The Planning Process

 

The "Planning Process" could be summarized in six steps. If this were done, they might be:
  1. Choose project
  2. Timeline
  3. Plan activities
  4. Plan assessment
  5. Start work
  6. Finish project & Reflect

Each of these steps is described in more detail later. It is noteworthy, however, that planning a good project is very seldom linear. Decisions about timeline, for example, can reflect on what activities are allowed or disallowed. Availability of resources often has serious effects on the activities, too.

To describe the planning process more accurately, we look at a specific type of project called "Design-Based Project". A design project features a cycle of Research, Design and Analysis between the original Purpose and the eventual Outcome. This cycle may be transversed multiple times before arriving at the ideal or best solution to the original problem.

So as you plan a project, don't expect to go from original concept to final project in a straight line. Allow time to propose an element, check whether it will move things towards a good final project, then adjust accordingly.

It can't be stated too often that students can be of great assistance while planning a project. They can provide good feedback on whether a timeline is reasonable, whether they can get a multimedia project completed within the time allotted, and especially, they can be helpful in designing and carrying out the ongoing assessment.

Choose project

  • Content outcomes (ESLR's)
     
  • Ancillary goals (ESLR's)
     
  • Product outcomes
     
  • Timeline
     

Plan Activities

 

Plan Assessment

 

Start work

Begin implementing plan developed above.

Pay attention to opportunities for group & individual learning

Be prepared to modify based on local conditions - faster or slower than thought, availability or lack of resources, etc.

Implement assessments along way

Finish work

Definite ending time

Exhibition w/ well defined rubrics

Reflect

Reflect on end product - quality, on time, on target, reasonable, etc.

Reflect on process - collaboration, use of resources, attention to original problem, attention to needs of audience

Reflect on one's contributions relative to group's efforts

Reflect on how to improve any/all of above next time

 

Updated 5/8/99