Undergraduate / Bachelors

Submitted by Tom Rankin on November 17th, 2018
Short Description: 

About: You are the Chief Executive Officer of an exciting start up Clean Energy Business. This is a web-based free simulation. Students play the role of the founder of a new start-up company in the exciting and competitive clean tech sector. Each quarter students must set prices, decide how many engineers and sales people to hire, and set compensation, including salary, stock, options and profit sharing. Students must also make financial decisions such as debt level, equity level and overall cash management.

Challenge: Will you lead your company to record profits or run your firm into bankruptcy?

Requirements: This is a several part project, which includes: at least 4 attempts at the simulation, 1 annual report assignment, 4 project quizzes, 2 blog posting , and 1 feedback survey. Note to receive full credit students must successfully complete 10 years of profitable simulation business (remember you can play as many times as you wish, however for full credit you must have played at least 4 times). Bonus points will be added to students who make the final leader board, based upon highest cumulative net profits. Students work independently, not part of a group, however students are encouraged to use blog space to discuss various game strategies.

When playing the simulation, select "play as a class." Your ID is your Wake Tech email address and your password is 4444. Please wait until week 2 of the class to start the simulation in order for the instructor to enter the class emails into the game site. Instruction Video (opens in a new window) Link to Play Simulation (opens in new window)
Play the game as often as you wish; play often throughout the semester to try different strategies and improve your scores.
Semester champion: the student the with highest cumulative net income will be declared the semester champion. We will periodically update students with a leader board in an announcement so you can see where you stand relative to other students.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Game tabs and definitionsdisplayed 1290 times17.76 KB
Annual Report Formatdisplayed 1066 times25.49 KB
Grading Rubricdisplayed 1132 times18.87 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

Learning Outcomes: Experience the challenge of building a startup company in a demanding competitive environment, including financial, human resources, strategic and other decisions.

Discipline: 
Business

Individual or Group:

Tags:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

A project has been use in one or more Introduction to Business Class since 2015.

Additional Instructor Resources (e.g. in-class activities, worksheets, scaffolding applications, supplemental modules, further readings, etc.): 

In class: Demo of playing the simulation.
Scaffolding Used:
W3: Quiz on Game Instructions Video (10%)
W4: Student blog on their experience with first game attempt (10%)
W5: Quiz on pricing, compensation, financing strategies (10%)
W6: Student blog on useful SBA resources (10%)
W7: Quiz on Hint Videos: Top 5 reasons small businesses fail. (10%)
W8: Quiz on grading rubic (10%)
W12: Annual Report (40%)

Assessment or Criteria for Success
(e.g. rubric, guidelines, exemplary sample paper, etc.): 
AttachmentSize
BUS 110 Project Simulation Game Rubric (1).docxdisplayed 998 times18.87 KB
Assessment Short Description: 
Week Leader Board issued to class.
Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 

This project is very labor intensive for the instructor to keep up with weekly leader boards, however it is also provides many opportunities for rich discussion with students, and student feedback on the game has been very positive.

Suggested Citation: 
Rankin, Tom. "MIT Clean Start Business Simulation ." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2018. https://projectcora.org/assignment/mit-clean-start-business-simulation-0.
Submitted by Jennifer Masunaga on November 7th, 2018
Short Description: 

This 30-minute activity demonstrates how to search in Google Scholar and explains how results are ranked. It requires students to explore Google Scholar and encourages students to reflect on potential biases this tool might have in regards to research. This lesson plan was Part 2 of an hour-long workshop that also included a 30 minute search engine algorithmic bias lesson. Please see Elisa Slater Acosta's page for part 1: https://www.projectcora.org/assignment/exploring-algorithmic-bias-summer...

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Lesson Plandisplayed 2924 times56.96 KB
Worksheetdisplayed 1480 times105.46 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

1. Students will be able to search Google Scholar in order to find scholarly and discipline specific sources for their information need.

2. Students will understand Google Scholar’s limitations and biases in order to critically evaluate their search results.

