Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB Group Projects Kick-off Bren School Class of...

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB

Group Projects Kick-off

Bren SchoolClass of 2003

March 14, 2002


Why are we here today?

Get everyone (students and faculty) on same wavelength

Clarify deadlines and deliverablesAnswer questionsClarify role of Jill Richardson, Charlie

Kolstad and Arturo KellerGenerate ENTHUSIASM for this

extremely rewarding part of the MESM


Overview of Talk

What is a group project?What makes a good group project?What are some pitfalls?GradingSpring quarter and the proposalOther timeline issuesFinal deliverables


What is a Group Project?

MESM grads: environmental problem solvers

The Group Project: a real environmental problem to solve

Solve a problem; don’t just generate facts.


Group Projects: 2002-3

Dozier: Science and Management for Sustainable Agriculture; Sunnyside Farms

Keller: Analysis of Implementation Alternatives for the PCB TMDL in San Francisco Bay; San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board

Davis & Ramus: Local Communities and the Development of a Management Plan for the Los Padres National Forest; Community Forestry International

Costello: Designing an Ecological Linkage Portfolio for the South Coast Ecoregion; The Nature Conservancy

McAusland & Kendall: Assessment of Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors on the Fall-Run Chinook Salmon in Dry Creek; Cal EPA

Delmas & Frew: The Impact of ISO 14001 on Environmental Management Practices; Toyota

Bento: Review of Sensitivity (Tier) Levels and Biological Mitigation Ratios as Management Tools for Preservation of Habitat within San Diego County; Resource Planning Division, San Diego County

Melack & McGinnis: Agricultural Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Model for San Diego County; Resource Planning Division, San Diego County


Why is the Group Project Important?

Practical experience in solving problems

Experience in working in a teamExperience in working to deadlines

with incomplete informationExperience in dealing with clientsGreat for your resume and job-

seeking


What Makes a GoodGroup Project?

Well-defined objectivesLimited scopeGood team interactionAttentive client who caresSummer internshipsInteresting problem


What’s to be avoided?

Vague objectivesProcrastinationSlacking on the teamScope too broadFailure to see big picture -- focus

on the interests of the students rather than the needs of the client

Follow client too closely


Steps to Success

Collect as much information as you can quickly and assimilate it

Find out how other people have solved similar problems – you are not alone!!

Be clear about your objectives and stay focused

Write drafts in advance of deadlinesPut someone “in charge”


Structure of the Group

Faculty advisorsOnly there to adviseMay take a hands-off approachUse them!!!! But you need to ask!!!!

Internal structure of the group important

Democracy over-ratedSomeone needs to be in chargeSuggest electing a rotating leader


Other Personnel

Group Project CoordinatorJill Richardson

Group Project Faculty SupervisorSpring, 2002: Charles KolstadAY 2002-3: Arturo Keller


Grading and Reviews

Grades IP (In Progress) grade given at end of S and F QuarterLetter grade given at end of project (end of W Quarter)Registrar replaces previous IP grades with letter gradeWritten report from advisors at end of S and F Quarters

Peer ReviewsStudents generate written evaluations on fellow

studentsDecember Review

Review of compatibility of group membersSplitting group is remedy for serious problems


Deliverables

April 2003: Polished oral presentationMarch 2003 (end of Winter Quarter)

Poster“Brief”: 4 page spiffy summaryFinal Report

October 2002Public Presentation on ProgressRevised Project Proposal

June 2002External ReviewProject Proposal: Work Plan and Management Plan


Spring 2002: The Most Important Quarter

Develop your full project work plan/proposal; ie, figure out exactly what you are going to do

Design a Management plan -- the people plan

Undertake an expert review of your proposed project by outsiders


The Proposal/Work Plan

Objectives (be concise) Significance (why does anyone care?) Background information (all the stuff that needs to be there

but doesn’t need to be read) Approach -- your technical approach to addressing the

problem; include specific tasks and subtasks Management plan -- how you will assign personnel Stakeholders Deliverables -- what you will produce and what it will be like Milestones -- dates when you initiate and complete tasks

and provide deliverables References Budget


External Review

By last day of classes in JunePurpose: to gain critical feedbackGroup identifies at least 2 outside

expertsInvite outside experts and at least

two Bren faculty (in addition to advisors) to presentation of proposal


Structure of Spring Quarter

Weekly meetings with advisorRegularly scheduledKeep advisors informed of projectClear up difficulties

All-Project MeetingsWeekly during first half of quarter Instructor: John Cushman – project management

expertHands-on experience and feedback on developing

your work and management plan


SummerINTERNSHIPS!!!

Worst scenario -- everyone disappears for summer

Best scenario -- everyone gets a paid internship working on aspects of the proposal

Dave Parker is coordinating internships


Fall Quarter

Most of the work on the project is done in Fall Quarter Start with “Fall Presentation”

Early October Public presentation of work to date 15 minute oral presentation plus 10 minutes of discussion Attendees

Bren Students Bren Faculty Client Outside experts

End of quarter: written progress report


Winter Quarter

Work largely completed in Fall quarter Winter quarter activities

Document Communicate

Deliverables (late March) Final report Draft Oral Presentation -- Powerpoint Poster Group Project Brief

4-page summary Lots of attention to communicating Primary vehicle for communicating results of project


Spring Quarter, 2nd Year

Oral Presentation to Power-AudienceAdvisory Board MembersPotential EmployersFaculty and studentsRelatives

VERY PolishedOnly one presenter encouraged; all

students must be present20 minute presentation plus questionsAccompanying poster session


What you need to do NOW!

Educate yourself about your projectCollect papers and reportsRead about your projectThink about your project

Discuss among student project members


Summary

A lot of workA lot of responsibilityFrustrationsBut a VERY rewarding experience

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB Group Projects Kick-off Bren School Class of...

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