Instructions for ET Topic Presentation and Overview

 

The purpose of the ET assignments are as follows:

 

1.                  Help you learn how to scan the environment for new technology and think creatively about how it might be used to the advantage of a business or some other type of organization.

2.                  Help you learn how to present your ideas effectively to an audience in two ways:  Oral presentation and written document.

3.                  Help you to learn to work effectively with others to accomplish a group task.

4.                  Help you improve your writing skills, oral communication skills, and ability to follow instructions.

 

The Emerging technology presentations should be supported by a written ET topic overview.  The ET topic overview should be handed in by noon, the day before the presentation.  E-mail materials to me at ronmc@uca.edu.  The PowerPoint presentations should be handed in at the same time.  This will give me adequate lead-time to get the materials published on the WEB, for your use in class as well as for review by your classmates. 

 

The ET topic overview should include the following components: (I attempt to be quite clear about this so you know what should be included).

 

A.                 Title.

B.                 Group Identification (Group 1 for instance) and composition (member names).

C.                 List of key words.

D.                 Body.

E.                  References (would include URL for web pages).

F.                  Seven multiple choice questions (good questions that challenge your classmates to think).  PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE THE ANSWERS.  Please give only me the answers.  We want the students to answer the questions by listening attentively to your presentation and carefully reading your topic overview.  The questions should therefore be taken from the presentation and the summary—you want them to become familiar with your topic.

 

The next section further details the form for your ET topic overview.

The Nifty:  A New Hardware Device (16 point bold)

 

Group 1 (12 point bold)

Brittany Spears, Mortimer Snerd, and Charley Brown


Key Words: (bold)  Bandwidth, Fiber Optics, Time Division Multiplexing, Router.

The first paragraph should introduce the topic (new hardware, software, or telecom technology) and provide a quick overview of:           

     

                           What is it?

                           What does it do (generally)?

                           How will it benefit businesses or other organizations?

 

This first paragraph should not exceed 1/2 page, and even that is probably a bit too long.

 

Next (probably 1 to 3 paragraphs) you should provide a bit more detailed explanation of the technology in terms of what it does, who developed it and why, why it is important, etc.

 

Next (probably 1 to 2 paragraphs) explain how this new technology will impact businesses or other organizations.  Will it allow them to do things they have not done before, do things they do better, gain competitive advantage in some way, or what?  This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to think.

 

The last paragraph should summarize and conclude.  Often it is quite similar to the opening paragraph, but I certainly don’t expect you to just duplicate the first paragraph.  This is a chance to “wrap this baby up in a nice neat bundle with a bow,” and end it with a bang.  Reinforce the importance of your topic.

 

References should start at the top of page three.    Use APA style (Here is the best one I found on the web--Sources to help with APA Style New Link!) for your references, including web site references.  Be sure the links work in your web page version of the document.   The title of the references should appear as it does below.

 

References (12 point bold)

 

References go here.  Single space within and double space between.

 

On the last page(s) (starting on page 4) you should include the MC questions.  The format for the questions is as follows:

 

Questions about the Nifty:  A New Hardware Device (Group1)

 

1.  What is the answer to this very long and difficult question that is going to take up more than one line?  (if answers choices are long, put each on a separate line)

            A.        I don’t know                               B.         I don’t care
            C.        It is too hard!                              D.        This is a dumb question.

       (Single space within and double space between questions).

ET Topic Overview specific requirements:

 

  1. Body of summary must be no more and no less than 2 pages.  This does not include the references and questions.  We want to be very concise.
  2. Use Times New Roman font (12 point).  This font makes for easy reading.
  3. One inch margins all the way around.
  4. Single space the body of the paper.  Let us waste no space or paper.
  5. Rather than indenting paragraphs, double space between paragraphs.  This will look better when published on the Web.
  6. The printout of the summary should be clear and easy to read—print it on a good printer and on reasonably good paper.  It should look like the work of a business professional--take pride in your work.

 

Note:  There is a reason I have such detailed requirements for this written document.  In business, as well as in other organizations, there are often prescribed ways for doing things, like writing reports.  One big advantage of this approach is that when people read many such documents, the standard format makes it easier for them to read the documents and evaluate their contents.  To illustrate my point, what if I changed the format for your weekly quizzes each week?  Each week you would have to figure out what I expect of you in answering the questions.  That takes time and energy.  The standardized test format allows you to concentrate on demonstrating what you know, rather than figuring out what I want you to do.  There is another important reason for the detailed instructions.  This work will provide you with practice in following instructions.  One of the most important lessons you will learn in life is how to follow instructions.  Life can be difficult if you do not learn this very important lesson.


Other requirements:

 

  1. Please provide me with a printed copy of the “ET Topic Overview,” in Word document format.  
  2. Please turn in the PP presentation and ET topic overview files on a 3.5 inch disk, a zip disk, or a CD.  Alternatively, you may feel free to E-mail them to me (as an attachment). 
  3. Please save the ET topic overview in a Word WEB PAGE format.  This will make it possible for me to publish it to my web site with ease. 
  4. Please save your PP Presentation in normal PP format.  It will work fine on the Web in that format. 

  

Grading criteria: (10 points for each criteria, for a total of 30 possible points).

 

  1. Content—did you cover what you were required to cover in an appropriate way?  Was it well organized, clear (understandable) and easy to read?
  2. Form—did you follow the instructions above?  (exactly)
  3. Correct Writing Style—Is your work free of spelling errors, grammar errors, etc.?  Did you use the English language in a way that is acceptable for formal writing (it is usually best not to write like we talk).  I deduct one point for each problem I discover (1 point from the 10 allocated to each area). 
    NOTE:  The assignment is worth a total of 100 points.  If you got a 9 on content, a 9 on form and a 9 on correct writing style, you would receive a 90 on the assignment ((9+9+9)/30 = .90 or 90% which translates to 90).