iSchool Capstone

2023

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Fostering Cultural Competencies in LIS education with Service Learning and Participatory Design

Researchers have made the case that adopting practical applications of cultural competence in LIS education is crucial for supporting marginalized communities. This project suggests an approach to this application: LIS education programs can implement service learning courses in partnership with organizations that support houseless communities. Through research and interviews, a process was created in which LIS programs and partners use Participatory Design and Asset-Based Community Development techniques to sustain the course. It can be further sustained by establishing a dedicated research group to nurture the partnership and publish results.
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Game, Set, Match: Repository Development for Student Research

This project addressed the challenge of organizing and providing searchability for previously inaccessible student projects from eight years of the LIS 536 Metadata for Interactive Media course, which builds on the work of the UW GAME Research Group. With the goal of collocating projects on a broad level for high recall, we built a controlled vocabulary for tagging projects. Then, we set up the repository on Open Science Framework and created governance and usage documents. This repository and searching system improves students' and researchers' ability to explore completed projects so that they can utilize and build upon that work.
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GardenSpace: Bridging the Information Gap for BIPOC Urban Gardeners in Seattle

Urban gardening involves cultivating plants in an urban environment like a community garden. In Seattle, BIPOC urban gardeners have historically encountered an information gap that has excluded them from predominantly white gardening spaces. To address this, GardenSpace provides one of the first-ever centralized digital spaces to access resources and connections within the urban gardening community in Seattle. Through our platform, these urban gardeners can explore events, engage with organizations, and learn about diverse community gardens in the metropolitan. By facilitating their integration into the broader BIPOC urban gardening community, GardenSpace fosters inclusivity and unity within Seattle's urban gardening sphere.
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Genrefying For the Future

Genrefication is a growing trend in meeting library patron needs. “Research has shown that a genrefied fiction collection is simpler for students to use and locate books” (Sweeney 2013; Dunne 2015). Our capstone project completed all of the planning steps for Ms. MacDonald, the librarian at Hamilton International Middle School, as her regular day-to-day duties did not allow enough time to plan a large scale project. Using strategies such as space mapping, participatory design, data analysis, and graphic design, we completed the planning portion. Additionally, we created a step-by-step guide for genrefication and adding new materials to Destiny Follett software.
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Habitat

With 1 million species on the brink of extinction, it’s clear that the endangered animal crisis is becoming increasingly severe each day. By providing high school and college students with the appropriate resources, they can be the leaders of change needed to protect our ecosystems. Habitat is a website designed with the intention of guiding students by providing them with personalized resources based on their hobbies, that they can easily integrate into their lifestyles. With this project, we strive to help students realize the urgency of the crisis and make sustainable changes to make a positive impact on our ecosystems.
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HazingInfo.org: Bringing Transparency to Hazing Incidents in College Greek Life

Hazing is a widespread problem on college campuses that is amplified by a lack of access to transparent safety information. Developed in partnership with the Houtz/Martinez family, HazingInfo.org is a web application and database that addresses this issue by providing prospective Greek life students and their families with accessible safety information. Schools are assigned letter grades based on the data collected, allowing users to make educated decisions about joining Greek life. HazingInfo.org aims to inform prospective students and their families about Greek chapters, leading to a decrease in hazing incidents and a safer environment for all. One of two identical entries to include all students. See more project members.
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HazingInfo.org: Bringing Transparency to Hazing Incidents in College Greek Life

Hazing is a widespread problem on college campuses that is amplified by a lack of access to transparent safety information. Developed in partnership with the Houtz/Martinez family, HazingInfo.org is a web application and database that addresses this issue by providing prospective Greek life students and their families with accessible safety information. Schools are assigned letter grades based on the data collected, allowing users to make educated decisions about joining Greek life. HazingInfo.org aims to inform prospective students and their families about Greek chapters, leading to a decrease in hazing incidents and a safer environment for all. One of two identical entries to include all students. See more project members.
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HEART

Despite its importance, creativity is often overlooked in society. Creativity promotes innovative solutions to complex problems and celebrates creatives in a variety of creative mediums. HEART is a platform that lowers the barrier of entry for anyone who wants to post and express their creative endeavors. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a beginner trying to explore your creativity, HEART welcomes you to share your work with the world. The heart of HEART is to bring people together.
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Hobbio: Bringing people together through the joy of hobbies

Hobbio is a free online platform dedicated to bringing people together from all walks of life through the joy of hobbies. With a variety of classes from a wide range of hobbies, we help connect you with certified teachers. Whether you’re interested in learning a new skill, exploring a passion, or simply connecting with like-minded individuals, we’ve got you covered. Starting a new hobby can be a difficult task as it often requires expensive equipment, pricey classes, and sometimes, lots of self-discipline. With Hobbio, we recognize these challenges and aim to alleviate them by promoting knowledge-sharing and fostering meaningful connections.
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How to Find the Right Capstone Sponsor: A Guide on Maintaining Sponsor Relationships and Communications (for the iSchool)

The information problem I addressed with my project was the difficulties surrounding UW students’ abilities to find a sponsor and maintain relationships with them throughout their Capstone. To solve the issue, I created a student-written Sponsor Handbook, which navigates students through the process of finding a sponsor, interviewing them, maintaining communication, and utilizing conflict resolution techniques in the event the relationship deteriorates. As a result, students now have a resource that expands on the iSchool’s current Capstone resources regarding sponsor relations. This project will give students more confidence while searching for a sponsor and ease their anxieties about Capstone.