Guiding Students Through Effective

Project Management Using

Cloud-based Tools

Collaborative Learning:

Presented by: Meredith Singleton, April 2015, ET4 Online

What are the benefits/drawbacks?

• To students

• To instructors

Group Project Phases:DIRE

Design

Introduction

Running

Evaluation

Design: Why this project?

What should students get out of project?

• Real-world application

• Complex task

• Student-centered learning

• Collaboration

Design: What are the learning outcomes?

What should students be able to “do”?

• Apply…

• Analyze…

• Evaluate…

• Use…

Design: Why this tool?

What do you need them to do?

• Manage

• Write

• Forecast

• Collaborate

Design: Why this tool?

• Use on all devices/mobile

• Send and track messages from tool

• Upload and share documents

• Create to-do lists

• Calendar

• Personal to-do pages

• Document collaboration

Cost: Free 2-month trial

Design: Why this tool?

• Use on all devices/mobile

• Send and track messages through feed

• Chat feature

• Upload and share documents

• Create to-do lists/Gantt charts

• Calendar

• Personal to-do pages

• Document collaboration

• Integrates with Google apps and

Dropbox

Cost: Free 1 project 10MB storage

Design: What is the backup plan?

What if…

• Groups break down

• Students drop/withdraw

• The project/tool fails

Introduction: What tools will they use?

Only include relevant tools

• Calendar

• Documents

• Sharing

Introduction: Why are they doing this?

Clear explanation of why project and

use of tool is important

• Anecdotal evidence

• Current news/articles/blogs

• Application to course outcomes

Introduction: What are the expectations?

What you want from them

• Specific elements of the project

• Rubric

• Samples

• Time constraints

Running: What are their roles?

Assigning roles

• Team leader

• Recorder/Reporter

• Scheduler

• Devil’s advocate

Running: Where are their talents?

Student skills assessment

• Group resumes

• Technical skills

• Personality management (leaders)

Running: How are they managing the project?

Determine use of tool

• Project documentation

• Communication

• Reporting

Running: What are they doing?

Accountability

• Progress reports/Meeting notes

• Task sheets

• Timelines (Gantt charts, calendars)

• Mid-point progress presentation

Evaluation: How did they do?

Student assessment

• Measurable outcomes

• Self evaluation

• Peer evaluation

Evaluation: Did the project work?

Project assessment

• Did students produce what you

were looking for?

• What was the enthusiasm?

• What did the reviews say?

Evaluation: What might you change?

Applying feedback and experience

• More specific project expectations?

• More thorough introduction?

• Clearer explanation?

• More accountability?

Questions?

ReferencesBarkley, E.F., Cross, K.P., & Major, C.H. (2005). Collaborative Learning Techniques: A Handbook for

College Faculty. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Batra, M. M., & Walvoord, B. E., & Krishnan, K. S. (1997). Effective Pedagogy for Student-Team

Projects. Journal of Marketing Education, 19 (26).

Eberly Center. (2012). Using Group Projects Effectively. Retrieved from http://cmu.edu