Several of the assignments you are completing are challenging and make you feel uncomfortable. The guidelines allow for flexibility, and the subject matter is new to many of you. My intention is not to produce added stress and discomfort, but to challenge you to use your resources (partners, previous experience, online research, contacts) to learn. Some have argued that discomfort, just the right amount of unease, helps promote learning (for example, Bregman 2019, https://hbr.org/2019/08/learning-is-supposed-to-feel-uncomfortable). However, I certainly don’t want to overwhelm or squish your motivation and creativity (see https://cetl.kennesaw.edu/article/it%E2%80%99s-complicated-re-visioning-discomfort-classroom).
I am aware that these are challenging projects. You are making mistakes, unsure of the “right direction,” and sometimes “lost,” but I also fully believe in you and your ability to work together, learn from each other, and improve. Fortunately, by sharing drafts and having numerous opportunities to exchange and incorporate ideas, feedback, and creative directions, I believe all projects are stronger. While you may still feel discomfort, I trust that you have learned about the topic and your resourcefulness to take on new challenges!
