That light - glory or an oncoming freight train?

At the beginning of the semester I posted The Light at the end of the Tunnel, where I outlined a few expectations for your Capstone. Click the link and review if you like. The first gets into an expectation of you demonstrating your competencies as they relate to the program learning outcomes. The second, that your work be a celebration of your achievement.

So, as we wrap things up for the semester, here is a suggested format to follow as you pull your research, evidence, artifacts, and/or analytics together in your final paper.

For those who chose a project or internship, here is what I'll be looking for:

1.  A description of your objectives and how they uphold any of the Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) and what communication theories they may validate.

For example, you may have decided to create a campaign that was executed both on campus and via social media. Objectives involved in your project probably tied to the PLOs dealing with Theory, Content Creation, Critical Thinking and Research.


2. A demonstration of the execution of your objectives as they relate to PLOs using artifacts. These artifacts are hopefully posted to your Capstone Blog and can be referenced in your paper as "Artifact A" and so on within your writing.

These might include screen shots of social media channels, communication artifacts, photographs of events, feedback from participants, etc. 


3. The achievement of your objectives through some kind of summative or qualitative analysis. Social media efficacy can be evidenced by analytics; data generated by your social media channel(s). Your efficacy can also be evaluated through other survey efforts that analyze audience reach and response.

These might include screen shots of Facebook Insights (all categories), a link to your SurveyMonkey survey, or a PDF of your qualitative efforts. 


4. A self-assessment of your project's strengths and weaknesses as they relate to the PLOs.

If you're completing an internship, this should also include an estimation of hours. 


For those completing qualitative or quantitative research, your initial papers are outlined for completion. Now write about your findings, include a discussion of strengths and weaknesses of your research, and the value of your findings.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Congratulations. You're here.

Here being Capstone and for whatever you've heard about it, whatever good or terrible experiences that are circulating out there in your cohort, whatever fears you might have about what this is supposed to be, allow me to set a few things straight.

First, Capstone means to me your best representation and evidence of competency in any or all of the department's program learning outcomes. The trouble is, for many of you, this is the first time you've been made aware of them. Regardless, this is the criteria by which you will be demonstrating your competencies as a Communication major and by which I'll be guiding your projects and evaluating your work. So, we need to get to know them, understand them and decide how to evaluate your abilities with them. I said we, yes. You and I will decide how to measure this according to the department outcomes.

Second, this should be a celebration of your achievement, not an examination of your shortcomings, nor some impossible rubric through which I'm determined to see you fail. Nope. At the end I want to turn to the university, to the community, to the world and say, "Here is (you), one of the best graduates you can employ, and here is evidence of their excellence."

Third, I am honored and humbled to be your advisor. Use me. Drop by, visit, often. Call me. You will have my personal number. And I will have yours and I'll be calling you should you fall off my radar.

Deal?

Suggested Format for your Paper

1. Introduction and validation of issue to which your project is focused.

2. A review of literature that addresses the issue.

3. Your project proposal and how it addresses the issue, as well as how it satisfies certain PLOs.

4. Your project plan with measurable objectives.

5. Execution of the plan.

6. Analysis of the plan's effectiveness - observational research, data analysis, application to identified PLOs.

7. Discussion - self evaluation of performance, good, bad, ugly.

8. Attachments, supporting documents, screen shots of Insights and/or Google analytics data.