In-Class Project Showcase AUG23

Interactive Media & Design Pitchfork

This is an assignment for the Project Management Graduate Certificate’s Applied Project Management course (MGT4209). This project employs students of the Project Management program to implement the skills gained through courses. During this initiative, the students must create a connection between future candidates and Algonquin College, collect potential projects for the IMD department and solidify this initiative as an ongoing assignment for the Project Management Applied Projects.

Minds and Bids: Trivia Night and Auction

The “Make-A-Wish Trivia & Auction Night” is a charitable project scheduled for July 30th at Local Heroes Bar & Grill. The event aims to create a captivating evening of brain-teasing questions, delightful food, and the opportunity to win attractive prizes. It will raise funds to fulfill the wishes of critically ill children through Make-A-Wish. The project’s key objectives are to ensure a seamless event organization, engage participants through challenging trivia, and maximize fundraising efforts. It will leverage both on-site and online registration methods to facilitate attendance. With meticulous planning, coordination, and the support of a dedicated team, it aims to make an impactful and memorable experience for all attendees. The project will bring joy and hope to the lives of these deserving children while effectively managing the timeline, resources, and stakeholder expectations.

Pool Charity Event

In collaboration with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Group T12 from section 310 of the MGT4209 Applied Project Management course organized a thrilling pool event with the goal of supporting children with serious medical conditions. Held at the prestigious Orange Monkey Bar & Billiards Club in City Centre, Ottawa, on July 17th, the event aimed to raise a minimum of $1000 for the foundation.

The venue provided six pool tables and ample space to create an engaging and memorable experience for all participants. To fund the event, a registration fee of 15 CAD was implemented, and a significant portion of the funding was secured through a generous contribution from Gurudwara, Ottawa, where a stall was set up to collect additional donations. The project received additional donations of 425 CAD from generous individuals via the Donor Drive platform, contributing significantly to the total funds raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Leveraging the excitement and competitive spirit of a pool event, the group successfully raised a total of CAD 1,442 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This achievement showed the dedication and commitment of Group T12 and the support of the local community in making a positive impact on the lives of children with critical medical conditions. The project’s success not only exceeded the initial fundraising target but also brought joy and hope to those three children whose wishes were granted with our donations. With a heart full of gratitude, Group T12 is honored to have contributed to this noble cause and looks forward to continuing to support initiatives that bring smiles to the faces of those in need.

PMO SECTION

The Section PMO project aims to create a structured and centralized body that will oversee a portfolio of six projects undertaken by the class. The portfolio consists of two types of projects: charity projects and market simulations. The primary objective is to enhance project performance, foster collaboration, and achieve successful execution of each project through proper documentation and reporting to the Project Sponsor.

To efficiently manage the portfolio, the PMO will provide governance, coordination, and support. It will establish a project monitoring system to track progress, milestones, changes and validate financials. This system will enable the PMO to promptly identify potential risks and catch issues, allowing for timely interventions and corrective actions. The PMO will assist project teams in managing constraints and resolving conflicts to optimize project performance.

The PMO’s role will be focused primarily on stakeholder management and status reporting. To be able to do this, the PMO will implement measures to engage key stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. Open communication channels and feedback mechanisms will be established to ensure continuous stakeholder involvement. Their input, feedback, and support will be sought periodically to improve performance.

MakerSpace Robot

The objective of the project was to design, construct, and test a robot which would listen and respond to student’s questions about the MakerSpace, using gesture and text-to-speech to communicate.
The goal is to drive interest in and student traffic towards the MakerSpace.

The two main features of the project are: the use of natural language processing to parse intent from questions (allowing the robot to answer multiple phrasings of questions seeking the same answer); and the construction of custom circuitry and associated software to control the Meccano chassis’ servos, allowing the MakerSpace to customize animations to their heart’s content.

An ambitious project, this was the first phase to set the foundation for future project teams to build on. The core design tenet of this phase was modularity: Each aspect of the robot hardware and software can be swapped out, replaced, upgraded and modified.

