Featured Course

Featured Course
Interdisciplinary Information Technology Capstone
The Interdisciplinary Information Technology Capstone is a 6-credit, 2-semester Information Technology (IT) Capstone course designed to fulfill the Culminating Experience requirement of Commonwealth College as well as requirements for the Information Technology Minor. The course organizes seniors from any major into multidisciplinary teams to address real-world community needs through IT. This is a Community Service Learning experience that engages students in partnerships with non-profit Community-Based Organizations (CBO’s) in Holyoke, Massachusetts which is about 30 minutes south of the campus.
The first semester includes: self-exploration, community-based activities and scholarly activities all of which are important the students’ development and to the success of the IT projects. Some of the areas covered include: social identity and the role it plays in community service, identifying and building on one’s strengths, community service learning theory, team-building, community awareness, organizational culture, needs assessment, the design process and project management. Guest speakers in related areas occasionally join the class to share their professional expertise. Modes of learning include: reading, discussion, in-class and independent exercises, research, interviews, students teaching, reflective and formal writing, as well as informal and formal presentations.

During the Fall semester, students participate in a day-long community orientation workshop called Holyoke Bound and conduct research on the History of Holyoke. Students also do asset mapping of the community and conduct four Tech Tools Trainings for the staff of various community organizations. By mid-semester students are grouped in their project teams, and begin meeting with the assigned community organizations to assess organizational needs and identify specific projects goals.

The first semester culminates with each team presenting a detailed project plan, including community, organizational mission, project goals and rationale, project outline and predicted project outcomes. Each team will make a formal presentation of their work over the Fall semester.

In the Spring semester, the teams carry out their projects, with class meetings largely utilized for weekly Presentations of Progress to facilitate collaboration and discussion among the Teams, provide needed support and information, cross-pollinate ideas and create a culture of working together to overcome complicating factors. The goal is to help every team produce the best possible projects for their community organizations and to reflect upon the experience in a manner that enhances individual student learning. In order to maximize the learning experience on multiple levels reflective writing and discussion regarding: the service in the community, the teamwork experience and the IT project development process are integral.
Students produce several project related papers throughout the year that are edited, revised and combined as a final a Project Thesis.

Project Summaries
Students’ Comments



Featured Course Interdisciplinary Information Technology Capstone The Interdisciplinary Information Technology Capstone is a 6-credit, 2-semester Information Technology (IT) Capstone course designed to fulfill the Culminating Experience requirement of Commonwealth College as well as requirements for the Information Technology Minor. The course organizes seniors from any major into multidisciplinary teams to address real-world community needs through IT. This is a Community Service Learning experience that engages students in partnerships with non-profit Community-Based Organizations (CBO’s) in Holyoke, Massachusetts which is about 30 minutes south of the campus. The first semester includes: self-exploration, community-based activities and scholarly activities all of which are important the students’ development and to the success of the IT projects. Some of the areas covered include: social identity and the role it plays in community service, identifying and building on one’s strengths, community service learning theory, team-building, community awareness, organizational culture, needs assessment, the design process and project management. Guest speakers in related areas occasionally join the class to share their professional expertise. Modes of learning include: reading, discussion, in-class and independent exercises, research, interviews, students teaching, reflective and formal writing, as well as informal and formal presentations. During the Fall semester, students participate in a day-long community orientation workshop called Holyoke Bound and conduct research on the History of Holyoke. Students also do asset mapping of the community and conduct four Tech Tools Trainings for the staff of various community organizations. By mid-semester students are grouped in their project teams, and begin meeting with the assigned community organizations to assess organizational needs and identify specific projects goals. The first semester culminates with each team presenting a detailed project plan, including community, organizational mission, project goals and rationale, project outline and predicted project outcomes. Each team will make a formal presentation of their work over the Fall semester. In the Spring semester, the teams carry out their projects, with class meetings largely utilized for weekly Presentations of Progress to facilitate collaboration and discussion among the Teams, provide needed support and information, cross-pollinate ideas and create a culture of working together to overcome complicating factors. The goal is to help every team produce the best possible projects for their community organizations and to reflect upon the experience in a manner that enhances individual student learning. In order to maximize the learning experience on multiple levels reflective writing and discussion regarding: the service in the community, the teamwork experience and the IT project development process are integral. Students produce several project related papers throughout the year that are edited, revised and combined as a final a Project Thesis. Project Summaries Students’ Comments	UMass Amherst, Community Service Learning on Facebook