Module Special Admissions Requirements
Typically participants will currently be working in an institution offering education to pupils or students.
Module Texts
Elbeik, S. and Thomas, M. (1998) Project Skills. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Field, M., Keller, L., (2001) Project Management. The Open University, Thomson Learning
Maylor, H. (2003) Project Management (Third Edition), Pearson Education
Mantel, S. J. and others (2001) Project Management in Practice, New York: John Wiley and Sons.
Module Learning Strategies
You will attend 9 x 2 hour weekly sessions, followed by an assignment workshop.
During these sessions, you will take part in a team problem-based learning activity. This will involve working in small groups, facilitated by a tutor. You will investigate a work-based situation which will give you the opportunity to apply project management principles to implement a change on an educational organisation. You will access paper and Blackboard based materials to support the team activity. You will attend workshops where you will explore the principles of project management and relevant support mechanisms. You will engage in reflection on team and individual activities for example PebblePAD.
Module Additional Assessment Details
This module will be assessed by:
A project plan (40%) generated by a team problem based learning activity, including a definition of the project, appropriate strategies for implementation, analysis of constraints, indication of budget, staffing and other resource issues (learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 - partially).
A 1000 word individual reflective account (60%) of the team project planning process, focusing on: the linkage between principles of project management and the project plan generated; evaluation of strategies identified; indication of potential problems and how these might be resolved (learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 - partially).
Module Indicative Content
The necessity to effectively manage the development and implementation of new working practices is essential to educational institutions. This module concentrates on the process, techniques and tools that are used by managers during this conceptual period to enable crisp and appropriate decision making.
The module firstly identifies typical models of projects, their organisational structure and the role of stakeholders. This will be followed by an exploration of progressing to a project brief, how the project is defined in terms of key resources, and the subsequent control systems that will finally lead to the project?s termination and successful handover. Wherever possible, computer based systems will form part of the toolkit used for the various stages of project analysis.
Module Resources
Well-stocked University library for a range of relevant texts and journals
Internet access enabling exploration of relevant websites
Blackboard for access to learning resources and Discussion Boards
PebblePAD to reflect on individual implications of learning.