{"id":3185,"date":"2021-09-13T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projectpals.com\/post\/project-management-makes-or-breaks-projects-here-s-how-to-do-it-right\/"},"modified":"2024-02-07T21:15:35","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T21:15:35","slug":"project-management-makes-or-breaks-projects-here-s-how-to-do-it-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectpals.com\/post\/project-management-makes-or-breaks-projects-here-s-how-to-do-it-right\/","title":{"rendered":"Project Management Makes or Breaks Projects. Here’s How to Do It Right"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cCorporate America spends more than $275 billion each year on approximately 200,000 projects. Many of these projects will fail, but not for lack of money or technology; most will fail for lack of skilled project management.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It was this <\/span>1999 study<\/span><\/span><\/a> from the international research firm <\/span>The Standish Group<\/span><\/span><\/a> that made me realize the extent to which <\/span>project management can make or break a project<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0And I can\u2019t help but wonder if that outcome would be different if schools devoted time to teach this skill…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Project-based learning (PBL)<\/span><\/span><\/a> has been around since <\/span>John Dewey.<\/span><\/a> He was one of the earliest proponents of hands-on learning or experiential education, and\u00a0<\/span>argued<\/span><\/span><\/a> “if knowledge comes from the impressions made upon us by natural objects, it is impossible to procure knowledge without the use of objects which impress the mind.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The effectiveness and impact PBL offers has been recorded in multiple studies throughout the years, showing <\/span>double-digit, multi-year performance increases<\/span><\/span> in standardized testing by students taught in a PBL environment over students from a traditional classroom environment.\u00a0These benefits are enhanced when technology is incorporated meaningfully according to the <\/span>George Lucas Educational Foundation.<\/span><\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Outstanding performance indicators have been a catalyst for\u00a0adopting PBL in a growing number of schools.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>As a computer teacher, and now founder and CEO of Project Pals, I\u2019ve witnessed many of those attempts and realized that <\/span>one of the biggest obstacles in trying to adopt PBL is lack of project management skills.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When teachers are attempting to start PBL in their classrooms, they\u2019re not aware just how essential the ability to <\/span>manage<\/span><\/span> projects is to their completion.\u00a0Because of this lack of understanding, PBL may end up misinterpreted to be a summary of a topic done on the computer by individual students, leaving out\u00a0<\/span>collaboration\u00a0<\/span><\/span>that is so crucial to PBL.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This isn’t surprising, because simply put: <\/span>Teachers aren’t project managers<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0While educators have tapped into a teaching method that truly engages students in active learning, students (as well as most teachers and parents) haven\u2019t been provided a standard framework and skill set for consistently doing projects.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Projects require a complex set of competencies such as <\/span>problem solving<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>decision-making<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>time management<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>research<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>analysis<\/span><\/span> and <\/span>synthesis<\/span><\/span> of information, <\/span>collaboration<\/span><\/span>, and <\/span>conflict resolution<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0But they <\/span>also<\/span><\/span> require <\/span>project management strategies<\/span><\/span> and methods for planning, doing, and completing them, allowing those involved to focus on the content of what the project is about, rather than figuring out how to get it done.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When I searched the internet for project management in project-based learning, there were very few meaningful results. Interpretations of what project management were all over the place: Some said it\u2019s a way to schedule tasks, others included teaching methods that aren\u2019t even <\/span>directly related<\/span><\/span> to project management, like \u2018Use social media,\u2019 or \u2018Formatively assess often.\u2019\u00a0<\/span>In order to instill those lifelong project management skills, students will need much more than that.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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According to <\/span>Dr. John Spencer<\/span><\/a>, project management is about following a <\/span>systematic process<\/span><\/span>\u00a0of setting up goals and charting progress, breaking down tasks and setting deadlines, choosing and implementing strategies to complete their tasks and finally they will need to monitor, adjust and problem solve.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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One of the biggest discoveries that I made in my history of working with students on projects is that <\/span>managing the projects needs to be delegated to the students.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>It isn\u2019t easy, but the process becomes more ingrained in students with each instance, and our students are much more capable than we give them credit for.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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6 Steps for Mastering Project Management<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Breaking down the process into bite-sized steps can empower your students to become <\/span>expert project managers<\/span><\/span> while building <\/span>essential skills<\/span><\/span> like leadership and collaboration.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Try these <\/span>6 project management tips<\/span><\/span> during your next team project:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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1. Assign a Team Leader<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Team leaders should follow up on what is going on in the project and whether team members are on track to complete\u00a0their part of the project in time.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    The role of the team leader should be <\/span>rotated<\/span><\/span> amongst all team members to allow each of them to practice <\/span>team leadership<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

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    2. Set Goals<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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    Project management begins with <\/span>goal setting<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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      If they are in charge of coming up with the driving question, they need to look at the big picture and define <\/span>what they want to accomplish<\/span><\/span> and <\/span>what the final product will look like<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

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      3. Identify Key Info for Each Phase<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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      Students need to <\/span>understand the problem<\/span><\/span> they are trying to solve or the product they are trying to build, beginning by <\/span>identifying the topics that are absolutely necessary<\/span><\/span> to understand in order to accomplish it<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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        Based on the topics they identified, students need to <\/span>break down the problem into project phases<\/span><\/span>\u00a0needed\u00a0to solve the problem or create the product.\u00a0<\/span>If students use Project Pals lesson plans or templates, those phases may already be defined for them<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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        Teachers may choose to define these phases for students ahead of time<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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        Students may decide that all project phases will be done by all team members and <\/span>assign specific parts<\/span><\/span> of each phase to specific students<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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        Students may also decide to allocate different phases to specific students to complete<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

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        4. Create Tasks and Subtasks<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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          Teachers may start this step by <\/span>providing a list of tasks<\/span><\/span> per project phase that all students need to perform<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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          Students can then create a <\/span>series of subtasks<\/span><\/span> that they designate to specific team members to complete<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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          The <\/span>team leader<\/span><\/span> needs to follow up on the the entire task list and make sure team members are performing their jobs in time (and give them a push if they are lagging behind)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

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          5. Choose and Implement Strategies<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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            Self-directed teams are able to determine what strategies they will use in order to complete their tasks<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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            Students will select the resources and materials that they need to use<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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            Students will also decide on the processes that will work best for them<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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            Teachers will monitor students\u2019 choices and make recommendations when warranted<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

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            6. Monitor, Adjust, and Problem-Solve<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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            As students work on their projects, they’ll encounter problems that they’ll need to solve.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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              Things may break or plans may change.\u00a0The practice of handling these situations will grow students into problem-solvers and critical thinkers<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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              Students must monitor their progress and adjust their approaches as they go<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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              The <\/span>team leader<\/span><\/span> has a crucial role in monitoring the entire project, developing their leadership skills<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

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              Conclusion<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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              I’ve witnessed far too many projects fail due to a lack of project management.\u00a0Getting students accustomed to these steps can gradually turn them not just into <\/span>expert project managers<\/span><\/span>, but also lead to <\/span>successful project completion<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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              Ready to harness the power of PBL in your school or district?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              \u201cCorporate America spends more than $275 billion each year on approximately 200,000 projects. Many of these projects will fail, but not for lack of money or technology; most will fail for lack of skilled project management.\u201d It was this 1999 study from the international research firm The Standish Group that made me realize the extent […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":980,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectpals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3185"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectpals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectpals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectpals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectpals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3185"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/projectpals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3353,"href":"https:\/\/projectpals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3185\/revisions\/3353"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectpals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectpals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectpals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectpals.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}