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D2: Contextual Inquiry Plan
In this writeup, describe
(1) the
target problem your team will work on,
(2) the
people relevant to your target problem; these can be direct stakeholders (i.e., target users who will be adopting your solution) or indirect stakeholders (i.e., people who are not direct users of your solution, but are nonetheless affected by your solution). Be
specific, e.g., instead of "physicians", identify the type of physicians, e.g., "physicians managing chronic pain", or "emergency room doctors".
(3)
which contextual inquiry method(s) -- interviews, observations and literature research -- you will use to find out more about your target problem. You are encouraged to choose more than one method, since this would allow you to triangulate your findings to understand real user needs.
(4)
which team member is responsible for carrying out which methods.
(5) your
plan on carrying out each method that your team chose by answering the following questions:
Option (A): Interviews
What are 5 assumptions that you are making about the direct/indirect stakeholders and 5 things you might need/want to know about them / their work process. Based on this brainstorming, come up with 3 high-level questions. For each high-level question, come up with at least 5 specific interview questions. In total, you should have 3 high-level questions, and 15 specific questions. Explain how you avoided "bad" questions as explained in the lecture. Finally, describe your plan for recruiting interviewees, obtaining their consent, how many people you plan to interview, and when/where these interviews will be conducted.
Option (B): Observation
Describe where you will be doing this observation, how you will obtain consent to conduct this observation, whether you are doing direct observation vs participant observation, or both. Based on the AEIOU slide, come up with at least 10 questions that you want to answer using the observation, and for each question, whether the data answering the question is related to activities, environments, interactions, objects, and/or users.
Option (C): Literature Research
Describe your target problem and identify keywords you will use to search for literature on this topic. When brainstorming keywords, consider who is affected by the problem, what barriers exist (cost, time, access, trust, policy, etc.), and when, where, or how the problem occurs. Starting with a simple search (e.g. [keyword 1] AND [keyword 2]), search for literature in two of the recommended library databases (Pitchbook, Scopus, and/or Statista). Describe 2 ways that you would improve your search strategy for a future search.
Submission
D2 should be completed in the team notebook under Week 3.
Due Date is 5pm the day before your next class.
T1: Team Contract
(1)
Submit Team Information: If you haven't done so already, designate one person in the team to submit team information using this
form.
(2)
Prepare Team Notebook: If you haven't done so already, share the team notebook with each team member. The link to your team notebook is pinned to your team's private channel.
Fill in the first page of the team notebook with your team's information, including your team name (pick a name that is both creative and professional), names of team members, your target problem (this is just an initial idea and can evolve throughout the term), and your team's weekly check-in time.
(3)
Complete Team Contract: Complete T1 in the team notebook by answering
all the questions as a team. The questions include sharing your goals as an individual and as a team, identifying all team members and their roles and responsibilities, including expectations regarding preparation for and attendance at group meetings, frequency and duration of meetings and preferred communication channels, process for dealing with unmet expectations or problems, etc.
To add your signatures to the team contract, simply put at the end of the contract the statement -- "We agree to follow the team contract" -- followed by a bulleted list of names, individually and independently typed out by each student.
For more information, you can consult the resources offered by the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE):
Making Group Contracts.
Submission
T1 should be completed in the team notebook and will be graded using the following
rubric.
Due Date is 5pm the day before your next class.
RE1: Career Goal Summary (Individual, HLTH480 only)
Create a shareable, web-style page that introduces you professionally and reflects on how your undergraduate experiences (courses, placements, work, volunteering, research, extracurriculars, and mentors) have shaped your values and career goals. Write it for classmates, instructors, mentors, or potential employers.
Format
● Build your page in WordPress or a similar tool (e.g., Wix, Google Sites, Canva, Adobe Express).
● It must open from a link without downloading a file, combine text and visuals on one page, and use clear headings, readable fonts, and consistent colours.
● Aim for 400–700 words. Concise and specific beats long.
● Submit the link to the LEARN Dropbox. Test it in a private/incognito window first.
Required elements (each missing one lowers your score)
1. Full name displayed clearly at the top.
2. Bio (1–2 paragraphs, first person): your program and year, plus the experiences that shaped you most and what each taught you.
3. Photos: a professional headshot or other representative photo plus 2–3 other purposeful images that show who you are. Use your own or properly licensed images (e.g., Unsplash, Pexels), and get permission before posting photos of others.
4. Values: 3–5 core values, each explained with a brief example from your life or work.
5. Career goals: one short-term goal and one long-term goal. If you're still exploring, describe the directions you're considering and why.
6. Career interests: the areas, populations, settings, or issues in health that interest you most, and why.
Make the connections
The strongest pages show why, not just what. Link your experiences to your values, your values to your goals, and your experiences to your goals. If your direction has changed since first year, explain what influenced that. Weave this reflection into your bio, values, and goals rather than writing it as a separate Q&A.
Tips
Keep paragraphs short, place images next to related text, use no more than two fonts, avoid jargon, check that the page works on a phone, and proofread aloud. Adding your LinkedIn link is optional; if you do, make sure it matches your page.
Submission
RE1 should be submitted via the LEARN Dropbox and is graded using the following
rubric.
Due Date is 5pm the day before your next class.