Information about Group Projects

 

Purpose:  The group projects in FS561 give students experience conducting original research that employs modern tools (models, equipment, measurement techniques) in the field of woody plant physiology.  Today's research almost always involves collaborative teams of researchers rather than individual researchers, so these projects are also designed to provide experience in collaboration.  Based on individual preferences for a range of potential topics, students will be assigned to teams of 2-4 people.  The teams will generate research questions and will develop and and conduct an experimental approach to answering the questions.  A mentor who is an expert in the specific field of research will work with the students to plan and implement the study and teaches them how to use specific tools and approaches, but the students themselves are ultimately responsible for the project.

Products:  Each group will create two products -- a 15-minute oral presentation for the last day of class and a written project.  Although both are group efforts (a single presentation and a single written report for each group), every member of the group should participate in both, and it should be clear what role each individual played in the project.   In the written report, a good approach is for each group member to write a different section of the report with his/her name on that section, but there are other ways of approaching this.  Both of these products should be in the format of standard research presentations.  More information on this will be provided near the end of the term. 

Evaluation:  The group projects will be evaluated on a point basis with a maximum of 30 points, distributed as follows:

    5 points:  Clear articulation of a research question that is related to woody plant physiology and that can be addressed during the short time period of the course (all group members receive the same score)

    5 points:  Design and implementation and implementation of an experiment that addresses the research question (all group members receive the same score)

    5 points:  Thorough and appropriate data analysis, conclusions that are warranted by the data, and a comprehensive literature review (all group members receive the same score)

    5 points:  Demonstration by each individual in the oral and written reports (including responses to questions following the oral presentation) of a solid understanding of particular areas of woody plant physiology that are relevant to this research (group members may receive separate scores)

    5 points:  Engaging/interesting oral presentation (group members may receive separate scores)