Contextual Design - Week 3

What we did:

1. We had a second meeting with Wendy Bolyard. She invited Brigid Lawler, Assistant Director / YGCLA Graduate Admissions, so we could be introduced. Brigid will be a second contact source for when Wendy is not available.

The meeting was very productive. We isolated some areas of focus and learned about the internal and interdepartmental working dynamic and history. We also clarified Wendy's answers to our post 2/5/08 meeting e-mail.

2. After the meeting we brainstormed and agreed that pulling programs directors into the project would be beneficial to the success of recommendations that result from the contextual inquiry. Graduate admissions has a close relationship with program directors and Wendy and Brigid are trying to establish a strong working relationship.

What we have planned:

We will meet (2/19/08) and hash out the following:


1. Scheduling grad admissions staff contextual interviews.
2. Recruiting program directors and program coordinators and incentives for participants.
3. Documents we need to draft.
4. What we need to be prepared for the interviews.

Contextual Design - Week 2

Week 2

We met with Wendy Bolyard for a "get to know you" session and to discuss our ideas about incorporating graduate admissions in our contextual inquiry independent study. She was very enthusiastic about our project and offered to assist however she could.

Troy e-mailed Wendy with a few questions to think about for our next meeting:

1) Can you think of three potential processes, systems, or other projects that you
might need help with?

2) What are three of the greatest challenges your office is currently facing?

3) If you had a magic wand and could change anything about work--at any level--what
would you pick?

4) What is the best thing so far about being where you are workwise?

5) Finally, what are a few of the things that you think it's most important to
measure? This can certainly include things you'd like to measure, not just things
that are already being measured.

Prior to our meeting we met to discuss how we should structure this meeting. After the meeting with Wendy we regrouped to discuss what we would want to do before the next meeting with Wendy.

Troy and Becca met with Kathryn regarding the independent study.

For next week:

1. Have second meeting with Wendy on Tuesday the 12th. Get further details so we
can map out our field guide.
2. Continue reading and outlining Contextual Design

Contextual Design - Week 1

Week 1:

What we did:
As a group we met with Jason Duncan, Ubalt Webmaster, Office of University Relations, to discuss the plan, goals, roadmap for our CD project. He suggested that we focus on graduate admissions.

At Jason's suggestion we will be meeting with Wendy Bolyard, Director of the Office of Graduate Admissions.

We divided Contextual Design into three parts to read and outline.

What we have planned:

1. Meet on Monday to discuss what we want to learn from the meeting with Wendy. Discuss possible questions we will have for her.

2. Meet with Wendy Bolyard on Tuesday, Feb. 5th.

3. Read and outline our assigned sections of Contextual Design.

Contextual Design Independent Study --- Spring 2008

This blog will now be used for the Contextual Design Independent Study of Becca, Troy, and Liz -- Spring 2008.