Project Proposal

HDD Project Proposal

• This proposal will be evaluated by a committee of STEAM Teachers.

• Proposals will either be approved or denied.

• If a proposal is denied, required changes must be addressed before submitting again.

Name: Alexi Period: 4

Part 1: Understanding the Problem

What is the problem you are addressing?

People’s disconnection to history and culture.

Who are you creating a solution for?

I specifically want to focus on those who are not already invested in history or those who are only interested in the large events of history. It can be anyone of any age or knowledge level.

How do you know that this is a real problem? Summarize your factual evidence proving that this problem truly is a concern for the world.

There are tons of stats that speak about people's knowledge of history and what is taught. This shows the issue because it proves people are disconnected from the past. As well as the constant changing in what we know about history as found by historians and archeologists not being easily accessible or people having the need for it. This continues to be a problem socially with people not understating why things are harfuml to other communities because they don’t know the meaning behind it or they are just bigoted and I can’t fix that. But I can try and handle the first bit.

Part 2: Existing Solution Research

What solutions already exist? For each already existing solution, complete the prompts.

Existing Solution #1

1. Describe what the solution is.

Educational programming that engages children with entertainment and learning. Such as programming like sesame street or wild krats or most PBS children's programming. It is a helpful, entertaining and educational way to deliver information to children. It connects the human need for story with information and bright colors and plenty of humor which is what makes it successful.

1. Explain how the solution works.

The show gets put on TV and kids watch it and learn things. Usually it's created by child educators like in sesame streets case. Other times it’s created by people with knowledge of the subject such as the krat brothers. Typically it involves bright colors to draw kids attention and simple plots if there are any. Typically not over arcing so you can tune in as you go. The learning aspect is more hidden so it’s not outright for many kids but it is for adults.

1. How well does the solution address the problem? Be specific in describing how this solution does address the problem.

I think it does a good job of engaging kids and getting their foot in the door. The storytelling aspect is rather ingunuse with creating engaging characters that kids can relate to or find interesting enough to listen to.

1. In what ways is this solution not addressing the problem? What is missing, or how could it be better?

I think it has the potential to really address the issue. However, it missed older age demographics and has a large potential to be historically inaccurate and spread misinformation. This type of programing also tends to be more information based in it’s methods instead of connection building or emotional tapping like I am trying to tackle with the connection to history issue. These programs also don’t largely address history and instead handle other subjects.

Existing Solution #2

1. Describe what the solution is.

Unlikely things that get people interested in history. Things such as Hamiltion or assassins creed or books like song of achilles or daughters of sparta. They have a historical setting or different ways of relaying information to new and outside audiences. Or preying upon a fascination with a time period that people may find interesting but don’t know about. Or time periods discussed a lot in school, literature or culture.

1. Explain how the solution works.

This one's a bit harder to explain. A part of the crux of this one is whether or not the thing gets popular enough to reach wide audiences. But basically, it works by having an engaging enough premise, music, story or characters in a historical setting or around a historical person. It invents a new way to present the information in a new form or to a new demographic. Such as the assassin creed games paying heavy attention to historical detail when rendering historical sites such as Alexandria or Athens. Or how Hamilton put the information in music form, but in rap so it stood out from other musicals at the time and engaged a whole new set of people, mainly teens.

1. How well does the solution address the problem? Be specific in describing how this solution does address the problem.

It can place a humanization that other methods fail. Like with Hamilton we really get a humanization of him and Eliza, like you don’t get in a history book. Or with assassins creed you get a humanization of whole cities by seeing what they really would have looked like. With books like song of achilles and daughters of sparta, it humanizes popular characters in Greek literature such as Achilles and Hellen of Troy. Those books by proxy also show glimpses of lives Greek soldiers and upper class Greek women might have lived.

1. In what ways is this solution not addressing the problem? What is missing, or how could it be better?

It relies heavily on reaching a wide audience which is good but to do that there is stuff that is sacrificed. Like in Hamilton for example, we lose the experiences of slaves and the realites they faces. It also gets rid of Hammiltons history of slave ownership to the pint where many people don’t think he owned any. So we lose a big portion of experience in the time period and also lose a lot of accuracy with this method, and many times we end up bringing up the wrong figures in history.

Existing Solution #3

1. Describe what the solution is.

Promoting primary source use.

1. Explain how the solution works.

Using them in school and people advocating for their use in papers and academic literature and as for people to seek them out.

1. How well does the solution address the problem? Be specific in describing how this solution does address the problem.

Some of the most accurate stuff you’ll get depending on the source.

1. In what ways is this solution not addressing the problem? What is missing, or how could it be better?

Does not get these sources in peoples hands, nor does it make them understandable for many people who may struggle with older language. Also does not give access for many or provide other needed context on the person, time period and events that are getting written about.

