Week 10 15/5s

Team-Assigned Tasks

Instructional Strategy: 100% complete, took 15 minutes. Reviewed final draft and made some suggestions.
Treatment Description and Rationale: 100% complete, took 15 minutes. Reviewed final draft and made some suggestions.
Formative Evaluation Plan: 10% complete, took 1 hour. Developed rudimentary outline. Will develop more detail as we proceed closer to the due date.
Meet with Team: 100% complete, took 2.0 hours. We discussed the instructional strategy, treatment design and rationale, treatment report, and formative evaluation plan deliverables. We discussed SCORM and eCourseware, and the plan for building content going forward.
Worked on content: 5% complete, took 5 hours
Created some possible content for Lead Instructional Designer's review.
Completed Team 15/5: 100% complete, took 15 minutes. See the team site for details.

Reflection

Remembering: What did I do?

See the Team-Assigned Tasks for specifics. Additionally, I completed the assigned readings for this week. I also communicated with my team and our instructor several times throughout this week.

Understanding: What was important about what I did? Did I meet my goals?

This was a busy week; important because it marked the beginning of the content development process. This being such a vital week led to the potential for problems, based upon poor communication. The importance of communicating with my teammates in a clear way was evident.

Application: When did I do this before? Where could I do this again?

The nuts and bolts of analyses, content planning, content production, communication, and meetings are similar to other projects I have been involved with. I assume they will be similar to future projects as well.

Analysis: Did I see any patterns or relationships in what I did?

The relationship between high-quality communication and improved team performance was made obvious this week, as was the power of leading by example.

Evaluation: How well did I do? What worked? What do I need to improve?

This week was very frustrating in some ways, but ultimately quite rewarding. As I intimated above, possible problems were solved with better communication. I have learned once again that a hands-off approach of communicating will not bring about the appropriate results. Going forward, I must be more deliberate in my communication.

Creation: What should I do next? What is my plan/design?

I have just heard from the Lead Instructional Designer that about ten pages of content have been approved. Next, I will communicate with my teammates to determine the best method for creating the content and our roles in each. My plan is to be transparent and obvious in all decisions and requests, so that all team members understand what is required of them, where the project is going, and how efficiently it is arriving there.

Week 9 15/5

Team-Assigned Tasks

Content Analysis: 100% complete, took 2.3 hours total. Reviewed Lead Instructional Designer's final draft and gave feedback
Meet with Team: 100% complete, took 1.25 hours. We discussed the content analysis, instructional strategy, treatment design and rationale, and treatment report deliverables.
Completed Team 15/5: 100% complete, took 15 minutes. See the team site for details.

Reflection

Remembering: What did I do?

See the Team-Assigned Tasks for specifics. Additionally, I completed the assigned readings on SCORM and engaged my team members in conversation on that subject.

Understanding: What was important about what I did? Did I meet my goals?

The importance of all that I did this week is the same: the last pieces are falling into place to allow for the initial development of the curriculum. My goals were few this week (the past three weeks have been relatively slow ones for me), and all were met.

Application: When did I do this before? Where could I do this again?

These meetings and analyses are becoming more and more regular throughout this semester. I'm sure similar meetings will occur through the remaining weeks

Analysis: Did I see any patterns or relationships in what I did?

We are entering a period in which the preliminary analyses are completing, allowing for development steps to be taken. The gradual progression from nascent thought to completed product is continuing.

Evaluation: How well did I do? What worked? What do I need to improve?

I think I did okay this week, though again suffered from a lack of tasks to complete. My task is to create a presentation on what SCORM can accomplish for our next team meeting. I feel that our meetings have gone well and our team on task. I am not aware of areas in need of obvious improvement.

Creation: What should I do next? What is my plan/design?

My plan for this week is to have an early meeting, in which the Instructional Strategy and Treatment Design and Rationale are reviewed, and SCORM is considered. We will finalize the first two deliverables at this time, and develop a list of learning objects to create.

Week 8 (Spring Break) 15/5

Team-Assigned Tasks

Content Analysis: 60% complete, took 2.2 hours. Reviewed Lead Instructional Designer's second draft and gave feedback
Meet with Team: 100% complete, took 0.75 hours. We discussed the content analysis and instructional strategy deliverables.
Completed Team 15/5: 100% complete, took 15 minutes. See the team site for details.

Reflection

Remembering: What did I do?

See the Team-Assigned Tasks for specifics.

Understanding: What was important about what I did? Did I meet my goals?

It's always important to meet together with the team and discuss the deliverables. The feedback I gave on the content analysis was, hopefully, helpful to the team.

