Assignments
This page provides an overview of the work that contributes to your final course grade, and connects you to descriptions for those projects and workshops through the links below. (Note that no descriptive detail appears on SVSU Canvas for any of these assignments.) I activate assignment pages as we need them, so do not worry if you cannot access all of the descriptions at the beginning of the semester.
Your course grade is computed from the points you earn on four projects and nine workshops. Combined, these assignments total 1400 points.
You can read more about grading and what factors might influence your grade on the Policies page.
Projects
I use the term projects to categorize assignments that are significant undertakings, and that require development and refinement time that may span several weeks of the semester. You will complete 4 projects this semester that collectively contribute 950 possible points to your course grade.
Each project description details several elements of the work, including design requirements, hints and tips, and submission guidelines. Use the links below to access those descriptions.
- Resource Analysis (RA). 250 points. The RA reports your evaluation of 2 professional and 2 scholarly resources (e.g., journals, blogs, podcasts), with emphasis on describing the focus, purpose, and relevance of each, and on highlighting content from each that is specifically relevant to your professional and scholarly development.
- Public Health Project (PHP). 250 points. The PHP crafts an argument (e.g., article, report, web site) about a topic or issue relevant to the health industry, and directs that argument to an audience of patients, clients, or members of the public.
- Scholarly Project (SP). 250 points. The SP reports original research focused on a topic or issue relevant to the health industry, directing that work to a professional or scholarly audience.
- Presentation. 200 points. The Presentation distills your Scholarly Project into a 5-7 minute screencast focused on sharing your research with peers.
Workshops
I use the term workshops to categorize assignments that are smaller scale than projects, work that can be completed in the space of a single class session, or within the space of a single class week. The concepts, strategies, and practices examined through workshops build and reinforce your working knowledge for the course. You will complete 9 workshops this semester that collectively contribute 450 possible points to your course grade.
Each workshop description details several elements of the work, including design and discussion requirements, and submission guidelines. Use the links below to access those descriptions.
- Designing Documents. 50 points. You demonstrate foundational document design principles while crafting a professional profile. This workshop establishes baseline expectations for design and submission that we will follow throughout the semester.
- Designing Screencasts. 50 points. You demonstrate foundational screencast design principles while recording a video profile. This workshop establishes baseline expectations for participating in online discussions that we will follow throughout the semester.
- Examining Audiences. 50 points. You identify and examine prospective audiences for the Public Health Project, and explore strategies for effective communication with each.
- Crafting Research Questions. 50 points. You draft and refine a research question relevant for exploration through the Scholarly Project, and identify appropriate investigative methods for conducting that study.
- Peer Review: Public Health Project. 50 points. You prepare for and engage in peer examination of your project draft, and participate in the review of two peer projects.
- Peer Review: Scholarly Project. 50 points. You prepare for and engage in peer examination of your project draft, and participate in the review of two peer projects.
- Assessing ADA Compliance. 50 points. You assess the level of ADA compliance for your Public Health Project, and identify strategies to make that document fully compliant with federal standards for information design.
- Online Conference, Part 1. 50 points. You engage peers in discussion of their Presentations, posting questions for each to the conference forum in Canvas.
- Online Conference, Part 2. 50 points. You respond to peers' questions from part 1 of the Online Conference.