GC TOOLKIT ASSIGNMENT FAQ  

What exactly is this GC Toolkit supposed to be?

 The GC Toolkit is a name given to the accumulation of global change-related resources and/or activities that you will have identified as necessary to complement your main area of research by deepening and broadening the global change elements of your specific scholarly pursuits and your overall education. 

What do you mean by “global change-related resources”?

 The resources that your toolkit will equip you with can be in any format: basic information such as a glossary, development of new software or data interpretation skills, development of a new technique, traditional literature review for background knowledge, a set of important research questions outlining critical needed areas of research,  a list of key contacts, an annotated bibliography, webliography, or filmography with reviews and/or critiques,  a set of key graphics (designed by you or collected from elsewhere), a flow chart or conceptual map of how global change issues are related to your research, a “bulleted” summary or review of one or more of the important IPCC documents you’ve just never carved out the time to read, a re-write of your resume emphasizing your expertise in global change, new hands-on experience in pursuing energy efficient and/or sustainability practices   . . . . the possibilities are endless!

Are there any activities that are required?

 Yes – you should make an appointment to come in and talk to me about your developing toolkit.  Just email me and we'll set up a time.  In April I will reserve an extra date (during our regular class time) as an open "drop-in" time slot for anyone who wants to stop by my office without making an appointment. Directions to my office are HERE

What is the format  of the deliverable product?

 What you will deliver to complete this assignment is some form of documentation of your toolkit project, activities and/or accumulated resources. You should prepare a handout and presentation that  describe and explain your toolkit project and its significance, how it links to Global Change, and what you think might be of interest in it for others -- either among GC minors, or some other audience that you have in mind.  (If you are doing a demonstration or engaging the group in an activity, you should also describe and explain the significance of your project in a formal presentation -- either before or after the activity.)

The documentation should be in a format that can be shared in some way:  development of your own website, a powerpoint, a “storyboard” narrative, a video, etc. etc.  However, not all activities lend themselves to posting, so this "sharing requirement" is quite flexible!  While some of your toolkit activities might be of particular interest to you alone, there should be some elements that will be of great interest to other GC students – or maybe your own students in the future –  so find a format in which to share these.  You will each give a 10 - 15 minute presentation about what you did for your toolkit at our end-of-the-semester “capstone” meeting.  I will have projector, screen, and laptop plus WiFi so you can link to the internet if needed in your presentation.

How will it be graded or evaluated?

 The toolkit – if successful – will probably be of greatest value to YOU – so as part of your documentation, you should send directly to me (via email):  a self-evaluation that addresses:

1. what you had hoped to accomplish with your toolkit,

2. how well you succeeded,

3. what you would have done differently if you were starting the assignment all over again,

4. what you learned from the activity, and

5. what additional things you would like to learn that may have been catalyzed by the toolkit activity.  

(Please email me your self-evaluation the day after our Capstone Session.)

In addition, I will evaluate your Toolkit based on the degree to which you fulfilled the expectations outlined in this FAQ, including the quality of your presentation.
 
(You are all seasoned presenters, no doubt, but if you want a refresher on good presentation practices and how to evaluate a presentation, click HERE.)

 When is it due?

Your toolkit and documentation should be completed when you give your presentations at our end-of-semester capstone meeting which is scheduled on [ TBD ] at the Hirschboeck-Maddox residence (directions will be provided via email).