Team working

During the XE404 project, we have also been working on a group project ‘Usability’. This project puts us in groups of 3 and we have to solve a specific problem for a client. Because we were designing solutions to a problem and now, due to the corona virus, we are not able to meet in person, collaborating on work has not been straight forward. Our group has found that the best solution to this issue is through two methods of communication/ file sharing. We have a facebook messenger chat to discuss what we should be doing and then a shared google drive folder where we can save all of the project files.

This has been especially useful for the sharing and quick collaboration of cad files. Whenever a group member has made a change to a document, they can save it to the drive and then tell the other members on the Facebook group so everyone knows to check it.

During the electronics design week, when we were using microbits and experimenting with coding, I collaborated with a classmate (Christy) to use the radio chat function on the microbits. We were both only just figuring out the coding on the microbits and since we each had one, It was useful to try and collaborate to get them to talk to one another.

During the Arduino week, I struggled with the initial lesson: It took me a little while to wrap my head around the basics. Fortunately, Kyle realised that a few of us in the class were in a similar boat and very kindly offered to run an Arduino catch up session. This session was recorded over teams which really helped me because i was able to pause the recording and go at my own speed when i was struggling with something.

Planning and management

I used a to do list throughout the project to keep on top of the jobs that needed doing. I used notability on the ipad to do this because i like the feeling of being able to physically cross off items from the list. I also used a colour coded spreadsheet to stay on top of how much I had left to do. Red was for not started, orange was for started but needs work and green was for completed. (See the bottom of week 1 for more info on my planning and management strategies)