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