Contents 1 Project Description 2 The Purpose (Mission) 2.1 Targets we want to meet 2.2 How our Partners and the Public will benefit 3 Deliverables 4 Project Constraints

Project Description The group projects for COMS 463 Winter 2010 involve editing and developing a website on Community Service-Learning (CSL) profiling projects completed through the University of Calgary and its students and community, especially via courses in the Faculty of Arts. The course will involve individual blogs and websites that build components of a team website that unifies the best work of the team.  A proposal and project management structure will help to ensure that each individual student's work contributes to a cohesive and high quality team website. After the course is over, students' best web designs and best web content will be selected by the instructional team.  The material will be combined into a single website that will continue to grow and develop after the course is over.

Image: T. Smith, 2009. With consent.

The Purpose (Mission) Develop the best content and design for a website that showcases past Community Service-Learning projects conducted by the University of Calgary's CSL partners, staff and students, focusing on the Arts.  Learn advanced professional and technical communication concepts and skills in the process of developing this website.  The COMS 463 course will provide the structure, content, and guidance that will result in a website that demonstrates the best outcomes of our learning.

Targets we want to meet

• Partnership: Ongoing consultation with community partners to understand their needs and involve them in the project.  We must respect our partners, learn from them, and involve them in decisions because they are the ones who will be affected by our communication in the long term.
   
• Website excellence: navigability, visual appeal, meaningful content, high quality writing.
  
   
• Teamwork: Responsible, enjoyable and productive teamwork and coordination within groups
   
• Course Knowledge: Deeper understanding of professional and technical communication concepts and technologies provided through lectures, readings, labs, and student assignments
   
• Theme Knowledge: Deeper understanding of Community Service-Learning's educational, community-building methods and outcomes, as well as the issues and resources involved in our campus' efforts to enhance CSL
   

How our Partners and the Public will benefit

• The public will better understand the efforts of teachers, staff and students to educate one another and build our community through community service-learning
   
• Erin Kaipainen and CSL professionals will have online profiles to send people to if they need local examples, advice, or research on ESD or CSL.  They will also have material useful for grant applications, funding, and networking across institutions.  The event at the end of term will help to catalyze new and existing initiatives on campus.
   
• Instructors, staff and students involved in CSL initiatives we are profiling will benefit from recognition for their efforts and accomplishments.  They may use our articles to develop their own networks, to provide data for employee evaluations, or to enhance their resumes. 
   
• The university and our new Faculty of Arts benefits by showcasing the student learning, faculty/staff/community partnerships, and community outcomes of CSL in credit courses.   
   

Deliverables

Project Constraints

• Schedules of students and partners
• Participation of contributing authors and interviewees
• Thematic content of the material we are able to work with
  
• Existing skill levels of COMS 463 web developers
• 3.5 months of class (Jan - Apr 2009) 
• No project funding