Design Step 2

The goal of this stage of our capstone project designing process was focused on the generation of alternative concepts and technical drawing of our ideas. Some of these steps included:

-Brainstorming on our journals and padlet to determine feasible alternatives (concepts) for each function/subfunction of our product and assembling the results in a classification scheme

-Functionally decomposing our product

-Forming promising design concepts by combining compatible function-subfunction alternatives/concepts from our classification scheme

-Firming up our concepts by sketching them in the form of conceptual drawings and by implementing the techniques learned in the sketching tutorials

Other progress we have made in this stage includes the predator and prey surveying we have been doing with our camera trap as we continue to survey new locations every week and check the footage. We also have begun implementing our acoustic software to record calls of birds and other wildlife in the area. Additionally, we are consistently gathering materials and making progess on prototyping our owl box.

As we continue developing our project, I think that one of my team and I's strengths has been critical thinking and collaboration. We have been working together to solve issues we encounter by putting our minds together instead of each working on something different. In doing so, we have been able to make significant progress and discoveries as we work towards success in our capstone together. I think that we can definitely keep this up by carefully thinking over all of our choices and continuing to grow as a group.

I think that I could improve on my communication throughout the design process.  I need to make sure I am fully listening to the ideas of my teammates as well as voicing mine. I also think I could improve with my conscientious learning in the form of time management. By setting goals and deadlines, I think we can better organize ourselves and the steps we take as we move forward.