Overview

This course is focused on a term-long team project where you will build a database-backed website. There are a lot of possibilities for this project, but to be able to do much that is interesting, you’ll need some data to put in your database! You’ll also need to establish with your team what everyone’s expectations are for each other. The prep for Monday consists of two things 1) starting to think about what kind of data you would like to make a website about and 2) starting to think about how you’d like your team to work.

Basic Learning Objectives

Before class, you should be able to:

  • Identify a few datasets that you find interesting
  • Cite the source of a dataset that you find
  • Explain what the team contract will need to contain

Advanced Learning Objectives

After class, you should be able to:

  • Explain what the team project is about
  • Locate and cite the dataset your team will be using (or have narrowed it down to a couple as a team)
  • Answer several of the questions on the Team Charter assignment, if not all of them

Readings

To achieve the basic learning objectives, you should read the following sections on the research guide for the course:

  • “Finding Data”. This page lists a number of sources of datasets, along with other suggestions for finding datasets.
  • “Keeping Track of What You Find”. This page covers what information you should retain about your dataset. You will need to incorporate some of this info into your website design.
  • “Citing your Data”. This page covers what information you should share with your audience on your (eventual) website about the source of the data.

You should also read the Team Proposal assignment and start thinking about what you would want in your team contract.

Checks

Write down answers to the following questions and bring them to class:

  • What are 2-3 general data categories or specific datasets that you’d be interested in working with for your team project?
  • What are your goals (currently) for the project experience?
  • What strengths are you bringing to the project?
  • Potential answers to one or more of the “rules” questions