Academic Work
Senior Capstone in Communication Studies: Applied Communication Project
The Ethical Use of AI
In my final semester at IU Indianapolis, I completed my Senior Capstone in Communication Studies. For our Applied Communication Project, our class selected Artificial Intelligence as a focus. Groups of five students worked together to tackle the many facets of AI with the intention of making a positive impact on the community.
My particular group opted to direct our focus toward educating our peers on the pros and cons of AI as well as the many benefits it offers.
Throughout our two-week intervention, my group worked together to create messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and content. We conducted three surveys, ran an informational table in the Liberal Arts building daily, and maintained a social media campaign.
The experience taught me how to think more critically about the use of AI tools. All five group members grew in their collaboration and interpersonal communication skills. Artificial Intelligence tools are going nowhere anytime soon, and collaboration is essential to any workplace. I look forward to bringing this experience and more to my future endeavors in my career.
Assistive Technology
One of my favorite classes at IU Indianapolis was Assistive Technology. We studied concepts such as universal design, as well as several aspects of assistive technology itself.
This was one of the major projects I completed for the class. It focuses on Augmented Alternative Communication (AAC). The video was created in Canva and analyzes the pros and cons of a specific communication app.
While the project further strengthened my proficiency in Canva, the learning experience went further. I grew in my understanding of the disability community and the range of individuals who may require AAC. I researched and critically analyzed message boards and reviews of the application. I then explored the app myself to further empathize with its users and see if I could express myself with it. This allowed me to ethically present the project to my professor for grading.
Canva is a popular graphic design tool, and I’m grateful for any chance to increase my competency in it. I hope to carry the knowledge and skills gained in this project with me to future positions where empathy and research are critical skills.
Created by Amelie Zirnheld on Canva