Lab 10

Web Collaboration Tools

 

 

Introduction

 

This week we’ve learned how to exploit existing web tools to support collaboration needs. Now you will practice using one of them and document how it can help solve a real problem.

 

Note – no programming is required for this lab. You may add some if you wish, however. Note that some of these services offer APIs to allow you to modify the data programmatically – so the skills you’ve learned this semester could be used to improve upon the baseline functionality.

 

Requirements

 

1.      A note on passwords – the instructor will need to see what you produce!  So you’ll either need to use passwords you don’t mind sharing, or else “share” your final product with lmcdowel@usna.edu

2.      First identify

    1. Some problem/situation that could be addressed with online collaboration
    2. An online tool that could address the situation.  You do not have to use a tool that we discussed but if something else discuss with the instructor first. Whatever you do must be an original creation for this class.
    3. Some person, the “stakeholder” (not you), that you could try to convince to use this tool

3.      When finished, you need to have:

    1. Some tangible artifact, e.g. a filled-in project on Basecamp, a document(s) on Google Docs, a set of things on Backpack, a complex plan on planyp.us, etc. It should showcase some amount of complexity. For instance, a single to-do list or a single document that just lists a few people might be useful but isn’t too exciting.
    2. A document (a few paragraphs to a page), addressed to the “stakeholder”, that describes
      1. How to use the artifact you’ve produced (high level—login etc. info goes on default.htm instead)
      2. Why this is a great solution to their problem
    3. Links and instructions on your default.htm page that enable the instructor to see and play around with your artifact. Make sure you include any necessary passwords.

 

Deliverables

1)      Make sure your default.htm is updated as described above

2)      Turn in the following hardcopy on or before the due date, stapled together in the following order (coversheet on top):

a)      A completed assignment coversheet.  Your comments will help us improve the course.

b)      A printout of your written document to the “stakeholder”. Make sure it clearly identifies the stakeholder it is addressed to.