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

This lesson was done for the the Computer Science Summer Institute Extension Program, or CCSIX, is a 3-week on-campus summer experience for first-year students studying computer science and related STEM fields at Loyola Marymount University. This program is designed for groups underrepresented in computing (i.e., women, underrepresented minorities in STEM, and first-generation or low-income college students). https://cssiextension.withgoogle.com/

Collaborators: 
Suggested Citation: 
Masunaga, Jennifer. "Exploring Google Scholar with a Summer Bridge Program ." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2018. https://projectcora.org/assignment/exploring-google-scholar-summer-bridge-program.
Submitted by Elisa Acosta on October 28th, 2018
Short Description: 

This 30-minute activity was a quick introduction to algorithmic bias and the importance of critically evaluating search engine results. Algorithms increasingly shape modern life and can perpetuate bias and discrimination. In pairs, students analyzed the results from Google Image searches and Google Autocomplete suggestions. This activity was based on “Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism,” by Safiya Umoja Noble. This lesson plan was Part 1 of an hour-long workshop that also included a 30 minute Google Scholar activity. Please see Jennifer Masanaga's Google Scholar activity for Part 2: https://www.projectcora.org/assignment/exploring-google-scholar-summer-b...

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Lesson Plandisplayed 5319 times154.64 KB
Presentation slidesdisplayed 2717 times3.37 MB
Worksheetdisplayed 2126 times326.34 KB
Suggested Readingsdisplayed 1491 times65.96 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

1. Students will discuss the effects of algorithm bias in order to articulate how some individuals or groups of individuals may be misrepresented or systematically marginalized in search engine results. 2. Students will develop an attitude of informed skepticism in order to critically evaluate Google search results.

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

The Computer Science Summer Institute Extension Program, or CCSIX, is a 3-week on-campus summer experience for first-year students studying computer science and related STEM fields. This program is designed for groups underrepresented in computing (i.e., women, underrepresented minorities in STEM, and first-generation or low-income college students). See Google's Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI) https://blog.google/inside-google/life-at-google/googles-computer-scienc...

Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 

Incoming first-year students were shy and quiet. I revised the lesson plan to include more Think-Pair-Share and less all-class discussion. The instructor should model the Google Images activity first (Professor Style), then let students do the second activity (Computer Scientist) together in pairs. The students liked “partner time.” This was a summer bridge program, so we decided to keep the worksheets short and the activities social (students talking to each other).

Collaborators: 
Suggested Citation: 
Acosta, Elisa. "Exploring Algorithmic Bias with a Summer Bridge Program." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2018. https://projectcora.org/assignment/exploring-algorithmic-bias-summer-bridge-program.
Submitted by Jessea Young on October 18th, 2018
Short Description: 

The “Open Access: Strategies and Tools for Life after College” workshop was developed to give students the tools to continue academic research after graduation. Students may not recognize that the library provides many electronic resources for their research that is automatically given to them during their enrollment; by acknowledging their privileged access to information, they are prepared to be responsible researchers beyond campus. The workshop was requested by international students who were concerned about losing access to LMU resources when they returned home.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Lesson Plandisplayed 1979 times1.18 MB
Presentation Slidesdisplayed 1462 times2.2 MB
Information Privilege Worksheetdisplayed 1284 times21.4 KB
Open Access Only Worksheetdisplayed 1174 times21 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

1. Students will be able to define the following terms: open access, paywalls, and information privilege.
2. Students will appreciate the impact of open access scholarship and it’s benefit to the public good.
3. Students will be able to search the appropriate open access tool in order to find free scholarly content.

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

This workshop was created for the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP). Faculty mentors and Librarians hold workshops and seminars throughout the summer to help SURP students build their research and presentation skills. Three international students suggested the workshop topic! They wanted to know more about ResearchGate and how to find free scholarly information once they left LMU.

Additional Instructor Resources (e.g. in-class activities, worksheets, scaffolding applications, supplemental modules, further readings, etc.): 

Further Readings

"Information Privilege Outreach for Undergraduate Students" by Sarah Hare, Cara Evanson.
https://crl.acrl.org/index.php/crl/article/view/16767

You’re a Researcher Without a Library: What Do You Do? by Jake Orlowitz.
https://medium.com/a-wikipedia-librarian/youre-a-researcher-without-a-li...

Assessment or Criteria for Success
Assessment Short Description: 
Students were asked to reflect on the workshop and submit their comments via Google Forms. Students really liked the Case Study.
Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 

Originally, the workshop was scheduled for 1 hour. Next year we would like to schedule a longer 1.5 hour workshop or assign the case study article as homework. Technology was an issue too. There’s no way to “turn off” database access (or turn off Information Privilege) while on campus. It’s difficult to simulate an Open Access Only environment so that students could practice using OA tools and strategies. We tried with Google Scholar and PubMed by turning off the “Library links” settings. Also we asked the students to pretend or imagine that they didn’t have access.

