**Course Title:** Essential Soft Skills for Programmers **Section Title:** Teamwork and Collaboration **Topic:** Group activity: Work on a mini-project using collaboration tools. (Lab topic) **Objective:** Apply the concepts of teamwork, collaboration, and effective communication in a real-world project setting, leveraging collaboration tools to achieve successful outcomes. **Introduction:** In the previous topics, we explored the importance of teamwork and collaboration, as well as strategies for effective remote collaboration. To reinforce these concepts, we will now engage in a group activity that simulates a real-world project. This lab topic will have you work in groups, utilizing popular collaboration tools, such as Slack (https://slack.com/) and Trello (https://trello.com/), to complete a mini-project. **Group Activity:** 1. **Group Formation:** Your instructor will provide guidelines on group formation. Typically, this involves forming groups of 3-5 students. Each group will work on a mini-project, ensuring that all members have an active role and equal responsibilities. 2. **Project Brief:** Your mini-project will be to create a simple web application (e.g., to-do list, weather app) or a collaborative document (e.g., blog post, presentation). The specific details of the project will be provided by your instructor. 3. **Collaboration Tools Setup:** Each group will set up a workspace using Slack and Trello. If you're unfamiliar with these tools, review the following tutorials: * Slack: Getting Started (https://slack.com/help/categories/360000049883) * Trello: Getting Started Guide (https://trello.com/guide) 4. **Project Implementation:** Work with your group to implement the mini-project. Utilize the collaboration tools to assign tasks, track progress, and discuss project developments. 5. **Mid-Project Review:** After agreeing on the project scope, submit a mid-project review. This review will cover: * Project goals and objectives * Roles and responsibilities within the group * Progress status and challenges faced 6. **Final Submission:** The finished project will be presented to the class. Each group will provide a brief overview of their project, highlighting challenges, successes, and strategies employed during the collaboration process. **Assessment Criteria:** * Effective use of collaboration tools (20%) * Group participation and communication (20%) * Quality of the finished project (40%) * Mid-project review and final presentation (20%) **Tips and Considerations:** * Establish clear goals and objectives with your group at the outset. * Ensure all group members are active on the collaboration tools, engaging with the project development process. * Foster open communication to resolve conflicts and clarify expectations. * Consider the roles and strengths within your group, delegating tasks accordingly. * Make use of the collaboration tools to track progress and facilitate decision-making. **What's Next:** In the next topic, we will cover the essential aspects of problem-solving and critical thinking. This will include understanding the steps involved in effective problem-solving, strategies for identifying and analyzing problems, and approaches for generating and evaluating potential solutions. **Comment and Discussion:** Please do not comment or ask for help in this lab topic. Focus on completing the group activity and engaging with your team.