Mondays, 5:00 – 7:00 pmLecture: 269 DennisonNRE 701 – MASTER’S PROJECT PLANNING SEMINARMondays, 5:00 – 7:00 pmLecture: 269 DennisonBreakout Rooms: 315, 316 and 330 DennisonCourse webpage: www.snre.umich.edu/nre701Instructors: Donna Erickson 3528 Dana 763 4457 [email protected] De Young 2034b Dana 763-3129 [email protected] Epstein [email protected] Webpage: The course webpage at www.snre.umich.edu/nre701 will serve as a resource throughout the term. Once teams form they are advised to set up their own UM.worktools site and email groupname as explained on the course webpage.Objectives:The Master’s Project is an interdisciplinary team project in which students work closely with a faculty advisor to analyze and propose solutions to a salient environmental problem. Each project requires both individual analysis and reporting as well as interdisciplinary analysis conducted by the team. Projects provide an integrative team-focused experience that closely approximates the work-world needs in environmental careers.Master's Projects are a result of SNRE's awareness that most work being done in natural resource and environmental fields involves interdisciplinary, team-based problem solving. Preparing students to work in such settings is one of the School’s goals. The project is an interdisciplinary team effort resulting in a jointly authored document about some salient environmental situation. This course, the Master's Project Planning Seminar (NRE 701-888) helps students select from among several topics in a database of ideas, organize a research team, develop a proposal and workplan, and discuss issues related to working with an external client.The first half of the course is designed to help students move from initial interest through to a formal proposal. The second half of the term is devoted to beginning the research tasks and culminates in a workplan for the following year and a presentation of the work-to-date to the SNRE community.Requirements: The primary requirement for this course is for students to become active and thoughtful participants in a Master's Project team. The course provides the structure, support and tools necessary for students to choose and plan for a successful Master’s Project, but the primary responsibility for fulfilling this requirement belongs to you; neither Donna, Ray nor Seth will create or manage the project teams. Therefore, each individual and team must explore, both inand outside of class, potential projects, clients, team members, etc.Please use the class e-mail address ([email protected]) to inform others and keep yourself informed about team formation and developments. Donna, Ray and Seth are also available to provide assistance or to point you toward assistance.NRE 701 – Master’s Project Planning Seminar – Winter 2003 Page 1 of 4Assignments: Further information on the assignments will be provided as the course progresses. Grades will be assigned jointly by the course Instructors. Letter grades will be based on class/team participation and the following assignments: GROUP DELIVERABLE LENGTH DUE GRADEIndividual Active participation --- throughout term 20%Mega-theme group Topic Brief * 1-2 paragraphs January 21 5%Individual Critiques past projects ** --- January 27 --Initial team Prospectus * 2 pages February 3 10%Individual Commitment to team *** --- February 7 --Final team Proposal * 10-15 pages March 3 25%Research team Workplan 10-15 pages April 7 20%Research team Presentation 15 minutes April 1-16 10%Individual Critique presentations 1 page April 1-16 10%* Posted on the course website.** Notes on critique of two projects, shared in class.*** Commitment to final team based on review of prospectuses.Schedule of Session: Date Session/Topic Blue = Instructor-led materialRed = Student-led materialJanuary 6 Introduction- The structure of Master’s Project Planning Seminar- Term schedule, deliverables and deadlines- Source of ideas for developing proposal- Review data from second survey- Assignment to and breakout into mega-theme group- Discuss interests and skills- Schedule group tasks:o Review idea database for initial topic(s)o ASSIGNMENT: Topic Brief(s) are due January 21 (Each individual should craft 1-3 sentences on topic idea(s) for sharing with group on January 13).o ASSIGNMENT: Each individual reviews 2 past projects (see webpage)January 13 Explore Potential Topics- Project management skillso Role of project stakeholders- Group work on topicso Individuals share their 1-3 sentences on topic idea(s)o Form initial Topic Brief writing teamso Craft and discuss Topic Brief(s)NRE 701 – Master’s Project Planning Seminar – Winter 2003 Page 2 of 4January 21 Review Topic Briefs and Form Initial TeamNote: due to the MLK day, the third week’s class will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 5-7pm.- Project management skillso Abstract and prospectus writing- Review of Topic Briefso Topic Briefs displayed on walls and reviewed by individuals- Form initial team- Schedule team taskso Writing of draft Prospectuso ASSIGNMENT: Final Prospectuses are due February 3 (9:00 am)January 27 Project topics and Team Formation- Project management skillso Division of laboro Use of timeo Leadershipo Acquiring resources- Initial Team worko Share critiques of past projectso Review draft of Prospectuso Craft final ProspectusFebruary 3 Evaluating Prospectuses and Form Final Team- Project management skillso Elements of a research proposal- Review of Prospectuseso Prospectuses displayed on walls and reviewed by individuals- Form final team- Schedule final team taskso Writing of draft Proposalo ASSIGNMENT: Proposal is due March 3o ASSIGNMENT: Commitment of faculty advisor due with proposalo ASSIGNMENT: Commitment to final team due Friday February 7 (each individual makes commitment by email to course instructors)February 10 Group Process Skills- Group Process Skills (presentation by Dr. Bruce Gibb)o Framework of team subsystemo Formation of team normso Roles of team membersNRE 701 – Master’s Project Planning Seminar – Winter 2003 Page 3 of 4February 17 Proposal Writing - Workshop presented by the Duke Fellowship ProgramFebruary 24 Winter RecessMarch 3 Research Team Work- Research Skills/Techniqueso Workshop A- Research team begins worko ASSIGNMENT: Workplan due April 7o ASSIGNMENT: Presentation due April 1-16o ASSIGNMENT: Individual critique of presentations due April
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