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Procedure. The main challenges
to a project of this scope are the limitations of time and
resources. While your resources will always be limited,
there are ways of managing time to ensure the completion
of this project, especially where the group as a whole is
concerned.
One solution is to devote class time to the play itself.
The following class days are set aside so that the group
may focus on whatever issues need attention:
There will be agenda set for each day, which the class
will be expected to work through. Consult the project schedule
for details.
Not every issue need be reserved for an in-class project
meeting. That is why the group will use eProject.com,
a website that provides a free, browser-based virtual workspace
to any group with a major project to complete. (The site
is designed with the business community in mind, but there
is no reason why it cannot be used for the liberal arts.)
Now, the mere words "virtual workspace" probably
induce cringes and shrieks of terror. Perhaps you imagine
spending all of your time online, lurking in a chatroom,
or negotiating difficult software. Not at all. The eProject
site is so easy to use, it is virtually foolproof. Given
that actual group time will be extremely precious, and that
it will be near impossible to convene the entire group outside
of class, a common environment accessible 24 hours a day
is not only beneficial, but also necessary.
You will use eProject to discuss issues before an in-class
project meeting, so that the actual meeting can be devoted
to moving forward from that discussion. Typically, I will
assign topics for discussion prior to a project meeting.
I will expect you to visit eProject at least twice per topic:
once to make a meaningful contribution to the discussion,
and again to review the contributions of your peers (and
to contribute more, if you desire). I do not expect you
to spend more than half an hour on each visit.
Other potentially beneficial features of eProject: a calendar
with tasks and deadlines displayed, and storage space for
electronic documents. The script of the play, for instance,
can be uploaded to the site for all of the group members
to share. Why xerox?
Each member of the class will receive information on how
to logon to eProject soon. I hope you will take full advantage
of this wonderful resource.
Other meetings, especially those involving smaller groups
(e.g. the Chorus, or the costumers) must be negotiated on
a meeting-by-meeting basis.
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