Capstone Reflection/ Class reflection

While I was walking g around the capstone on Friday I asked these questions to most of the presenters and collaborated answers mostly because they were very similar.

What has this week been like for you?

The week of capstone for some hadn't been to bad because their projects were done for the most part, but for others they hadn't slept and had been doing the project for nearly all week. Nearly everyone said that presenting the capstone was a relief though that it was more or less over with

If you could change anything in how you did your capstone, what would it be?

Nearly everyone I talked to about this was that they wanted to start earlier and prepare better.

How close is the final outcome to what you originally thought it would be?

People that I asked this question were very content with what they had finished with. They really liked their final project, but of course they could have done more and more. They all were content though.

If you had one more month to work on the project what would you do?

I got a few smirks from this question, a few people said sleep. Most people weren't sure that i talked to, but they really just said how they wish they would have been better prepared.

What advice do you have for me about working on my capstone?

My best advice that I got was to come of with a concrete idea and follow through with it, because you will get all sorts of ideas that trail off and that just makes the project even more complicated. also, i liked one bit of advice and that was just do your best.

Class Reflection

Address the efficacy of the approach we took in this class.

I thought this class ran very well, and the fact that Beth was there anytime we had a question. That was huge for me.

Discuss whether or not the breakdown of the project development was advantageous.

It was a very well put together class, the class discussions every class helped out alot also.

Discuss the advanges and/or disadvantages of the student guest speakers for forming your own approach to capstone.

Me personally I didnt like to hear from the guest speakers. Hearing from students that were in my same shoes like in the class i think helped me out the most.

Were there any assignments that you thought were particularly helpful? Please elaborate.

The biggest help was the timeline and proposal, because those are big parts of our upcoming capstones. These two assignments really helped me think about my project and again talking to other students with similar projects and same problems helped. 

Were there any assignments that you thought were particularly useless? Please elaborate.

The most useless assignments for me were the mentor interviews because I tried to contact 3 people and never really got any sort of response. it seemed like we maybe didnt have quite enough time to interview 3 possible mentors.

Progress Report

1. What concrete progress have you made on your capstone project since you submitted your proposal and timeline? Include specific examples; if possible post some examples to your blog.

My project is actually completely different from my original idea. i have really grown a liking for the project we are doing in N-485. We are designing levels for games and i really like all of the creativity that you can use. My level is a very immersive outdoor level of a frozen factory.

1. How many times have you been in contact with your mentor? Please list what you discussed.

i have met with my independent study advisor probably 3 times. we have just discussed the idea and settled that it was a good idea.

1. How has your timeline changed thus far? Discuss what has changed and why you changed it.

My timeline has changed alot since i switched projects. i am actually doing better on this one since we are working on it in class. My timeline still reflects the same general layout though. i want to get what i can get done this semester then next semester is much more structured and planned out.

1. What do you still need to complete in preparation for the beginning of your N499 course? Identify key aspects of the project that need to be taken care of before your official capstone starts.

the main thing that i have to take care of is the form to be in N499. as far as the project i am doing really well in my preparation for next semester. I have the project started which is one step i think some people dont have yet. Also i have a very concrete idea of my level now and i am working on it several hours a week.

1. If there have been significant changes to your project since your proposal, please discuss them.

My project is a completly different project so there is a big change. I am going to go off a project we are working on in class right now, and do my best to learn new things and new parts to the program.

project development issues

Be sure to discuss these issues:

• time management issues
• skills needed to complete the project
• resources needed (people and technology/materials)
• budget
• team issues (even if it is just you and your mentor, that forms a team)
• other issues

1. Time is huge in a project like this, but it is also unpredictable. one thing you have to remember is your not going to be able to stick exactally to the timeline you mapped out in the beginning. There will problems along the way that you just have to deal with.

2. One of the biggest skills we thought of were stress management. and just being able to not get to stressed out.

3. One of the biggest resources is a computer, but we discussed that the mentor actually be available was huge. Having someone you can talk to and discuss your project will help out a lot.

4. Something i know i didnt really think about before we discussed this was the budget. We talked about how much it really is actually going to cost us, and how we didnt even think about paying for out project.

5. as far as team issues the biggest thing i thought of was not being able to work together. as a mentor and student coming together there has to a little bit of agreement and if that isnt there then it really just isnt gonna work out great.

Mentor Profiles

1. State your capstone idea in 100 words or less.

My Idea for my capstone is to make a 3d model walk through of a fitness center. using maya to model everything form the weights to machines to the front desk and bathroom. then using UDK to make the environment emerssive and able to walk through.

1. Identify and discuss 4 key components you are searching for in a mentor.

First thing i want is someone to push me. second i want someone with the skills to be able to help me if i have any sort of problem. third i want someone who is available atleast to just answer a quick question any time. and last someone who has good connections if they cant help then they can lead me to someone who can.

1. Identify 3 potential mentors from the MAS faculty you would like to approach to discuss your capstone. Make sure one of them is someone from whom you have never taken a class.

Matt Powers, Beth lykins, and Clint Koch

1. Explain what these faculty members coud bring to your capstone and why you are interested in working with them.

first of all Matt is a great teacher and he really listens to students when they have problems. he is the best person in the school with UDK and im going to be using alot of that program. Beth would really help me narrow the project down and get it to a realistic project. She would help alot with the pre production if thats what you wanna call it. developing the overall idea, and getting everthing ready to go. Clint he is great teacher and the best person i have ever seen with 3D, and any 3D problem i would have he would surely help.

Secondary Mentor

The role of secondary mentor would be primarily to be a mentor that can be there if the primary cant be. Mostly someone to talk to and to throw ideas off of. a secondary mentor i think could be any where. Anyone that you communicate well with and can sit and discuss the project. a bad secondary is someone who is never available to talk, or just someone who can make decisions. or help you with making your decisions. 

Peer capstone Groups 3D work

My Project is going to be heavy in Maya and UDK. I wanting to create a 3d walkthrough of a fully modeled fitness center.

Brandon Rash

Class Discussion

I took from class the other day that we really cant do whatever we want for our capstone. I think the capstone is slowly getting to be just like any other project with all the guidelines that we have. Not being able to make a music video is really a bad rule, because many people make a ton of money off of that stuff. Class was a very great discussion about the whole process of capstones and what is expected of us. It helped me alot know when and what i should be doing.