Application: When did I do this before? Where could I do this again?

Feedback, both written and verbal, play a vital role in all projects and person-to-person interactions. Its a ubiquitous life thing.

Analysis: Did I see any patterns or relationships in what I did?

The production, feedback, revisions schedule is becoming more definitive.

Evaluation: How well did I do? What worked? What do I need to improve?

Apart from being tired during our team meeting (and thus more likely to remain passive), there were no major concerns or areas for improvement this week. I had little to do, which helped.

Creation: What should I do next? What is my plan/design?

Post-Spring-Break Week will start with a bang. Upon receiving a final draft of the content analysis from the Lead Instructional Designer, I will forward on to the Client and Sponsor for comments and approval. Our team will begin producing both the instructional strategy and treatment rationale, and I will help edit those documents. We are currently about one week ahead on production of deliverables, a place at which I would like to stay.

Week 7 15/5

Team-Assigned Tasks

Project Plan: 100% complete, took 8.1 hours total. Received sign-off from the client. Updated the project plan with her suggestions.
Content Analysis: 50% complete, took 2 hours. Reviewed Lead Instructional Designer's draft and gave feedback
Meet with Team: 100% complete, took 0.75  hours. We discussed the content analysis and instructional strategy deliverables.
Completed Team 15/5: 100% complete, took 15 minutes. See the team site for details.

Reflection

Remembering: What did I do?

See the Team-Assigned Tasks for specifics. I also completed my assigned reading.

Understanding: What was important about what I did? Did I meet my goals?

The particular ebb and flow of the project left me with relatively little to do this week. I feel that I gave some detailed and quality feedback on the content analysis, and had a productive meeting with the team. My goals were, therefore, met.

Application: When did I do this before? Where could I do this again?

This kind of analysis and team meeting comprises the routine parts of a project, so I am not being facetious to say that I have done this numerous times before, and will again in the future.

Analysis: Did I see any patterns or relationships in what I did?

Our team is settling into a nice groove. Meetings are to-the-point and task-focused. Material production is on-time.

Evaluation: How well did I do? What worked? What do I need to improve?

By staying relatively "hands-off" this week (possible due to my reduced responsibilities in all open deliverables), things ran very smoothly. I don't see any areas for improvement, just because I didn't have much to do this week.

Creation: What should I do next? What is my plan/design?

I will review the treatment design material created by Deborah and give some good, detailed suggestions. I will meet with the group on Thursday to discuss the development of the content.

Week 6 15/5

Team-Assigned Tasks

Analysis Report: 100% complete, took 0.1 hours. Client emailed me with sign-off.
Project Plan: 90% complete, took 8 hours. Created draft, received feedback from team members, created second draft, sent to client and sponsor for sign-off. Sponsor responded with several suggestions, which were implemented, and sign-off. Awaiting client sign-off. Produced 5 minutes screencast presenting project plan.
Meet with Team: 100% complete, took 1.25 hours. We discussed the logistics of the project, post project plan, and our plans for the next three weeks before our next deliverable is due.
Completed Team 15/5: 100% complete, took 15 minutes. See the team site for details.

Reflection

Remembering: What did I do?

See the Team-Assigned Tasks for specifics. I also completed my assigned reading.

Understanding: What was important about what I did? Did I meet my goals?

The creation of the project plan was an important organizational step. The document sets the project in very definitive terms. By working through each element, I was forced to confront and consider many aspects of what the project would and would not be, what would work, and what would not work.
In a sense, my goals were met. The deliverable project plan was completed and submitted on time, as was the presentation of the plan. Yet, this week saw the first major discord and confusion in the team. It was easily enough fixed; upon meeting over video conferencing and discussing the issue, it was found to be a miscommunication; easily put right. My great errors were creating personally-intended content on the project Asana.com site without explaining what it meant, and neglecting to schedule a team meeting for this week until the week had almost gone by.
Once again, we failed to receive client sign-off prior to the due date this week. Yet, this time the deliverable went to the client on Thursday morning. I do not know how to create the materials more quickly. The client takes a while to respond because she is invested in giving us detailed feedback.

Application: When did I do this before? Where could I do this again?

Planning will happen in every project I am involved in. Perhaps more important was the small amount of conflict resolution I mediated, as a part of my role as Project Manager. The team was able to bring a satisfactory conclusion by frank discussion, humility, and listening. Though difficult to go through, it was satisfying to see the end result.

Analysis: Did I see any patterns or relationships in what I did?

Last week, I mentioned the laissez-faire approach to management I had used led to a rush to finish at the end. This week, I attempted to be more directive, which led to some resentment. I will have to try and find a middle ground. Fortunately, the lack of deliverables for week 7 give me plenty of time to sort things out.

