Project Management (PM) supports the instructional design process by giving it specific standards, structure, organization and by making the process more effective and efficient.
Initiating the Project
Initiating the project is the first phase of the project management process. This step defines the scope of the project which includes cost, schedule and performance. The project charter is an important document that helps define the scope of the project. The project charter will include specifics such as background to the problem, purpose, deliverables, schedule and stakeholders (Post University, n.d.). A Stakeholders is any person that is invested in the project and can benefit of suffer from its outcome. Stakeholders can include clients and sponsors. The formality of this document and what it includes depends on the environment and organization.
This phase also includes stakeholder analysis/ mapping. According to Abbing (2011), this step allows the project manager to examine the relationship between them and the stakeholders. This includes what the project managers wants, what the stakeholders need and what resources that are already in place.
Designing the Document
This stage includes needs analysis and task sequencing. Needs analysis involves gathering data to see if a need for the project exists (Cekada, 2011). This often includes looking at the actual performance of workers or students and comparing this to the expected performance at the particular level. Performing a needs analysis will help find any gaps in skill, behavior, knowledge or ability. If there is a need, then a design document is drafted. A design document will include objectives, key concepts and learning activities. Performing analysis not only helps develop objectives, but also helps to understand the problem and all solutions.
Based on the analysis, jobs (tasks) can be sequenced. Sequencing involves ranking jobs by importance based on time spent, difficulty and significance (Cox, 2009). Tasks are sequenced into three levels. These levels are primary, main and supporting tasks. The primary task is the overall task. The main tasks include the tasks needed to be able to achieve the primary task. The supporting tasks are the tasks needed to be able to achieve the main tasks.
Want to learn more about task analysis in instructional design? Click here to find out how needs analysis links to Kirkpatrick’s four levels of evaluation. This resource also looks at the needs that should be captured during this phase and suggests questions to ask during the task analysis.
Classroom Reflections
As I continue this module, I try to look for connections to the work that I do in the classroom. Project management very much mimics what I do in the classroom. In the previous post, I talked about doing task and needs analysis before and after lessons. After lessons, especially when they don’t go well, I try to identify if there were any gaps in knowledge, skills and behaviors. This analysis will help me to develop objectives to future lessons to help solve this problem. Based on this analysis, I can also sequence tasks, or the jobs, that I want my students to do. Often, I have to think about the importance of the skills that I am teaching to my students. When planning, I have to think of these important skills and concepts and how I am going to get them to these different levels of thinking. Analysis of their skills and previous learning helps me make these decisions.
References:
Abbing, E.R. (2011). Stakeholder mapping: A quick guide to creating stakeholder maps that help you provide networked value. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/brandriveninnovation/stakeholdermapping-8274799.
Cekada, T.L. (2011). Need training? Professional Safety, 56(12), 28-34. Retrieved from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=1683dd09-900b-4ff3-9aab-23c0ab57e1bd%40sessionmgr111&vid=1&hid=120.
Cox, D.M.T. (2010). Project management skills for instructional designers: A practical guide. Bloomington, IL: Iuniverse.
Post University. (n.d.). Project management overview. Retrieved from http://www.coursematerials.net/edu/edu627/unit1/index.htm.
Post University. (n.d.). Unit 3- Designing the document. Retrieved from http://www.coursematerials.net/edu/edu627/unit3/index.htm.
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