Project Management

     

        Unit one was full of new and engaging information that has built a foundation for this course.  Project Management, which is the processes put in place to manage a project, is the main focus of this course. We learned that during project management, tools, skills, methods, etc. are applied in order to meet project requisites. There is also a difference between a project and an operations activity. A project is a “temporary endeavor with a beginning and an end”. After the project has been designed, developed, and delivered, the project aspect witould be considered complete (Cox, 2009). Whereas an operations activity is a permanent endeavor that produces repetitive outputs. Identifying the difference between these two terms have helped us brainstorm and choose two potential projects as well as the stakeholders for each project. Stakeholders are people or organizations who have entrusted interest in the project (Cox, 2009). These can include teachers, administrators, the community, etc.

     This week, we also focused on ADDIE and how it is integrated with Cox’s “Four Step Combo”. ADDIE is an instructional design model that provides a step by step process to help instructional designers plan and create training programs. The five stages of ADDIE are analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate. These stages lay out each component of a project that need to be addressed. The one we focused on this week was analyze which has to do with the audience in which the trainer is interacting with. Along with this, we have also discussed HPT, Human Performance Technology, which is a process of analyzing an organization’s needs and applying processes, tools, and/or methods to help the organization meet those needs and expectations. This coincides with ADDIE because the first stage of ADDIE looks at what are the learners’ needs, strengths, and weaknesses, what challenges may arise, what delivery options exist, what are the time constraints, etc.

      ADDIE is an instructional, systematic design that I have utilized in past modules. It is something that I integrate into the classroom whenever possible. I tend to utilize and refer back to this model when I am creating lesson plans due to the fact that it addresses students needs, learning outcomes/objectives, tools and materials needed, etc. It covers all the components necessary to create an effective lesson plan. I am excited to learn more about project management, as I have never experienced this process before. I feel that between the combination of both ADDIE and the process of project management, I will gain a keen understanding of how to effectively carry out a completed project that fulfills all the learning needs of my students.

Helpful Resource:

http://www.microsoft.com/education/en-us/solutions/Pages/project_management.aspx

Reference:

Cox, D. (2009). Project management skills for instructional designers: a practical guide. Bloomington, IN: iUniverse, Inc.