Evaluation: How well did I do? What worked? What do I need to improve?

I feel I did well this week (with the hiccups mentioned above). While I do intend to be more directive than I have been in the past, I will certainly endeavor to improve my communication with my team members.

Creation: What should I do next? What is my plan/design?

I will review the content and instructional strategy material created by Laura and give some good, detailed suggestions. I will meet with the group on Thursday to discuss the development of the content. I will complete my readings and assignments.

Week 5 15/5

Team-Assigned Tasks

Analysis Report: 90% complete, took 2 hours. Laura took the lead on this. I helped with proofreading, some content, and on presenting the report via screencasting. I requested client sign-off on the analysis report on Friday, but have not yet heard back.
Meet with Team: 100% complete, took 1 hour. We discussed the development of the analysis report. Laura and I met on Sunday to discuss the screencasting presentation specifically.
Completed Team 15/5: 100% complete, took 15 minutes. See the team site for details.

Reflection

Remembering: What did I do?

See the Team-Assigned Tasks for specifics.

Understanding: What was important about what I did? Did I meet my goals?

Important here was the first major deliverable task that I was not primarily responsible for. I had to trust my team members to deliver high-quality materials on time, while giving them the structure and guidance necessary for success.
I met my goals in part. The material was created and presented, but there was much harried work on my part Sunday morning, due in major part to the three team members working simultaneously, but not collaboratively, on edits of the analysis report. This led to my having to consolidate all three versions into one document at the end.
Additionally, I emailed the client for sign off on Friday. Normally, she gives me same-day turnaround, so I did not expect a delay. However, the U of M campus closing for weather put a damper on this.

Application: When did I do this before? Where could I do this again?

This coordination of moving parts will be a formative part of all projects I manage in the future.

Analysis: Did I see any patterns or relationships in what I did?

I am beginning to see that my vague, "let the chips fall where they may" approach to management leaves much unclear, and leads to unnecessary work.

Evaluation: How well did I do? What worked? What do I need to improve?

I did fairly well with management; the deliverables were completed on time (with the exception of client signoff). However, I will need to define the use of collaborative editing for deliverable content, and definitive deadlines for finalized content that gives the client at least two working days to sign off on ideas.

Creation: What should I do next? What is my plan/design?

I will begin work on the Project Plan tomorrow, on Google Docs, and complete it Tuesday. I will request feedback and edits from my teammates by Wednesday, and forward to the client for approval at that time. I will then begin working on the formatting. This process of incremental deadlines will prevent the last-minute rush of the past week.

Week 4 15/5

Team-Assigned Tasks

• Project Charter: 100% complete, took 3 hours to date. This is my primary responsibility. I  completed the sections on critical risk factors; assumptions, constraints, and risks; and materials, while updating the financial section with a hypothetical budget. I created a review screencast.
• Asana.com page: 100% complete, took 3 hours to date. This was my primary responsibility. With the help of my teammates, I adjusted some milestones, added tasks, and deleted others into a WBS. I created a Gantt chart for reference.
• Meet with Team: 100% complete, took 1.15 hour. We worked together on the WBS structure and discussed questions for the client.
• Completed Team 15/5: 100% complete, took 15 minutes. See the team site for details.

Reflection

Remembering: What did I do?

See the Team-Assigned Tasks for specifics. In addition, I completed my assigned reading.

Understanding: What was important about what I did? Did I meet my goals?

The importance of these steps was in starting the team project with a solid foundation, so that all the team members know what is expected of them and what they need to be working on. The charter, specifically, was important so that the client and sponsor agree with the team on our basic project foundation.

Application: When did I do this before? Where could I do this again?

I began work on the project charter and Asana.com page last week, so their completions were sequela of that recent work. The team meeting was similar to meetings I have had in the past. I expect to be in many team meetings and develop many initializing documents for future projects.

Analysis: Did I see any patterns or relationships in what I did?

Just in the detail and care that goes into managing the members of a team, their understanding, and expectation. The value of good communication cannot be overstated.

Evaluation: How well did I do? What worked? What do I need to improve?

I am happy with my performance this week. I feel that our team has a solid foundation to build upon, and a clear vision of the way forward. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I don't know if there is any step this week that I could have improved upon. 

Creation: What should I do next? What is my plan/design?

Our team will meet on Thursday to discuss the analysis report. As Lead Evaluator, I will be involved in its completion to a small extent. My plan is to being thinking about evaluative methods on Monday and have several suggestions for the team for Thursday's meeting.