Technology

The technology we used definitely helped our project come together.  We used the group pages on Blackboard to add files, such as minutes, our proposal, and other documents, so that they could be accessed by all group members.  We also used the email tool under group pages.  This allowed us to send one mass email out to each group member, without having to type in everyone's email address.  We also used other technology such as the Internet to create our website, Facebook to obtain research, and PowerPoint to create our presentation.  Overall, I think the technology we used was extremely helpful with our project, making it easier to complete.  

Ethics

I thought the memo about the Holocaust that was presented in class was disturbing.  I was shocked to find out that the memo was actually talking about children.  It was a good example to show in class though because it demonstrates how language can be used to dehumanize a situation when it is unethical.   The memo used words such as merchandise and pieces to refer to the children, and it opened my eyes to the power of words and how they can be used to mask unethical decisions. 

I have strong ethical beliefs and values, and I plan to stick to those beliefs when I am in the workplace or graduate school.  Peoples' lives mean more to me than making money, and I would never make an unethical decision that would harm someone else in any way just to make money. Integrity and doing what is right is extremely important to me.  If at any point during my career I am pressured to make an unethical decision just to stay in school or to keep a job, then I would just leave.  To me, a certain job or career, regardless of its prestige, is not worth compromising my convictions.  

Miscommunication

I have not yet had job, so I don't have any experience with miscommunication in the work setting.  However, I did play tennis in high school and learned the importance of communication within sports.  Whether you play singles or doubles, communication is an important aspect in tennis.  If you are serving, it is important that you yell out the score after each point to make sure that both you and your opponent are on the same page. It's also necessary to clarify if the ball was out.  You can't assume that your opponent can always discern from the other side of the court if their ball was in or out.  If you don't clarify, he or she might think it was in and give themselves that point.  While playing doubles, communication between teammates is extremely important.  We were always told call the ball so we wouldn't either run into each other or just let the ball go with out being hit.  I remember specifically when I was playing doubles one game, neither of us called it, and we lost that point.  I think we eventually lost the game also.  Not calling the ball and letting it go with out an attempted hit is an unnecessary way to lose points.  If we had called our balls and communicated better with each other during the plays, we would have had a much better chance at winning the game.  Communication is necessary in all parts of life, and is extremely important for things to run smoothly within a work place, as well as in sports.  

Presentations/ Online Portfolios

My favorite presentation from the last group was given by Jimmy.  I really enjoyed his presentation because I love the beach and would like to go on a tropical vacation at some point.  I thought the information given on his PowerPoint was helpful since it included costs, activities, and pictures of each location.  I also liked his handout with the pictures.  

I have not had a lot of experience with online portfolios.  Since I have not started on my e-portfolio for Clemson yet, my only experience with online portfolios has been with my English 103 class.  For this class, I completed a learning record which included samples of my writings from the class as well as my commentary about each writing sample.  Completing the learning record was a good experience because it allowed me to gain an understanding of how to create a portfolio.  Because I have not had a lot of experience with  online portfolios,  it would be helpful to have an overview in class about how to put together the portfolio draft. 

Presentations

I really enjoyed all the presentations this week.  My three favorite ones were from Melesha, Ally, and Brandon.  I thought Melesha's presentation about the drive- thru process was really interesting and entertaining.  I liked all of her advice, and I thought that her handout brochure was really effective.  Now, whenever I go through the drive- thru I make a point to follow her tips, such as waiting for the cashier to repeat the order.  Ally's presentation really interested me because I drink coffee every morning.  I enjoyed learning about the history of coffee, and I thought her handout about the coffee options was very helpful.  Sometimes, I'm not sure what type of coffee to order when I want something special, and knowing what is in each one from her handout will help a lot.  Brandon's presentation was fun and informative.  I had never heard of a sugar glider before, and it was cool to learn about them.  I thought bringing in an actual sugar glider was really effective.  It was neat to see one in person.  

Cover Letter

After reading the advise from collegegrad.com, I feel like I have a better understanding of how to write a cover letter.  I agreed with most of the advise that was given such as tailoring the letter to match the company, not sending out mass cover letters, and not addressing it "To Whom it May Concern."  However, I did not agree with writing a P.S. at the end.  I think that would make the letter seem unprofessional.  If I were hiring and received a cover letter that had a P.S. , handwritten or not, I would think that person did not really care about the job and did not spend a lot of time or put a lot of thought into writing the letter.  They forgot to say something in the letter, and instead of revising the letter they just added a note to the end.  That would not go over well with me, so I think that was bad advise. 

  "The Reality of Cover Letters" and "The Best Use of a Cover Letter" were the most helpful sections to me.  I didn't realize that cover letters were read after the resume and that most of them didn't get read at all unless the company was really interested in you.  I also learned that the cover letter is more about the company  than yourself, and it should address the benefits that you will bring them.  I am going to take all of this advise into consideration when writing my cover letter. 

Client Project

The client visit was very informative.  I learned a lot about what she was expecting with this project, and I'm excited to have the opportunity to work on improving the health of our campus.   I like the idea of incorporating the student organic farm into our project.  Before the visit, I had not heard of the farm, and I still don't know where it is located.  Therefore, I think we should try to promote the farm and focus on making the students more aware of it.  I also think it would be neat if we could create some kind of farmer's market on campus where students could buy fresh, local vegetables.   I know I would buy the vegetables from the farm if they were sold in a convenient location.  I'm still not so sure I completely understand the client's specific goals with this project, and I'm not sure where to begin.  However, I think that as a group, we will be able to work together to make this project a success.