software. Makes note of functions that stand out as innovative or harder to use when compared to other technology.
(40 points)
__ Compiles a list of functions of Skype but does not look beyond the basics, such as “can make calls” or “can put people on hold.”
(20 points)
__ Does not compile a list of functions.
(0 points)
3. Publish the group results to your blog in the form of a report. The report should include the inventory of functions the group identified and also the group’s overall impressions of the Skype software, such as ease of use and whether or not the group would consider using Skype in the future. Also answer the following questions in the report:
(40 points)
- What are some advantages of using this software rather than a cell phone?
- What are some disadvantages?
__ Successfully publishes the results in the form of a report. Includes the inventory of features and the group’s overall impressions of the software.
(40 points)
__ Results are published in the form of a report but all of the requested information is not included or results are published in a form other than a report, such as a list or table.
(20 points)
__ Results are not published.
(0 points)
4. Results should be published to each group member’s blog before class on Monday, November 2.
(10 points)
__ Results are published by 12:30 on Wednesday, June 23.
(10 points)
Friday, June 18, 2010
Lab 12 Rubric
Business analytics proposal. Develop a 2-page e-commerce or m-commerce business proposal for a client who wants to expand her brick-and-mortar flower shop into an online business. Provide the client with a choice of e-commerce platforms and business analytics software, and advise her in making her decisions. To make the assignment flow more simply, try and pick three pieces of software to recommend and break them down by pros and cons. Then evaluate these similarities and differences to find one piece of software to recommend.
Lab resources:
E-commerce software
Review of free e-commerce software: http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/2009022806335015/eCommerce.html;
Reviews of proprietary e-commerce software: http://www.getelastic.com/webinar-recap-selecting-the-right-ecommerce-software-in-six-weeks-or-less/
Business analytic software
Google analytics: http://www.google.com/analytics/
Clicktale: http://www.clicktale.com/
Webtrends: http://www.webtrends.com/
1. Analyze the various analytic software and pick one of them to include in the proposal.
(80 points)
__ Successfully describes in detail the decision making process used in choosing the business analytic software program to include in the proposal and thoroughly discusses the pros and cons of the chosen software.
(80 points)
__Describes the decision making process used to choose the business analytic software program but not in a thorough fashion. Discusses some of the pros and cons of the software that was selected.
(40 points)
__Doesn’t describe the decision making process used to choose the business analytic software program and/or doesn’t describe the pros and cons of each of the software.
(0 points)
3. Publish your results to your blog in the form of a report. It should be clear, concise and grammatically correct.
(10 points)
__ Report is published to blog by 12:30 on Monday.
(20 points)
__ Results are published in a form other than a report, such as a table or a checklist of features.
(10 points)
__ Results are published after class starts on Monday.
Lab resources:
E-commerce software
Review of free e-commerce software: http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/2009022806335015/eCommerce.html;
Reviews of proprietary e-commerce software: http://www.getelastic.com/webinar-recap-selecting-the-right-ecommerce-software-in-six-weeks-or-less/
Business analytic software
Google analytics: http://www.google.com/analytics/
Clicktale: http://www.clicktale.com/
Webtrends: http://www.webtrends.com/
1. Analyze the various analytic software and pick one of them to include in the proposal.
(80 points)
__ Successfully describes in detail the decision making process used in choosing the business analytic software program to include in the proposal and thoroughly discusses the pros and cons of the chosen software.
(80 points)
__Describes the decision making process used to choose the business analytic software program but not in a thorough fashion. Discusses some of the pros and cons of the software that was selected.
(40 points)
__Doesn’t describe the decision making process used to choose the business analytic software program and/or doesn’t describe the pros and cons of each of the software.
(0 points)
3. Publish your results to your blog in the form of a report. It should be clear, concise and grammatically correct.
(10 points)
__ Report is published to blog by 12:30 on Monday.
(20 points)
__ Results are published in a form other than a report, such as a table or a checklist of features.
(10 points)
__ Results are published after class starts on Monday.
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