COMMUNITY-UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS AND SERVICE-LEARNING

UNIVERSITY OF VERMONTuvm.edu/partnerships – partners@uvm.edu – 802-656-0095

 

Project Management for Your Service-Learning Project

Presentation developed by Kelly Hamshaw,CDAE; based upon Hamshaw & Baker, forthcoming

Kelly.Hamshaw@uvm.edu

CUPS Office

MISSIONTo connect the university and community as partners in

addressing real-world challenges through engaged scholarship and transformative learning experiences.

www.uvm.edu/partnerships

What is Service-Learning?

“Service-Learning is a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development”

(Jacoby, 1996).

What does that mean?You will be doing a service-learning project that:

Is integrated into your coursework as an essential learning tool;

Will help you think about what you are learning on a different level: complexity of the issues;

Will help address a need in the community.

An Example S-L Project

Project: Create a School Garden in Honduras

Partner: Rural Elementary School

Original Project Team: 4 students

Timeframe: One semester prep + five field days

What is a S-L Project? While S-L projects come in a variety of

shapes and sizes, they all feature:Faculty StudentsCommunity partners Identified community needRequires coordination and

collaboration

Challenges of S-L Projects Group Brainstorm:

What are some challenges that you either have or think you might encounter?

Communication—Internal and External Logistics—How ARE we getting there? Time Management—One semester goes

by quickly Accountability—I thought YOU were

going to do that!

Benefits of S-L Projects Challenges aside, there are benefits to S-L projects, right?

Ideally S-L projects: Allow you to apply theory to practice Are accomplishable within a semester

timeframe Encourage students to develop civic and

professional skills Mutual learning and benefits for all

Back to the Example…

Students have difficulty understanding exactly what they are doing this semester…After all, how complicated is a school garden?

Group members were not completing tasks on

time or attending meetings

Frustrations and anxiety growing as time goes by…

Enter Project Management

Many different project tools and strategies (See Baker, forthcoming)

We’ll focus on four simple yet effective tools today: Scoping Report Work Breakdown Structure Gantt Chart Responsibility Matrix

The Scoping Document What is it: Short explanation written by

students in response to the following questions: Why is the project being done? What are the primary objectives? What are the boundaries of the project? Special considerations (history, sensitivities) What will be the final product (deliverable)?

Why use it: Encourages students to think through the project process by explicitly stating their current understanding of the project

How to use it: Assign the scoping document early, Can be individual or group assignment, and share with community partners

(Baker, Forthcoming)

The Work Breakdown Structure

What is it: A detailed rendering of the tasks needed to complete the project in logical order. Identifies the work that must be performed to meet project objectives and

Why use it: Breaks project apart to enable scheduling and budget estimating; and identifies necessary logistics

How to use it: With students at the beginning of the project. Ideally leads to a Gantt Chart or Responsibility Matrix, which is used to track progress & revise as necessary. tasks that need to be

(Baker, Forthcoming)

The Gantt Chart

What is it: Visual representation of WBS with a timeline

Why use it: Helps students stay on track within the tight semester timeframe

How to use it: Builds on the tasks identified in the WBS; needs to be revisited and revised as needed in order to be effective

(Baker, Forthcoming)

The Responsibility Matrix

What is it: Simple chart that outlines who is doing what

Why use it: Accountability

How to use it: Builds on WBS and assign a person to responsible for completing each task.; should revisited and revised as necessary.

(Baker, Forthcoming)

Project Example: Fast-Forward

Project Accomplished!

3 Garden Beds were made with 80+ students and 6 teachers in partnership with a local farmer

Project concluded with recommendations for next year’s group

successful completion - Questions?