Collaborators: 
Suggested Citation: 
Young, Jessea. "Open Access: Strategies and Tools for Life after College ." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2018. https://projectcora.org/assignment/open-access-strategies-and-tools-life-after-college.
Submitted by Pascal Martinolli on July 24th, 2018
Short Description: 

A scholarly character sheet for self-assessment about information literacy skills - gamification around quantified self, badging and young researcher identity.

Une feuille d'autoévaluation pour suivre les apprentissages en compétences informationnelles acquises sur le moyen ou le long terme. Elle est ludifiée avec des éléments de mesure de soi, de badge et d'identité de jeune chercheur.

Learning Outcomes: 

Self-assessment, measurement of progress & end of course wrap-up.

Individual or Group:

Suggested Citation: 
Martinolli, Pascal. "Scholarly character sheet / Feuille de personnage du jeune chercheur." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2018. https://projectcora.org/assignment/scholarly-character-sheet-feuille-de-personnage-du-jeune-chercheur.
Submitted by Pascal Martinolli on July 24th, 2018
Short Description: 

Comment envoyer une minorité d'étudiants surmotivés sur des objectifs pédagogiques intégrés et connexes dont le parcours est structuré ?
1) Faire une courte introduction engageante (15min.)
2) Identifier la minorité surmotivée et leur distribuer un parcours.
3) Assurer une supervision mininal avec un suivi distant et ponctuel au besoin.
Avec 2 exemples de parcours: une auto-initiation en 5 niveaux pour contribuer à Wikipédia; et un programme de 12 semaines pour démarrer un blogue sur un sujet de recherche.

How to get the few really motivated students involved? By asking them to fulfil « side-quests » learning activities in a structured itinerary :
1) Present a short but engaging initiation [sur quoi?] (15 min.) ;
2) After identifying the motivated students, give them a formal checklist [pour quoi?];
3) If needed, provide minimum mentoring and follow-up
Here are two examples : 5-steps self-initiation on how to contribute to Wikipedia and 12-weeks program to start a blog on research topic.

Learning Outcomes: 

Contributing to Wikipédia and starting a research blog.

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 
Additional Instructor Resources (e.g. in-class activities, worksheets, scaffolding applications, supplemental modules, further readings, etc.): 
Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 
Suggested Citation: 
Martinolli, Pascal. "Missionner les étudiants surmotivés sur des objectifs connexes / Self-driven side-quests with minimum mentoring." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2018. https://projectcora.org/assignment/missionner-les-%C3%A9tudiants-surmotiv%C3%A9s-sur-des-objectifs-connexes-self-driven-side-quests.
Submitted by Pascal Martinolli on July 24th, 2018
Short Description: 

Synthèse ludique des ateliers d'évaluation des sources. Peut être utilisé comme récompense : un exemplaire plastifié est offert à l'étudiant qui trouve l'erreur volontairement insérée dans la formation (les autres n'ont que la feuille en papier). Autre utilisation : trouver le document le plus faible parmi vos références, ou parmi les références du syllabus de tel cours.

Gamified summary for the evaluation of sources activity. A laminated copy could be used as award for the first student who discovers the mistake deliberately put in the learning activity; the other participants only get a paper copy of the sheet. Another use : in a list of bibliographic references, find the weakest one.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
foutaisometre-french.pdfdisplayed 1980 times278.34 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

Summary of the evaluation of sources activity. Wrap-up.

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 
Additional Instructor Resources (e.g. in-class activities, worksheets, scaffolding applications, supplemental modules, further readings, etc.): 
Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 
Suggested Citation: 
Martinolli, Pascal. "Foutaisomètre / Bullshit-o-meter." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2018. https://projectcora.org/assignment/foutaisom%C3%A8tre-bullshit-o-meter.
Submitted by Pascal Martinolli on July 24th, 2018
Short Description: 

The purpose of this activity is to inspire students to adopt structured methods when they explore and retrieve information. It is based on lab notebooking methods and on managing and documenting the flow of references in Zotero, a reference management software.

The first principle is based on a tree of collections to manage the references arriving in the Zotero library. Some basic methods are suggested and the students are invited to create their own. The second principle is based on standalone notes to document all the research process through online database, libraries and experts.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Description of the activity (in English)displayed 2163 times587.94 KB
Description de l'activité (en français)displayed 2222 times753.58 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

Adopting structured methods when exploring and retrieving informations;
Managing and documenting the flow of references in Zotero.

