The aim of my project is to seek out alternative methods of affecting politics beyond voting. I desire to know what the average person can do to affect the political climate.
To learn this, I broke my project down into three components:
1. Research: Through my interviews, as well as books I read, I found different avenues to the political world.
2. Political Group: my attempt at activism
3. The "Pocket Activist" mobile phone application
To learn this, I broke my project down into three components:
1. Research: Through my interviews, as well as books I read, I found different avenues to the political world.
2. Political Group: my attempt at activism
3. The "Pocket Activist" mobile phone application
Describe what you are proposing to do for your project in as much detail as you can provide at this point.
I have done research on activism, gave my own attempt at grassroots activism, and then proceeded to develop a mobile phone application that assists the average American with activism. My research consisted of 5 books relating to activism, as well as four interviews. My attempts at activism consisted of a twitter account to voice personal political beliefs, as well as a facebook group to organize youth in the bay area towards a common cause in activism. Both unsuccessful attempts led me to the final piece of my project: the app "Pocket Activist". "Pocket Activist" is a mobile phone application developed through MIT App Inventor 2 which assists potential activists by connecting them with their representatives, connecting them with grassroots organizations, and provides advice for starting one's own grassroots movement.
How does the project you are proposing represent an interest or passion for you?
I have always had an interest in politics and current issues. After the 2016 election I found myself, like many others, in search of an outlet for my frustration. This led me to activism.
How is this proposal a stretch and challenge for you? What strategies could you use to overcome the potential challenges?
I don't have very much experience with app development, yet I believe that through trial and error I may still make a professional application. I am also using the one medium of app development that I am familiar with. Activism in and of itself was a stretch for me as I am only a recently registered voter and thus don't have any experience with politics past November.
How long do you expect it to take to complete your project? Be realistic. (Senior project allocates significant time on and away from campus. How is your project something that justifies using the entire second semester and two weeks off of campus?)
The first component of my project, research, took at least a month. The second phase, hands on work, was a two month ordeal even though not much came of it. The final phase: the app, has taken me the remaining two months to do. The app development process for me has has been broken down into steps as well: ideation, research, re-ideation, programming framework, aesthetic review, then troubleshooting/debugging. The time off campus for me was originally to work with my grassroots group. Since that ultimately failed, I decided to use that time to expand the range of my app into something with greater utility than originally imagined.
Who will you be interviewing in order to learn more about your topic? List these specific individuals and cite why they will be helpful in your exploration. Could one of these individuals serve as a mentor for your project? What other research do you plan to conduct to aid both the depth and breadth of your project?
I interviewed a top-ranking bureaucrat, a CEO, and a grassroots activist. Julia Duncan, Bill Rhodes, and Mana Rostami-Mouripour, respectively. They all have some experience around politics in one facet or another. They provide the perspectives I need on activism to both understand it as well as emulate it. My mentor is Damien Cohen, who, through his classes, has further inspired me in my political endeavours. I also chose Mr Cohen because I knew he would keep me accountable and accept nothing less than the best of my abilities. My research consisted of the first phase of my project (activism and its role in the US), and later on I did research on political applications that have a similar function to mine.
Think ahead towards outcomes. Explain and articulate the measurable outcomes you plan to see at the culmination of your project. How will these outcomes be demonstrated?
My final outcomes for the project consist of an app that combine the best elements of political applications. I intend to publish my app to Google Play as well as give my app to a test group that can rate the app.
I have done research on activism, gave my own attempt at grassroots activism, and then proceeded to develop a mobile phone application that assists the average American with activism. My research consisted of 5 books relating to activism, as well as four interviews. My attempts at activism consisted of a twitter account to voice personal political beliefs, as well as a facebook group to organize youth in the bay area towards a common cause in activism. Both unsuccessful attempts led me to the final piece of my project: the app "Pocket Activist". "Pocket Activist" is a mobile phone application developed through MIT App Inventor 2 which assists potential activists by connecting them with their representatives, connecting them with grassroots organizations, and provides advice for starting one's own grassroots movement.
How does the project you are proposing represent an interest or passion for you?
I have always had an interest in politics and current issues. After the 2016 election I found myself, like many others, in search of an outlet for my frustration. This led me to activism.
How is this proposal a stretch and challenge for you? What strategies could you use to overcome the potential challenges?
I don't have very much experience with app development, yet I believe that through trial and error I may still make a professional application. I am also using the one medium of app development that I am familiar with. Activism in and of itself was a stretch for me as I am only a recently registered voter and thus don't have any experience with politics past November.
How long do you expect it to take to complete your project? Be realistic. (Senior project allocates significant time on and away from campus. How is your project something that justifies using the entire second semester and two weeks off of campus?)
The first component of my project, research, took at least a month. The second phase, hands on work, was a two month ordeal even though not much came of it. The final phase: the app, has taken me the remaining two months to do. The app development process for me has has been broken down into steps as well: ideation, research, re-ideation, programming framework, aesthetic review, then troubleshooting/debugging. The time off campus for me was originally to work with my grassroots group. Since that ultimately failed, I decided to use that time to expand the range of my app into something with greater utility than originally imagined.
Who will you be interviewing in order to learn more about your topic? List these specific individuals and cite why they will be helpful in your exploration. Could one of these individuals serve as a mentor for your project? What other research do you plan to conduct to aid both the depth and breadth of your project?
I interviewed a top-ranking bureaucrat, a CEO, and a grassroots activist. Julia Duncan, Bill Rhodes, and Mana Rostami-Mouripour, respectively. They all have some experience around politics in one facet or another. They provide the perspectives I need on activism to both understand it as well as emulate it. My mentor is Damien Cohen, who, through his classes, has further inspired me in my political endeavours. I also chose Mr Cohen because I knew he would keep me accountable and accept nothing less than the best of my abilities. My research consisted of the first phase of my project (activism and its role in the US), and later on I did research on political applications that have a similar function to mine.
Think ahead towards outcomes. Explain and articulate the measurable outcomes you plan to see at the culmination of your project. How will these outcomes be demonstrated?
My final outcomes for the project consist of an app that combine the best elements of political applications. I intend to publish my app to Google Play as well as give my app to a test group that can rate the app.