Final Report

Ashley Pilmore - I commented on Group 2, 3, and 4's Final Report Paper
Deb Howell - I commented on Group 2, 3, and 4's Final Report Paper
Abdulmajeed Alomayri - I commented on Group 2's Final Report Paper
Wafa Alrasheed- I commented on Group 2's Final Report Paper

Group 1: Final Report

Wafa Alrasheed - Group Leader, Assist Writer with Content

Abdulmajeed Alomayri - Assist Writer with Content

Deb Howell - Assist Writer with Content

Ashley Pilmore - Writer

Project Summary

Our overall project consisted of finding organizations who could partner and support The Big Read initiative, creating and executing a marketing plan to inform the Muncie community about The Big Read as well as our group workshop, and then finally hosting a community workshop pertaining to the anchor text Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.  The following paragraphs summarize each project and its specific outcomes.

            For our organization project, we searched for and researched various organizations within the Muncie community who could partner with and provide support for The Big Read initiative.  We then created an outreach plan of action that consisted of talking points and an information packet for perspective partners.  Our target organizations were Books-A-Millon, Minnetrista, Muncie Central High School, Sysco, and TEAMWork for Quality Living.  This project resulted in partnerships and support from TEAMWork for Quality Living and Minnetrista.  One of our most important take-aways from this project was the importance of group communication.

            For our marketing project, we researched various marketing techniques and strategies as well as reached out to professionals within the marketing field.  We then created a marketing plan of action that consisted of individual marketing assignments and locations.  We utilized brochures, flyers, face-to-face communication, social media, and public communication to reach our target audience.  This project resulted in reaching an audience of over 120 individuals.  Some of our most important take-aways from this project were the importance of a group action plan, group goals, individual group member assignments, and teamwork.

            For our workshop project, we created and presented a workshop to individuals within the Muncie community.  Our workshop consisted of a PowerPoint presentation focused on Ray Bradbury and his book Fahrenheit 451 as well as the topic of “electronic book burning”.  The workshop also consisted of a group discussion and raffle.  Our workshop took place on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at the First Baptist Church in Muncie, Indiana and was co-hosted by TEAMWork for Quality Living.  
This project resulted in the attendance of over 100 people attending that evening.  Some of our most important take-aways from this project was the importance of teamwork, knowing your audience, and knowing your workshop location.

Demonstration

            On Monday, November 23, 2015, we will be showcasing our Muncie Big Read project to a group of our peers in Ball State University’s Teachers College in room 224.  This showcase will consist of a project summary, project results, important project take-aways, and our suggestions for future practitioners.  The showcase will also consist of an open forum for individuals who may have questions or comments related to our group project.   To see our final project presentation click here.  If you would like to see the animated version of the presentation you will need to download it once you arrive on the slideshare website.

Reflection

            During our final group meeting, we as group collectively reflected on this project and our experiences as a whole.  During this reflection, one word stood out to us a group…underdogs.  We were the “underdogs” of the Muncie Big Read.  Like most underdogs, we had a very poor start as a group and showed very little chance of succeeding in our endeavors.  After much discussion and hard work, our group was able to pull itself together and be the group that it always should have been.  This in turn became our most important take-away and one that will be showcased extensively in our presentation…the importance of teamwork and group communication.  Without these two very important items, group failure is eminent.  Without group cohesion, individual group members are left feeling unappreciated, unimportant, lost, and sometimes even abandoned.  From this experience alone, our group learned that a cohesive group consists of good and open communication among group members, goals, a plan of action, effective utilization of group member’s talents, as well as mutual respect and support for one another.  We look forward to sharing more information during our showcase on November 23^rd.

Components	Organization Project	Marketing Project	Workshop Project
Process	· Search for organizations within the Muncie Community who could partner with and provide support for The Big Read · Research target Muncie organizations · Create an outreach plan of action · Reach out to or visit target Muncie organizations	· Research marketing techniques and strategies · Reach out to professionals in the marketing field for advice · Create a marketing plan of action with individual marketing assignments and locations	· Research how to create and host an effective workshop · Decide on a workshop theme, location, date, and time · Create a workshop for the target audience
Results	· Resulted in partnerships and support from TEAMWork for Quality Living and Minnetrista	· Resulted in reaching out to an audience of 120+ individuals	· Resulted in the attendance of over 100+ individuals
Significant Ideas/Methods	· The importance of group communication	· The importance of a group action plan, group goals, individual group member assignments, and teamwork	· The importance of teamwork, knowing your workshop participants, and knowing your workshop location
Suggestions for Practitioners	· Maintain open and effective group communication · Research any and all target organizations · Create a group outreach action plan · Create handouts and packets to distribute to perspective partners · Visit target organizations	· Research marketing techniques and strategies · Choose and research your target organization · Create a group marketing action plan · Utilize multiple forms of marketing such as brochures, flyers, face-to-face communication, social media, and public communication · Utilize free resources when possible as well as your partnering organizations	· Create a workshop that is interesting and appropriate for your target audience · Research your target audience · If you are not familiar with your workshop location, visit and complete a presentation run through at that location