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Creating a School Project PlanA summary of the process to follow is outlined below. For full details and examples, see the free download including the example and templates. The TopicSo where to start? The starting point should always be to decide what you want to achieve. Sometimes there is a clear concise explanation of what the assignment or project is all about. Other times it is vague. Start by summarizing in a few sentences what the assignment topic is all about. What are we supposed to get out of this AssignmentThe assignment is being carried out to establish the existence of some skills. For example, you may be being assessed to research a topic using a number of different sources, and present a sound case for a particular point of view. What you are supposed to get out of the assignment is different to the topic. The topic is the material you end up with. The skills you learn while doing the assignment is why you are being asked to complete it. |
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Hopefully this will be easy to identify however sometimes it is a little vague and some further questions may be required of the person setting the assignment. Deliverables can be essays, models, presentations, speeches etc.
List out the steps to create each deliverable. For example for an essay, there might be research, first draft, second draft, review etc.
Some of the estimates will be easy to make and some a guess. Just give it your best shot. When you have made your estimate, note down a confidence level. 0% means you know exactly how long it will take. 100% means it could take half as long, or twice as long as you estimate. Don't go over 100%.
Now pick the mid point between the estimate and the worst case based on the confidence level. If you said 4 days but confidence was 50%, the worst case is 6 days. The mid point is 5 days.
You have a deadline. Work out how much time you plan to devote between now and the deadline. For example you might plan to spend 2 hrs a night on Tue/Wed/Thur which gives 6 hours a week. Also note down the assumptions you are basing the estimate on.
Look at your steps, and work out the order in which they will happen. Some steps can usually be performed in parallel.
Probably the biggest problem we have in achieving time based goals is to focus on how long each task should take, rather than milestones along the way. A milestone is a black or white point where we deliver a component of the assignment. It may take the completion of one or many activities before the milestone is reached.
It is important that we pick a point that is easily measured - not something like 40% of the draft complete. It might be completion of research, finish the first draft, or have a layout in place. Ideally these should occur at least every 7 to 10 days to keep you focused.
Now comes the real work. This entails creating a schedule for the duration of the project. The inputs for this schedule are:
Also focus on spare time each day or week. Get as much done early in the assignment, and leave the spare time until last. You will need it when the unforeseen occurs.
What we need to do is to brainstorm what could go wrong before we start. When we come up with a risk, we need to look at:
Where a risk has two highs (It is highly likely to happen, and it will have a high impact) we need to look at what we can do about it. Depending on the size of the project, we might also want to look at high/medium and medium/medium risks.
A plan is not static. Things are bound to change. The schedule is not just something you file away and forget. As the weeks pass, constantly review the schedule. Enter the actual time you spend. Adjust the time estimates if you find they have changed. Manage yourself to the schedule. Importantly, focus on the next milestone. Work towards the next milestone and adopt the railway station approach. Provided you go through each station on time, you will get to your destination on time.
