Social Networks and Disaster Management
This brand new course created and taught by Professor Said was all about discussing social media's role in disaster management. We talked about how people used social networks such as Facebook and Twitter in the wake of a disaster. At the beginning of the course, we focused on natural disasters, but after the Boston Marathon bombings happened towards the end of the course, we opened up the discussion to unpredictable and "unprepareable" disasters like terrorist attacks. We did four projects over the semester, each focusing on a different part of the issue. We looked at how different groups (government, non-profit, for profit, general public) prepare for and react to natural disasters and how social media can fit into that equation. It is a very relevant topic in this day and age where technology and being connected are practically necessary.
Professor Said constructed this course in a very unique way. For the first two days of class he talked about problem solving technique and had us all fill out a sort of problem-solving personality test and purposely put us into groups with people who had different mindsets than we did. Besides being a class about social networks and disaster management, it was an exercise in learning to work as a group with people with whom you don't get along or agree.
Professor Said constructed this course in a very unique way. For the first two days of class he talked about problem solving technique and had us all fill out a sort of problem-solving personality test and purposely put us into groups with people who had different mindsets than we did. Besides being a class about social networks and disaster management, it was an exercise in learning to work as a group with people with whom you don't get along or agree.
Project 1
Format: Paper
The purpose of this project was to look into a specific disaster and learn about its impact and how people responded to it. We focused on the response of the government, non-profit groups, and for-profit groups. In addition, we also looked at the use of social media during and after the disaster. Our group chose to focus on Hurricane Sandy.
The purpose of this project was to look into a specific disaster and learn about its impact and how people responded to it. We focused on the response of the government, non-profit groups, and for-profit groups. In addition, we also looked at the use of social media during and after the disaster. Our group chose to focus on Hurricane Sandy.
Project 2
Format: Presentation
This project examined the structure and usage of a particular social network. We looked at the network's background and how it is primarily used on a day-to-day basis, as well as how it's used during a crisis event. We examined the strengths and weaknesses and possible untapped potential. Our group chose to focus on Twitter.
Presentation:
This project examined the structure and usage of a particular social network. We looked at the network's background and how it is primarily used on a day-to-day basis, as well as how it's used during a crisis event. We examined the strengths and weaknesses and possible untapped potential. Our group chose to focus on Twitter.
Presentation:
project_2.pdf | |
File Size: | 1718 kb |
File Type: |
Project 3
Format: Paper & presentation
This project focused on preparing for a disaster. We looked at how different organizations within the government and non-profit circles prepare for any kind of disaster, including what apps are available to the public for use through the iTunes app store and Google Play store. In this project, we also proposed an idea for our final project app.
Presentation:
This project focused on preparing for a disaster. We looked at how different organizations within the government and non-profit circles prepare for any kind of disaster, including what apps are available to the public for use through the iTunes app store and Google Play store. In this project, we also proposed an idea for our final project app.
Presentation:
project_3.pdf | |
File Size: | 1430 kb |
File Type: |
Project 4
Format: App & presentation
Our final project was our app presentation. Our group decided to design an app for volunteers to be able to see smaller needs that need to be addressed after a disaster, such as lack of power or transportation, food, water, or shelter. Volunteers can see the needs and address the ones for which they have the resources.
Unfortunately, I do not have any screenshots of the app at this time to display on this eportfolio.
Our final project was our app presentation. Our group decided to design an app for volunteers to be able to see smaller needs that need to be addressed after a disaster, such as lack of power or transportation, food, water, or shelter. Volunteers can see the needs and address the ones for which they have the resources.
Unfortunately, I do not have any screenshots of the app at this time to display on this eportfolio.
Reflection
This class was definitely interesting, to say the least. Initially, I hated the professor's plan to group us with people who did not share the same ideas about problem solving. I was with people who I thought were stubborn, procrastinators, and who just didn't speak in a way that I understood. I was stressed and frustrated, until I started to learn how to work with everyone. I figured out people's strengths, weaknesses, and preferences and adjusted. In the end, it worked out. We weren't all best friends, but that wasn't the point. We got along well enough to deliver our final product: the app. In that respect, it was a useful class, though not always easy or pleasant, especially in the beginning.
I registered for the course initially because I thought it was going to be more about learning how to program an app. I took an introductory programming class last spring and really enjoyed it. I wanted to learn more about it and try my hand at developing. Unfortunately, the class was not designed to teach app development, so I really didn't get to do any of the coding unless I wanted to learn it myself, and I really didn't have the knowledge base to do that. I left all of that up to the computer engineers of the group, and they did a great job. There were some big challenges, but they figured it out.
I registered for the course initially because I thought it was going to be more about learning how to program an app. I took an introductory programming class last spring and really enjoyed it. I wanted to learn more about it and try my hand at developing. Unfortunately, the class was not designed to teach app development, so I really didn't get to do any of the coding unless I wanted to learn it myself, and I really didn't have the knowledge base to do that. I left all of that up to the computer engineers of the group, and they did a great job. There were some big challenges, but they figured it out.