Part 3: Your Solution

In 1 -3 complete sentences, summarize your proposed solution concept:

A (hopefully ten episode) podcast where each episode is a narrative about a different time period in history. Each narrative is informed by and made up of primary sources from the time period. Each episode also gets an art piece created with it to invest in people who have a more visual learning style. (For example, for an episode on ancient greece I would 3D print a greek statue and paint it in the fashion that it would’ve been in the past) All art pieces would be posted on a website with links to the podcast. The narrative style is to engage the story telling part of people's brains and also draws back to how we historically conveyed information.

Addressing the Problem

Explain how your solution will address the problem for the intended audience/user group. I believe this addresses the issue for my intended audience because of the multi-media format. It leaves it open and engaging for all age ranges and even those who may not have had a previous interest. It engages a different audience than other history resources do.

Your solution will be better because…

How is your proposed solution concept going to address the flaws/shortcomings of the already existing solutions? For each Existing Solution, explain how your proposed solution concept will improve upon the already existing solution.

Improving on Existing Solution #1

Keeps the story telling format but reaches a wider audience outside of small children.

Improving on Existing Solution #2

Will be more historically accurate while engaging a new audience and covers a wider array of topics

Improving on Existing Solution #3

Provides a way for people to access primary sources in a more understandable and engaging format.

Part 4: Project Components:

Large projects should be broken down into smaller components. Each component is a fundamental part of the overall solution, but can be developed independently. What will be the components of your proposed solution concept? Name and list them:

Component 1: episode topics Component 2: Website Component 3: Podcast Component 4: art peice (add more as needed)

Component Details:

For each component of your project, provide the following details. If a specific detail is not relevant, delete it.

Component #1:

1. Component Name: episode topics.

1. What is the purpose of this component? How is it a part of the proposed solution?

To layout which episodes will be about what

1. Is it digital or physical?

digital

1. Digital: What software will be used to create this component?

Google docs

1. Physical: What will this component be made out of?

1. Physical: What tools and fabrication methods will be used to make this component?

1. Describe the final, completed state of this component. What will it look like? How big will it be? How will it’s finished details have been added? (annotated sketches are appropriate)

A list with all of the episode topics and a basic story that I want to be told through the episode.

Component #2:

1. Component Name: Website

1. What is the purpose of this component? How is it a part of the proposed solution?

A centralized place to display the art pieces and link to podcast episodes and digital versions of the first hand sources I use.

1. Is it digital or physical?

Digital

1. Digital: What software will be used to create this component?

Either google sites or Wix

1. Physical: What will this component be made out of?

1. Physical: What tools and fabrication methods will be used to make this component?

1. Describe the final, completed state of this component. What will it look like? How big will it be? How will it’s finished details have been added? (annotated sketches are appropriate)

There will be a page to display artwork labeled by episode and a description of what they are. Places for links to the different platforms the podcast will be on. A section for primary sources and further reading, watching or listening on the topic.

Component #3:

1. Component Name: Podcast episodes/script
   

2. What is the purpose of this component? How is it a part of the proposed solution?

Gets the stories of real people from history in the open in a new format for people mixed witha storytelling element.

1. Is it digital or physical?

Digital

1. Digital: What software will be used to create this component?

Audio recording software and google docs for scripts

1. Physical: What will this component be made out of?
   

2. Physical: What tools and fabrication methods will be used to make this component?
   

3. Describe the final, completed state of this component. What will it look like? How big will it be? How will it’s finished details have been added? (annotated sketches are appropriate)

Ten episodes, each on a different historical time period or topics, made up of narrative and first hand sources.

Component #4:

1. Component Name: Art pieces

1. What is the purpose of this component? How is it a part of the proposed solution?

To add a visual component for people who are more visual but to also represent a physicality to what we as people leave behind as time goes forward.

1. Is it digital or physical?

Physical

1. Digital: What software will be used to create this component?
   

2. Physical: What will this component be made out of?

Depending on the episode some will be sculpted, others painted, others drawn, some 3D printed. So things like paper, clay and plastic maybe cardboard.

1. Physical: What tools and fabrication methods will be used to make this component?

3D printer, paint brushes, penicles and outlining pens, paint, clay. Not really a method I can think of just me creating things.

1. Describe the final, completed state of this component. What will it look like? How big will it be? How will it’s finished details have been added? (annotated sketches are appropriate)

Each of them will be different. So each will look different but polished in different art styles. Size will also vary.

Part 5: STEAM Showcase Goal

It's always good to have the end in mind. If you know what you are aiming for, it's much harder to miss the target.

Describe what your final product will be/look like when you present at the STEAM Showcase on May 25th. What will be there for you to show? I want a finished website I can display. I also would like a table to layout all of the art pieces I make for this project and little name banners for each episode as well as one for the podcast name. I also will probably have a layout of how the project came together. I would like to establish an eye catching color palette because history is often seen as dull and portrayed with dull colors, and I want to subvert how people think about history and their connection to it.