Assignment 9 - Visuals

9-2. Using the ASSURE model, develop a lesson incorporating a filmstrip, slideshow, video, or other form of projected media. For an example, review the "ASSURE Case in Practice" in your textbook. In the lesson include at least three specific examples you will use to elicit learner participation during and/or after viewing a projected visual.

Lesson Title

Project Management for "Non-Project Managers"

Instructional Situation

Individuals in our organization manage projects on a daily basis, however most do not actually have the title Project Manager. In fact, most have never been formally trained in project management. Resources will not allow the organization to have everyone become certified, but the company has committed to teaching its associates the fundamentals of project management that can be applied on the job.

Analyze Learners

• General Characteristics - The learners are:
  • Age 18-55
  • Current employees with at least six months tenure
    
    
• Entry Competencies - The learners:
  • Currently manage projects
  • Have not been formally educated in Project Management
    
    
• Learning Style - The learners tend to:
  • Learn best by applying knowledge to real-world scenarios
  • Prefer group-based activities

State Standards & Objectives

Instructional Objective - Given a project scenario, associates will be able to:

• Write a clear project objective
• Allocate project resources
• Create a basic project plan
• Track project progress
• Adjust the project resources and schedule due to a change in scope
• Ensure a project is completed on-time and on-budget

Project resources must be allocated such that every task of the project is included.

Quality Standards - Since this is not a complete course in Project Management, all standards will not be included; however, this lesson aligns with general standards established by the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Select Strategies, Technology, Media, & Materials

Strategies -

• Presentation - this component will include:
  • An overview of Project Management
  • An explanation of why Project Management is relevant to the learners
• Problem Solving - the core of the lesson will be a realistic business scenario for which the learners are responsible for completing.
  • The scenario will be a small project that could actually occur in the organization.
  • The learners will be responsible for working through the management aspect of the project from start to finish through a series of group activities.
• Discussion - as the lesson progresses through the various phases of Project Management that will be covered in this lesson, group discussion will be used to further elaborate on each phase.

Technology -

• This lesson will require a computer and a digital projector.

Media & Materials -

• Organizational leadership has assembled a video of various executives discussing their philosophies and applications in Project Management. The digital video has been split into individual files for each phase of managing a project. These videos will serve as snippets that establish the relevance of each phase of Project Management and will communicate the importance that organizational leadership is placing on the subject.
• Print-based workbooks will allow learners to take notes as they participate in the activities and to use as a future reference guide on the job
• The organization's Enterprise Project Management Office has provided a handbook that includes the essentials of project management that organizational leadership has mandated as essential for the lesson. This handbook was used to create a facilitator guide for this lesson.
• A flipchart will be used to capture group responses during discussions.

Utilize Technology, Media, & Materials

• Preview the Technology/Media/Materials - Review the individual videos to ensure the message communicated in the lesson aligns with the message communicated from the organization's leadership. Review the handbook and facilitator guide to ensure they are consistent.
• Prepare the Technology/Media/Materials - Save the digital video files to the desktop of the computer being used for presentation. Print workbooks for the learners. Turn on the projector and ensure it is set for the lesson.
• Prepare the Environment - Arrange the room into work tables that accommodate four to five learners in each group.
• Prepare the Learners - Provide the learners with the presentation discussed above. Ensure they are aware of the importance the organization has placed on gaining skills in Project Management. Inform the learners of the objective that they will accomplish after participating in the lesson.
• Provide the Learning Experience - Present the video and instructional component for each phase of the project and have the groups work through the activity of managing their hypothetical project. Discuss the phase and results before moving to the next phase.

Require Learner Participation

• There is a digital video for each of the six bullet points listed in the instructional objective. For each phase of the project (i.e. each bullet listed in the objective), play the digital video and initiate discussion with the group afterwards. Call on various learners to ensure participation.
• Throughout the lesson, ask the class to provide key points for each video and write those points on the flipchart.
• Although the learners will be working in groups, have every learner complete a workbook for future reference and to ensure participation.
• When each group discusses its experience at the end of the lesson, guide the discussion toward the points listed on the flipchart and how they align with the general message communicated in the videos.

Evaluate & Revise

As the groups work together to accomplish each task, walk around the room to provide support as it may be needed. Provide feedback to the learners as they work on various tasks. If any particular group struggles with any component, provide additional information and support to that group. If a particular individual struggles with any component, offer to meet with the individual after class to discuss further.

After the course, have the learners complete the course evaluation survey. Use the results to determine how well the lesson supported the objectives and how well the instructor facilitated learning. If gaps are identified, review the instructional materials and methods to determine if changes can be made to better support the learners.