Managing Projects in a Hybrid Environment: 5 Tools to Create Independent, Empowered Learners
Do you have a hard time managing student projects?
You aren't alone. Projects are messy.
Unlike traditional learning, they don't follow a neat, scripted linear pathway with teacher generated lessons, worksheets, calendars and paper/pencil assessments. Rather, they involve several moving parts; project teams, flexible deadlines, student generated products, multiple tasks, and varying levels of resources.
But they can be easier.
With the right project management tool (AKA 'Swiss Army Knife'), rather than 1,000 different tech tools, not only can you manage all the messiness that is PBL, you can empower your students to take charge of their own learning.
Below are the top five project management tools according to input from PBL gurus and practitioners around the world:
Microsoft Teams: An all in one platform that allows you to organize project files, manage project teams, host team meeting calls, post and update deadlines, and communicate with individual students on progress.
HeadRush: A brilliant project management tool that allows teachers to manage project teams through task boards, simple built in processes, and ongoing feedback structures.
Spinndle: This is a project management tool created by former educators. I love this tool for its powerful and dynamic teacher/ student dashboards. Students manage their projects by uploading evidence of learning as they go, with task progress, product/ process work, and feedback from peers to guide their work; which automatically feeds through to the teacher's dashboard so he/ she can help facilitate each project.
Trello: This is my go to project management tool. Use task cards, digital scrum boards and project teams to keep track of student's individual or team progress in projects. The all in one tool easily integrates with Google Drive and OneDrive to manage the work flow. (See a sample board here.)
Basecamp: This is a great all in one space for team or whole class collaboration on bigger projects. They have features like 'campfires' for provocative project related questions, simple 'to do' list creators, and regularly updated 'check-ins' so you don't have to go around nagging students yourself (see how it works in a project here).
Have a project management tool you like that isn't listed above? Would love to add it to the list! Keep doing what you do best, and letting the project management tool do the rest!
