Institute for Women and Technology
(IWT)
Semester Plan
Fall 2002
Contents:
I. Team Objectives
II. Team Organization
III. Delivered Projects Status Summary
IV. Team Continuity Plan
V. Project Schedule
Team Objective Statements
Jornada
Fix the current wireless code so that it can support up to four users instead of just
two
Fix all the bugs that are currently in the game
Add more questions into the array
Create downloadable categories for the questions
Experiment with different layouts/improve the old layout with 3-D graphics
Make the overall game more “user-friendly”, debug all code
PC Iki
Go through past surveys and analyze
From the analysis, figure which problems can be fixed within this semester
Update the software
Update website with the most current software
Webpage
Create or locate a usable bulletin board
Test the bulletin board and website with girls from a local school
Get feedback from the girls
Implement any suggested changes
Update links section of website
Fine tune other website aspects
Community
Change name of workshop: Innovation Convocation
Generate Invittees List
Design invitations
Mail invites
Decide on location
Decide on food (breakfast and lunch)
Discuss agenda w/IWT
Finalize agenda
Hardware
Create software rendition of a laptop in CADD or Iron CADD
Plan at least one workshop
Design snap-off top that’s interchangeable with other covers
eARt
Windows Portion of the GUI
Buy Tablet
Program the menu / icons
Program the drawing window ( Using Personal Workspace)
Team Organization
Jornada
Leader: Ruonan Hu
Kaz Ali
Alecia Bell
Tara Layne
Sarah Wolfe
Webpage
Leader: Leah Boone
Suzanne Kenny
PC Iki
Leader: Louis Kim
Leah Boone
Ruonan Hu
Community
Leader: Sarah Wolfe
Suzanne Kenny
Alecia Bell
Sweta Gupta
Hardware
Leader: Sweta Gupta
Ruonan Hu
Suzanne Kenny
Tara Layne
Sarah Wolfe
EArt
Leader: Melissa Lewis
Louis Kim
Mary Pat Stahl
Team Leaders: Leah Boone, Sarah Wolfe
Community Liaison: Sarah Wolfe
Key Keepers: Melissa Lewis, Sarah Wolfe
ESAC representative: Sweta Gupta
Webmaster: Kaz Ali
Delivered Projects Status Summary
1. MASH: MASH is a future telling game. In this game, eight questions are given. For
each question there are four answers requested. After the information is gathered, a report
is generated displaying all the information given. The user hits the start button to begin a
timer. That begins a process that eliminates answers from each category. The process ends
when the user hits the stop button. The final answers are the user’s future.
2. States Game: The States Game tests the players knowledge of the states and capitals in
the USA. A state is highlighted on a map, you guess the name of the state and its capital.
The player has three guesses. After the third guess if they player still doesn’t have the
correct answer, the correct answer is displayed. This game has three levels of difficulty
that the user is allowed to chose from. Depending on which level is selected, the user will
either have a dropdown list of four states to choose from or will have to enter in the state
name from memory.
3. Great American Women: The Great American Women game gives the user
biographies of important American women, past and present. By clicking on a state from a
map of the United States, one or two women from that state, along with their biographies
and resources for more information, are brought up. The Great Women of America game
is linked off of the PC Iki website and off of the IWT website.
4. PC Iki Website: The PC Iki website is a site that was designed for girls between the
ages of 9-13. It has five main components: PC Iki, Software, Online Community, Links,
and Site Map. The PC Iki section describes the goals of IWT, gives the specifications for
the PC Iki, and acts as the site’s homepage. The software section gives descriptions of all
the software our team has created and enables a user to download each of the games. The
Online Community section is currently under construction, but will consist of a bulletin
board where girls can post questions or information regarding various topics (i.e.
technology, school work, music, etc.). The Links Section lists various links to websites for
girls, homework, and for kids in general. It also provides a link to out Important American
Women Game. The Site Map allows the user to easily navigate through the site and gives
descriptions of each section. More updates and changes are expected to be made this
semester, after which the website will be evaluated by local children.
5. Workshops: The first PC Iki workshop was held on April 15, 2000 in the Electrical
Engineering Building, for nine girls and four adults. The girls rotated between four
different laptop stations, each of which had either a purchased game (e.g., Cosmopolitan
Virtual Makeover, Backyard Soccer, The Sims) and/or Internet activities (e.g., browse girl-
friendly websites, make your own website). Data from this workshop were acquired
through a facilitated group discussion.
The second workshop was held on December 1, 2000 in Potter Engineering
Building. Dr. Sara Hart, from IWT, ran this workshop and introduced the participants to
the Thinking Environment. We had a total of 19 girls in attendance. After learning some
background information about IWT, the girls were shown a small skit about the PC Iki.
Then they played with the software programs that had been developed by our team by that
time. The girls then participated in small groups brainstorming new ideas for both the PC
Iki and possible future projects. Towards the end of the workshop, the girls were allowed
to play more on the laptops and also with two Phusions (PDA for children) that we had
purchased. Data were obtained through the brainstorming and parent surveys.
The third PC Iki open house/workshop was held on March 5, 2001 in the Material
Science and Electrical Engineering Building. We showed completed games and physical
covers made by our team to 17 girls and 8 parents. After playing the games with the IWT
members, the girls drew pictures of what they would want the PC Iki to look like using
pieces of fabric, markers, glitter, and stickers. Feedback was generated via interaction with
team members and through surveys given to the girls and their parents.
