Checkpoint One Assignments (10 points total / 2 points each)
Rubric
Each of the four items below will be graded according to the following scale.
- 2 points: đ„ 1
- 1.8 points: đȘ 2
- 1.6 points: đ 3
- 1.4 points: đ 4
- 1 point: đ 5
- 0 points: đ» 6
0. Presentation
- 3-5 minutes long
- Each team member must present something
- Focused on providing a concise summary / presentation of each of the other three items below
- You should show off your alpha in working form
- You may use slides if you wish, but theyâre not required
- While perfection isnât the goal here, you should be clearly rehearsed
1. Alpha
- Make somethingâanythingâwork on the platform youâre developing forâ HoloLens, iPhone, Echo Show, web, etc.
- Weâre looking for proof that you can make stuff work with the platform youâve been assigned
- Your alpha will be evaluated during your presentation; no other submission is necessary
2. Exploratory Research
- A comprehensive presentation of your groupâs learning for this project so far
- It should be 2 things: 1) a primer (introductory reader) about your client/tech and 2)Â a glimpse into the sources that have informed your thinking about your project
- For 2) above, specifically consider what has informed your thinking or approach with your tech; have you looked at other products? What did you like? Where do you want to improve? Inspiration? Etc?
- For all of this, be sure to cite sources with links and to set off direct quotes with quotation marks
- Your doc should be relatively polished in terms of grammar, formatting, etc.
- Submit your project plan as a single PDF (one per group, not per student) in this Google Drive Folder
- Use the following naming convention: Project Name_Deliverable Name
- Acceptable Example: Travlr_Exploratory Research
- Unacceptable Example: Exploratory Research 9.10
3. Project Plan
- Whatever type of document works best for you is great hereâGoogle/Word doc, slides, whatever
- Might be helpful to start with all your final deliverables and work backwards step by step for each one
- Weâre looking for evidence that youâve thought critically about each step of each process
- Think about what your greatest challenges / largest potential roadblocks will be and how youâll be starting work immediately to tackle them.
- Consider reach / main / safety goals: what happens if everything goes better than expected, where you think youâll land, and your minimum deliverable if everything hits the fan.
- Itâd probably be a great idea to note that each of you has put all of these tasks into your calendar / task management system of choice
- Submit your project plan as a PDF in this Google Drive Folder
- Use the following naming convention: Project Name_Deliverable Name
- Acceptable Example: Travlr_Exploratory Research
- Unacceptable Example: Exploratory Research 9.10
4. PR/FAQ
- Youâll write a one-page press release and an accompanying FAQ written to be shared a bit after the successful release of your (future) final product.
- For the press release, write âan internal press release announcing [your] finished product⊠âcentered around the customer problem, how current solutions (internal or external) fail[ed], and how the new product [blew] away existing solutions.'â
- The following outline might help:
- Heading â Name the product in a way the reader (i.e. your target customers) will understand.
- Sub-Heading â Describe who the market for the product is and what benefit they get. One sentence only underneath the title.
- Summary â Give a summary of the product and the benefit. Assume the reader will not read anything else so make this paragraph good.
- Problem â Describe the problem your product solves.
- Solution â Describe how your product elegantly solves the problem.
- Quote from You â A quote from a spokesperson in your company.
- How to Get Started â Describe how easy it is to get started.
- Customer Quote â Provide a quote from a hypothetical customer that describes how they experienced the benefit.
- Closing and Call to Action â Wrap it up and give pointers where the reader should go next.
- Other guidelines:
- Be concise and avoid jargon
- Think about the âfive Wâsâ: Who, What, Where, When, and Why
- Start your press release with a strong lead, making sure to put the most important information first (the âinverted pyramidâ approach)
- The two primary distributors of press releases, PR Newswire and Business Wire, have resources to help you write a solid draft:
- âFree Press Release Templates and Examplesâ â PR Newswire
- âPress Release Doâs and Donâts: Your Guide to Press Release Perfectionâ â by Kathleen Meyer, Business Wire
- For the FAQs, aim for two or more pages of âfrequently asked questions that customers can be anticipated to have about the offering, and their straightforward answers.â
- Read more about Amazonâs PR/FAQs here, here, and here (quotes above sourced from these articles).
- Submit your project plan as a PDF in this Google Drive Folder
- Use the following naming convention: Project Name_Deliverable Name
- Acceptable Example: Travlr_Exploratory Research
- Unacceptable Example: Exploratory Research 9.10
Killed it / crushed it / etc. Truly exceptional work. Exceeded expectations.â©
Solid work! You did a good job and should feel good.â©
Not bad. A bit rough / weak in some key areas, but all the essentials are there.â©
Not so hot. You turned it something resembling the assignment, but you should be worried.â©
Oof. You didâŠsomething. But barely.â©
You didnât turn in anything at all. â©