This week has been truly and completely hectic.  However this hectic schedule was not because of our work at SIF but due to our midterm examinations. Almost all our examinations and assignment submissions were due this week. Luckily, everything went well and we were able to do a good job.

Coming to the work part, we have discussed about the possibilities of integrating online deliberation mapping tool with the Desire 2 Learn system. However, after having a discussion with Chad, we have realized that the integration is not a possible option. D2L is
a closed system where additional features cannot be added by third parties. There can only be external communication between the tools and the desire 2 learn system. So, the possibility of Online Deliberation mapping tool getting integrated with Georgia State University’s D2L system is ruled out.

Now moving on to the design part of the Online Deliberation mapping tool, we are following a process for taking a product or feature from design through prototyping, which we call as product design sprint. This design sprint follows a simple process of
1)Choosing and understanding the problem 2) Mind mapping  3)Writing Story boards  and  4) Critique and Super Vote.

The major goal of the Online deliberation mapping tool is to provide asynchronus conversations between professors and students. Since the problem which includes a platform for sharing ideas, developing and promoting ideas has alreay been clearly defined, we could well proceed to the mind mapping. The mind maps is a kind of cheat sheet wherein we put in all our ideas on paper in no specific format. We have put in some 30-45 minutes to make our individual mind maps. After the mind maps was the crazy eights phase, where we could rapidly draw our thoughts focussing on implemenation rather than being creative. The next step involves the creation of a story board and reviewing the story boards which falls under the Critique and Super vote phase. This phase includes finalising the required functionality in the deliberation mapping tool. The finalising of the features and functionalities
required in the tool is to be completed in the coming week when we sit together for a meeting.

I will update regarding the features and functionalities finalised in the next couple of posts.