project management work breakdown structure

It’s where the real work is found in creative collaboration. However, it’s also where we get the chance to see our results and meet our goals. It’s the idea of following through on your plans and continuing with tasks even when nobody is looking over your shoulder. This is the part that’s often described as a “grind” by entrepreneurs. Project management is about more than just setting a schedule. However, I was talking to a special education teacher recently who shared how project management actually helped her students improve in executive function skills, because of the visualization, anticipation, and task analysis they were practicing. In the end, it becomes one of those life-long, transferable skills.Ī quick caveat: students who struggle with executive function might need additional reminders and support through the process. As students learn how to break apart tasks and chart their progress, they begin to think differently about their work. Procrastination will still occur. But project management is a skill that improves over time. Kids will still struggle to meet deadlines. This is also why I believe in guiding students through a project management process. Over time, though, I realized that my students could learn how to manage their projects on their own. Or I would set specific deadlines for the entire class. I would chart their progress and nag them about getting tasks done. However, my students were still middle schoolers and sometimes it was hard, even in the midst of a great project, for them to persevere.įor the longest time, I was the project manager for 30 different projects. I spent years running a project-based, design-oriented classroom. When groups are fizzling out, you need to have a difficult conversation about meeting deadlines. And here’s the bad news: sometimes you need deadlines. Half the groups are way behind and you’re wondering if you need to set rigid deadlines. For all the talk of letting kids work at their own pace, you’re not finding this to be true. You think about extending the time for this unit but there’s no more time in the curriculum map. Another has had fifteen false starts and they keep changing what they are making. They’re excited about what they will create. You give your students three weeks to work on a collaborative project. Ĭhances are you’ve seen this scenario before. If you enjoy this blog but you’d like to listen to it on the go, just click on the audio below or subscribe via iTunes/Apple Podcasts (ideal for iOS users) or Google Play and Stitcher (ideal for Android users). Subscribe to YouTube Channel Listen to the Podcast

Project management work breakdown structure