The fourth workshop in Lafayette was held on November 4th, 2001, with past
workshop participants. Nine girls attended this workshop. The workshop was at the
Imagination Station in Lafayette. After the girls participated in an icebreaker and
performed a skit, there was a short presentation on the Jornada. The girls were then given
time to play with the revised and new games on laptops or Jornadas. We also showed them
things that we have changed because they requested us to in a previous workshop. After the
girls had a chance to play with all the games, they broke into small groups for
brainstorming about the different games and the Jornadas. A brainstorming session was
then conducted with all of the girls about technology in general. Finally, the girls were
given time to look around the Imagination Station and pick out their prizes from the gift
shop.
Two workshops were held last semester, the first occurring on February 3, 2002 at
the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Twelve girls age range 9-13 showed up for the
workshop. The main activities at the workshop included playing/testing games and
software on laptops and Jornadas. The eArt group also tested out their new idea for the
Paint program using Microsoft Netmeeting. The girls seemed to really enjoy the
interactive chat feature of the program. The workshop ended with a question and answer
session. During this time, the team asks the girls for their opinions and feedback.
The second workshop of semester was held on February 22, 2002 in the Fu
Conference room at Purdue University. Girls from past local workshops were invited as
well as girls for the local elementary and middle schools and girl scout organization. The
workshop was set up and run very similar to the previous one in Indianapolis. Differences
were that the girls were asked to participate in an active listening session in which the girls
were told to listen to their “partner” for thirty seconds while the “partner” discussed a
question that was presented to them. Overall the girls seemed to really enjoy the games
and the improvements that have been made to the games since previous workshops they
had attended. Suggestions were made for the eArt program that was tested in which girls
on different computers were able to interact and create one universal picture.
For each workshop, we have maintained a workshop participant database. This
database will be used to invite participants back for future workshops and focus groups.
We feel that it is important to keep this database so that the girls can see their ideas come to
life as the development of the PC Iki progresses.
Team Continuity Plan
This semester we have 4 returning members and 7 new members. We plan to
incorporate the new members into both the existing subgroups and the new subgroup that
was created this semester (Hardware). Each returning member was paired with one or two
members to go over the transition checklist and any other questions the new members may
have. At the first lab meeting of the year, the new members were also introduced to the
“Thinking Environment™”, in hopes that everyone in the group will communicate their
feelings and ideas freely.
Project Schedule
Community - Discuss agenda for IC with IWT 6d Fri 8/30/02 Fri 9/6/02
Community - Decide on location for IC 4d Tue 9/3/02 Fri 9/6/02
Communty - Decide on food for IC 4d Fri 9/6/02 Wed 9/11/02
Community - Make list of people to invite to IC 12d Fri 8/30/02 Mon 9/16/02
Community - Design Invitation 6d Mon 9/16/02 Mon 9/23/02
Communty - Mail invitations 1d Mon 9/30/02 Mon 9/30/02
Community - Finalize agenda with IWT 5d Mon 9/30/02 Fri 10/4/02
PC Iki - Review Surveys 12d Fri 8/30/02 Mon 9/16/02
PC Iki - Plan and Interperet Results 11d Tue 9/17/02 Tue 10/1/02
PC Iki - Implement suggestions 48d Wed 10/2/02 Fri 12/6/02
PC Iki - Update website w/new software 10d Mon 11/25/02 Fri 12/6/02
Website - Create bulletin board 23d Fri 8/30/02 Tue 10/1/02
Website - Update links pages 24d Wed 10/2/02 Mon 11/4/02
Website - Fine tune other website aspects 24d Wed 10/2/02 Mon 11/4/02
Website - Test bulletin board 24d Wed 10/2/02 Mon 11/4/02
Website - Get feedback from girls 6d Tue 11/5/02 Tue 11/12/02
Website - Implement girls' ideas 21d Wed 11/13/02 Wed 12/11/02
Jornada - review current code 16d Mon 8/19/02 Mon 9/9/02
Jornada - program wireless communications 30d Tue 9/10/02 Mon 10/21/02
Jornada - upgrade GUI 30d Tue 9/10/02 Mon 10/21/02
Jornada - work out ""kinks"" in game" 30d Tue 9/10/02 Mon 10/21/02
Jornada - create downloadable categories 15d Tue 10/22/02 Mon 11/11/02
Jornada - create links on website 15d Tue 10/22/02 Mon 11/11/02
Jornada - product testing 11d Tue 11/12/02 Tue 11/26/02
eArt -Windows Portion of the GUI 5d Fri 9/6/02 Thu 9/12/02
eArt -Buy Tablet 7d Tue 9/3/02 Wed 9/11/02
eArt -Program the menu / icons 24d Thu 9/12/02 Tue 10/15/02
eArt - Program the drawing window 39d Tue 10/15/02 Fri 12/6/02
Hardware – info on resonant imaging machine 6d Mon 9/9/02 Mon 9/16/02
Hardware - Look at Surveys 20d Tue 9/17/02 Mon 10/14/02
Hardware - Create 2 designs for laptops 20d Tue 9/17/02 Mon 10/14/02
Hardware - Hold a workshop to get feedback 5d Tue 10/15/02 Mon 10/21/02
Hardware - Improve current design 10d Tue 10/22/02 Mon 11/4/02
Hardware - Use resonant imaging machine 10d Tue 11/5/02 Mon 11/18/02