Final Research Video Project Planning; Lecture Readings

Final Research Video Project Planning

Our regular team meetings are Thursday evening.  For the video project, these sessions were extended beyond just a check in to a active working session.  Some coordination outside of our weekly meeting happened on our Discord group.  Collaborative tools like shared files and in-document comments were somewhat ignored.  Sometimes extra copies of a document were created, causing some confusion.  Instead of leveraging shared documents and folders in Google Docs, individual copies of documents are shared over Discord.  For me, this makes it harder to track down shared documents when I have to hunt through a long conversation thread.

Some efforts worked well, but overall I feel our collaborative process was not very smooth.  There was some urging to move forward more quickly than I feel was necessary, skipping over important and paced planning.  This may have an impact on the final product.  I do not feel that my suggestions about how to move forward were received well and thus somewhat or wholly ignored.  Team members were using different tools to edit docs which lead to some (minor) confusion and discussion.

Work distribution was pretty good; the project contents and responsibility was mostly distributed and followed through.  Review and agreement of content was not as robust as I would like.

Because I was nominated the team lead early on, I should have taken more control of the project, perhaps as a project manager, but I dropped the ball on this.  In future efforts, I want to consider the points below:

• Define and conform to a file sharing and editing process
• Google docs
• Only edit shared docs instead of making copies and merging later
• Standardize on the Google docs software suite
• Create shared project folders where ALL work is placed from inception to completion
• Off-meeting collaboration via in-document comments and resolution
• Pace projects, distribute work, set deadlines
• Don't rush to the middle or end of a project
• Set a kick-off meeting and agenda
• Distribute work and due dates throughout the process
• Smaller in-person or comment check-ins throughout the week

Lecture Readings

TED Talk: How to Be a Great Listener 

This TED Talk focused on the concept of adaptive listening and the idea that effective listening requires more than simply being attentive. Four listening styles are described: support, advance, immerse, and discern.  Each serves a different purpose depending on what the speaker needs. Rather than assuming one consistent approach works in all situations, they argued that strong listeners adjust their style intentionally.

This talk made me more aware that listening is an active skill that requires awareness of context. In academic settings, professional environments, and personal conversations, being deliberate about how I listen could improve both communication and outcomes

TED Talk: AI Is Coming for Your Job. Now What? 

This talk addressed concerns about artificial intelligence replacing human jobs and explored how individuals might respond to rapid technological change. Rather than framing AI purely as a threat, the speaker suggested that it may function as a tool that expands individual capability. While certain roles may be automated, new forms of work are likely to emerge.

YouTube Video: The promise and peril of AI

A major theme was that ethics should not be treated as an afterthought. One speaker argued that rather than starting with what the technology can do and then identifying possible risks, society should begin by asking what kind of world it wants to build and evaluate whether AI supports that goal. The discussion also emphasized that regulation reflects collective values and cannot be separated from ethical considerations. Questions of responsibility, oversight, and economic incentives were framed as central rather than peripheral concerns.  I personally like this approach.

The panel also addressed inequality and access. AI could potentially increase disparities, but there is also evidence suggesting that some tools may disproportionately benefit less-skilled users. At the same time, historical examples of technological change demonstrate the risk of displacement and uneven distribution of benefits. The overall message was that engagement with AI should combine direct experimentation with awareness about ownership, incentives, and long-term societal impact.