Projects That Work: Nine Steps to Success

1. Projects That Work:Nine Steps to Success NAF Institute for Professional Development July 2008 Orlando, FL Theron Cosgrave Swanson & Cosgrave Consulting, LLC www.swansonandcosgrave.com

2. Nine Steps of Project Delivery BEGINNING 1.Connect and Comprehend 2.Plan and Organize 3.Understand Purpose and Quality 4.Investigate and Research 5.Propose and Revise Solutions 6.Produce and Refine Products 7.Present and Exhibit 8.Analyze and Reflect 9.Conserve and Integrate MIDDLE END

3. Nine Steps of Project Delivery BEGINNING 1.Connect and Comprehend 2.Plan and Organize 3.Understand Purpose and Quality 4.Investigate and Research 5.Propose and Revise Solutions 6.Produce and Refine Products 7.Present and Exhibit 8.Analyze and Reflect 9.Conserve and Integrate

4. Step I: Connect & Comprehend • Project unveiled and described • The “so what?” question is answered • Exhibition scenario explained • Diagnose skills and prior knowledge

5. SAMPLE PROJECT “ENTRY DOCUMENT”

6. Step II: Plan & Organize • Student teams meet and set norms • Logistical information shared • Group develops work plan • Feedback on group norms & work plans

8. Step III: Understand Purpose & Quality • Exemplars collected and examined • Product quality and criteria discussed • Rubrics written or reviewed • Feedback on understanding of criteria

9. Step III: Understand Purpose & Quality

10. Nine Steps of Project Delivery 1.Connect and Comprehend 2.Plan and Organize 3.Understand Purpose and Quality 4.Investigate and Research 5.Propose and Revise Solutions 6.Produce and Refine Products 7.Present and Exhibit 8.Analyze and Reflect 9.Conserve and Integrate MIDDLE

11. Step IV: Investigate & Research • Teachers teach critical content • Students conduct research • Experts interviewed • Findings documented • Feedback on research findings • Homework & research reviewed

12. Step V: Propose & Refine Solutions • Students design possible solutions • Groups submit preliminary plans • Teachers provide feedback on plans • Clients view plans and give feedback

14. Step VI: Produce & Refine Products • Students write individual essays • Groups create products/performances • Critical friends feedback • Products/performances improved • Feedback on products/performances • Individual assignments graded

15. Nine Steps of Project Delivery 1.Connect and Comprehend 2.Plan and Organize 3.Understand Purpose and Quality 4.Investigate and Research 5.Propose and Revise Solutions 6.Produce and Refine Products 7.Present and Exhibit 8.Analyze and Reflect 9.Conserve and Integrate END

16. Step VII: Present & Exhibit • Work presented to authentic audience • Students orally defend work • Audience members provide feedback • Major products/performances evaluated • Oral defense of work evaluated • Rubrics applied to primary project work

17. Step VIII: Analyze & Reflect • Students individually reflect on project • Groups evaluate their process • Class-wide debrief on project • Students evaluate their product & process • Teachers review evaluations

18. Step IX: Conserve & Integrate Learning • Project portfolio assembled • Students document their process • Students reflect on their learning • Project portfolios evaluated

19. Key “Nine Steps” Elements • Begin with vision of the end • Pay attention to process skills • Deconstruct exemplars to see quality • Adult connections matter • Plans before products • Use critical friends feedback • Require oral defense of work • Reflect individually, in teams, and as class • Document process and learning

20. Design Time