hey everyone, I’m currently a computer engineering student working on our capstone proposal or at least trying to lol.
so yeah here’s the thing without further ado.
We’ve already presented several ideas, tots, presenations, etc. but every single one got declined by our professor. He is super particular and fussy about what he wants. He wants something grounded like in a real & ongoing problem that exists in a community or institution — something that can be addressed by u know developing a system or prototype (since we are engineering ofc that’s given).
He keeps telling us to “widen our horizon” and look at what’s actually happening on the ground. Basically, do a needs assessment first, figure out what’s wrong or lacking in a certain group or place, then create something that could solve or ease that issue. Not the other way around.
I get it, I really do. It makes sense. But the pressure is really getting to me. We’ve been brainstorming for weeks which turns into a month and I’m just burnt out like literally. I wanna give up so bad but this is my last straw — I’m asking you guys here because I seriously can’t think straight anymore.
How do we even start finding a real problem in a community if we don’t have direct connections or obvious leads? I simply cannot bring myself to do this anymore and it sucks.
Any advice or tips would really help me on the track T_T
Comments
Well, what communities do you have a connection to? Stuff like scouting organizations or 4-H or church communities or immigrant communities or gaming groups or anything else. Can you go back to your high school or something? Can you look at a subset of your current university?
Start with your community, do interviews, and work from there. Don’t work on brainstorming until you’ve talked to people and asked questions.
You say you get it.
You don’t get it.
Nobody can tell you why you feel they want you to fail.
They don’t.
They’re paid to teach you how to learn your subject. That’s all.