Sambeg Raj Subedi
ENGL 21007-S
Prof. Jesse Rice-Evans
Reflection#4
05/19/2019

About the project:
For our group project named “Comfort Commute” four members including me worked together for around two weeks. The main purpose of our project was to plan and design an updated seat for the MTA Subway system in NYC. Before starting the project, we spend around weeks to figure out the topic. Our common goal was to choose a topic that is familiar with us and have a direct influence on our daily lives. One of our friends came up with a new idea to improve the MTA card reading system. Instead of swiping the card he wants to replace it by the tapping system. But while doing research we found that his system is already is in practice in other countries such as Australia and even MTA was about to implement this system in Staten Island from this year. So, we decided that instead of replacing the card reader machine it would be better if we could further improve the seats of the MTA system. After we figured out the topic the next thing was to divide the task among the groups. We make sure every member has a clear role. After we divide our task we scheduled our first meeting in the library where we knew each other and helped to start our individual task.
Contribution:
Each and every member have their own role in this project. Roman Cook was chosen as a group leader and he helped to specify the areas which we were going to cover in this project. I was given a responsibility to make research on all the topics associated with the project and also to make the graph for the cost distribution. Sameer was interested in making the design and doing calculations for estimating the cost required to complete the product. So, he was given that task. And our final member, Carlton Yuan had previous experience of making a PowerPoint presentation. So, he took the responsibility to gather all the information from us and present the information on a slide so that it’s understandable for the audience.
Involvement:
While working in a group we come up with new ideas and approaches but centralizing our focus point we only took the essential ideas. Based on my strength and capabilities I was ready to provide a meaningful contribution to the group. In this group project, my role was to do research on the topic and gather the necessary information. I helped my team by introducing three ways to improve the seating system of the MTA which were extending the amenities such as USB port and speakers, second was to introduce seat belts which could definitely help passenger to make a safe ride and third was to design the seat in such a way that passenger can put their stuff below their seats, so that unnecessary space consumed by the large backpacks on the subway would be reduced, allowing more passenger to travel at the same time. While helping my friend preparing the presentation, I thought that the inclusion of graphical data on the presentation would make our content more understandable. Thus, I included four graphical data in the presentation for displaying the cost distribution. As an active participant, I was constantly sharing my ideas and encouraging and supporting my teammates in a different form. Staying positive is also a very import skill required in any team member because it will help others to stay focused and be productive. Though I was not the group leader, we all member equally act as a leader, and with our specific knowledge and skill, we provide solid direction for the group to obtain a desired outcome from the project. Throughout the project, I was analyzing and evaluating the ideas of several teammates and make sure we all are moving in the right track. Being flexible is most important for such type of project. We decided to make a first presentation which was a week earlier the scheduled date. Completing this project in this short period of the time was challenging and complicated but despite having a busy schedule we all worked together and completed our project on time without making any compromise on our content.
Overall experience:
In my opinion, the inclusion of one group project in this course is really helpful because all the students taking this course are future engineers. In the near future, they would be doing several projects either individual or group. Such a type of early exposure will certainly help them in their upcoming project. I really liked this group project because such a project helps a student to work as a team which is extremely helpful for their future. It also helps us to get socialized as we try to listen to other opinions. Listening to others perspective is extremely important in life. Every person should have this quality because without this quality it is impossible to become a leader. I believe that in group project we share our idea and thoughts and by making such collaboration with others, it will certainly help to identify our own strengths and weakness. Throughout the week we connected through google docs and we were giving and receiving feedback on our works. Thus, this project also helped us to make a quick connection among the team member. Working in a team also helped to improve our interpretation and communication skills and also improve leadership skill which will be useful throughout the academic career and in the future.

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