Community Information Systems
Spring, 2003

Looking at Community 

Group Written and "Live" Report


Special request: For our program bulletin board, please bring 1 or 2
graphic images that help describe the community or communities with
whom you're working.

Purpose: To become more familiar with community concepts by applying
them to the specifics of the actual application; To learn more about
particular community the group is working with; To improve writing and
presentation skills.

Output:  Written report (4-12 pages) and oral presentation; Paper due:
April 30th 15 minute presentations will be given on Wednesday, April
30th.

The reports should address (but aren't limited to) these topics:

Context of work: What are the particularities of the situation or
situation in which your software will be used?  (These can include
economics, geography, demographics, etc.) What economic and other
forces are impinging on the communities? Who are their allies, enemies
and "friendly competitors"  (i.e. other groups who are doing similar
things)?

Discussion of relevant "social actors:"  This will include mediating
organization(s), target communities, etc.  How do these various social
actors communicate with others, for what reason, and how?

Goals and Objectives: What are they trying to accomplish?  short run &
long run?  Why is their work important? Needs and assets, etc.

Reflections: These could include limitations of your work; what  you'd
do next, what you would have done if  you had more time, other "second
thoughts."

Other cool things: If all possible you should include some graphic
elements that help make the context of the community seem real to us.
Interview material and actual quotations from appropriate people would
also be valuable.

Ground rules: every team member participates in the written and "live"
presentation.  The report should be as "seamless" as possible.
Organize the information logically. Please also indicate who did what
on the report.

The written aspect of the report should consist of prose -- not
snippets of text, or bullets.  It should contain original writing for
the most part although it can be backed up with appropriate interview
material, text, illustrations and photos.