Individual or Group:

Suggested Citation: 
Martinolli, Pascal. "ZotLog: Inspiring students to adopt structured methods in Zotero." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2018. https://projectcora.org/assignment/zotlog-inspiring-students-adopt-structured-methods-zotero.
Submitted by Amanda M. on July 19th, 2018
Short Description: 

Art and design students are almost always asked to write about their work, in the form of an artists’ statement, at some point in their academic career. This is a skill that is crucial as they move from student to professional or practicing artist because it gives them the opportunity to reflect on their work, share concepts and develop their authority in their field, and, very importantly, discuss how their work builds on the work of others who share similar themes and/or processes. These descriptive texts provide additional context, insight, evidence, and background details that are otherwise difficult for viewers to identify or understand. This lesson describes the process linking the creative process to the research process for visual and fine art disciplines in order to articulate sources of inspiration, identify themes, and provide context for an intended audience. Pop culture is an accessible topic that most students will have some familiarity with, and so the lesson focuses on contemporary and pop artists who draw from several sources to create their bodies of work.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Artist Statements (1).pdfdisplayed 1825 times96.33 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

Students will collaboratively research and mind map the work of one artist to identify the ways in which this artist is influenced by other art, disciplines outside of art, and contemporary issues, and culture. Students will consider and articulate who their work is in conversation with (other artists, theorists, etc.) and how they are building on the contributions others have made. Students will generate a mind map of themes, artists, and influences that pertain to their body of work in order to begin researching each one more thoroughly. Students will use further research to contextualize their body of work within cultural, social, artistic, and discipline-specific histories and contemporary practices/movements.

Discipline: 
Art

Information Literacy concepts:

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

I've used this with upper level/graduate photography and printmaking students, but could be applied to many disciplines.

Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 

Consider the artists you use as your example. I use Beyonce and Janelle Monae because most of my students are familiar with them on some level. If they were not familiar this lesson may be less effective and students would be less engaged.

Suggested Citation: 
M., Amanda. "Artist Statements: Context, Content & Conversations." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2018. https://projectcora.org/assignment/artist-statements-context-content-conversations.
Submitted by Elisa Acosta on July 18th, 2018
Short Description: 

Environmental science students critically analyzed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) website and its treatment of climate change during the Trump, Obama, and Bush presidencies. This library “warm-up” activity was designed to raise awareness of data fragility and the long-term accessibility of government websites. As future science professionals, it’s important to think about how this impacts scientists and their work. Students were introduced to several tools including: The Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, End of Term Archive, and Data Refuge. What happens when government web pages are hidden, moved, or deleted?

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
Discussion Aid (PowerPoint with screenshots)displayed 1531 times5.16 MB
Additional Resourcesdisplayed 1774 times17.57 KB
Worksheetdisplayed 1043 times544.39 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

1.Students will begin to discuss how social, economic, and power structures influence the production and dissemination of climate change information on the EPA website. 2.Students will recognize how government priorities impact federal websites and data accessibility. 3.Students will be able to search the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine in order to find missing or deleted government web pages.

Information Literacy concepts:

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

This was a library "warm-up" activity and discussion for a traditional one-shot library instruction session for upper-division environmental science and health & human science students. It was a 75 minute class (warm-up 20-30 minutes). The students needed to find articles and data for their climate change topics. The professor also asked if I could show them how to locate climate change information that had recently disappeared from several federal government websites.

I gave each student a worksheet with directions. In groups of two, students navigated the websites, shared their thoughts with a partner and answered the worksheet questions in writing. Then we had a class discussion and I collected the worksheets.

This activity can be modified for a communication studies, journalism or English class. Students can analyze the language of the new EPA website and compare it to earlier archived versions via the WayBack Machine. The term "climate change" was erased and replaced by terms like "extreme weather" and "resilience."

Assessment or Criteria for Success
Assessment Short Description: 
I collected their worksheets and read the student responses. This gave me the opportunity to hear from the quiet students who didn’t speak up during the discussion. I also saw where students struggled with the activity.
Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 

Instead of counting how many times “climate change” is mentioned on the EPA home page, some students used the search box and received 10,000+ results.

Suggested Citation: 
Acosta, Elisa. "Missing Information Has Value: Climate Change and the EPA website." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2018. https://projectcora.org/assignment/missing-information-has-value-climate-change-and-epa-website.

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