Brand Recognition AI

Our project displays the development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) brand recognition software prototype, integrated by machine learning, to provide a means for Algonquin College staff to detect differences from the Algonquin Branding Visual Identity Standard guideline in digital media during production of new official Algonquin College reports and products to ensure brand unity. Branding is an institution’s way to signify to the masses which products belong to them. An institution adheres to strict branding guidelines to ensure customers can instantly recognize a brand and the company that it came from. As brands are designed and produced by people, potential mistakes that misalign with set guidelines may introduce and entirely miss the defining characteristics of their identity.

Our client, Matthew Jerabek, noticed a potential solution during the creation process of these brands through AI. Such an AI would be trained on a dataset following the Algonquin College Visual Identity Standard to allow the Algonquin marketing staff to detect discrepancies contributed by human error. Algonquin College is an institution for higher education located in Ottawa Ontario, which retains thousands of employees and has educated over 20,000 full time students in 2022 alone. An organization produces ample signage, letterheads, and merchandise both as a form of communication and outreach. Outside the walls of the college, most individuals are unable to recognize the signs of Algonquin College without a recognizable and consistent symbol.

This project took the team approximately seven months to complete. The team started with research in machine learning to familiarize ourselves with the tools and development process. The team put a large chunk of their efforts and commitments towards creating multiple models to identify Algonquin brand materials produced by the college to allow the marketing team to proofread their work. In the end, the team gained a ton of knowledge by learning new techniques and technologies as well as experience for how to develop full stack applications.

Wishes in Motion: Zumba Session for a Cause

“Wishes in Motion: Zumba Session for a Cause’ is our impactful fundraising initiative as part of the Project Management Graduate Certificate program. Through this event, we aim to raise $1,000 in donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, granting wishes to terminally ill children and making a lasting positive impact on their lives, parents, guardians, physicians, and the community.

Our event is centered around a vibrant Zumba session, a high-energy dance fitness workout that promotes both physical well-being and a sense of community. The Zumba session will take place at the Greenboro Community Centre on July 30, 2023, from 11:00 am to 12:00 nn. The event welcomes participants of all fitness levels and backgrounds, fostering inclusivity and support for a meaningful cause.

In addition to the Zumba session, participants have the option to support the cause through cash donations or our Buy-a-Card Initiative. With a collection of twelve beautifully designed digital cards with heartfelt messages, the Buy-a-Card Initiative allows individuals to show their support by purchasing a special card and sending their heartfelt messages to the beneficiaries.

The Beehive

The Beehive is an innovative website project developed over the last two terms, collaborating with client Karen Leggett and professors Leeann Seaward and Laura McHugh. The Beehive is an online platform designed specifically for professionals, including teachers and business people. The website serves as a marketplace where these professionals can both sell and purchase a wide range of online resources. These resources encompass educational materials, teaching aids, business templates, and other valuable assets that can support professional growth and development.

The central focus of The Beehive is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise within the professional community. It offers a user-friendly interface that allows sellers to list their resources effectively and buyers to browse through an extensive catalog of offerings. The creators of The Beehive prioritized the importance of creating a dynamic and engaging platform, fostering a vibrant community of professionals seeking to enhance their skills and share their valuable contributions with others. By connecting sellers and buyers, The Beehive aims to empower professionals worldwide, making it a go-to destination for accessing high-quality online resources tailored to their specific needs and interests.

Recipe Management Back-End System

The Recipe Management Back-End System is a comprehensive web-based application tailored to meet the needs of the client. The main objective of this project is to develop a robust back-end system that enables administrators to perform CRUD operations on recipes and ingredients efficiently.

Key Features:
User Authentication, Recipe Management, Ingredient Management, Image Uploads.

Technology Stack:
Back-End: Java using Spring Boot framework.
Database: Use MySQL to store all application data.

PM Connect Event

Goals:
Connect PMGC students with industry PM professionals
Networking hub for students and PM professionals, a two-way street event
Sharing experiences and insights about the field of Project Management.