7-Project+Development


 * Unit 7 - Collaborative Project Development**

Take some time to work on parts I, II, and II of your course project. Notice that the first three project parts are built from work you have already completed in earlier units.


 * Readings**

Read some posts on this blog. This is Chris Lehmann, Principal of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia. @http://practicaltheory.org/serendipity/


 * Final Project Guidelines**

The syllabus lists instructions for a final project. At this point, you have two choices. Please consider what would be the most meaningful emphasis for your project.


 * 1) Refer to your initial analysis of the STaR Chart and the institution it represented to develop your project.
 * 2) Consider your own degree program and professional plans while you develop a new project idea which would still cover the 6 parts of the project requirements, but would not necessarily be tied to your original STaR Chart assessment.


 * Project Background**

In this project, you will select a real or fictitious school or organization. You have just been hired as a technology leader (coordinator, principal, superintendent, curriculum coordinator) for this school or organization. Your supervisor has asked you to analysis the school or organization’s use of technology, identify the areas in need of improvement, and develop a proposal to address one of those needs.


 * What to Do**

Choose 1 or 2 above. Jot down some notes about your project ideas. Discuss your project with your instructor and colleagues. Begin working on parts I, II, and III and then the additional parts as they are introduced in the course units.

You are encouraged to use any and all resources discussed in this course if relevant to your proposal. This might include specific web 2.0 tools, reference to specific research, and so on.

Use APA format for the proposal cover page, contents, and references. Be mindful of grammar and spelling. The Purdue Online Writing Lab at @http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ can be a helpful quick reference for APA formatting as you write.

The project will be worth 45% of your final grade.

Part I (5 points) - In two paragraphs, describe your school/organization and your new position, including your responsibilities. Part II (10 points) - Analyze your school or district’s progress in one or more of the four dimensions of the STaR Chart. Describe in depth the status of each of the criteria and why you assessed your school at that level. Be specific as possible with your answers, and use whatever data you can access. Part III (10 points) - Develop a proposal to address one of the areas of need you have identified. Describe the implementation plan with a timeline and total cost. Describe how you will deal with resistance to your planned change. Part IV (10 points) - Develop a professional development plan for the implementation. Identify what knowledge and skills the people affected by the change will need. Keep in mind that a comprehensive plan will include a professional development budget of at least 25% of the total cost of your proposal. Decide what budget amount works best for your project. Part V (5 points) - Conduct a cost-benefit analysis for your proposal. Part VI (5 points) - Describe how you will evaluate the effectiveness of your proposal.

The project should be submitted to the instructor by email, no later than February 27, 2011. Participants are invited to post parts of their project on the discussion board for comments by the instructor and other course participants. Projects submitted after the due date will receive a 2 point per day deduction.


 * Discussion**

As you work on your project this week, use the discussion area to ask for ideas and suggestions from a colleague.