PENN STATE
Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies
Instructional Systems - INSYS 553 (section 201)
Managing and Consulting for Instructional Development
Fall 2005 (9/6-12/6)
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Course Instructor
Dr. Roy B. Clariana E-mail:
Great Valley Office: 212D, Safeguard Scientific Building
Phone: 610.648.3253 (office) 610.725.5250 (admin)
Office Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 5-6 PM and by appointment (preferred)
Course Texts
Required text:
Greer, Michael. (2001) The Project Manager's Partner (2nd edition). HRD Press
Block, Peter. (2000). Flawless Consulting (3rd edition). JoseyBass/Pfeiffer
Course Overview
INSYS 553 blends sound project management skills with client-focused consulting skills. Because INSYS 553 is taken at or near the end of the program, the student should have acquired the skills required to apply the ADDlE model to an instructional design project. More and more, however, instructional designers are required to manage their projects according to acceptable project management protocols and they generally are more successful when they work in a collaborative consulting relationship with their client. This course will focus on developing these skills.
Project Management
Project management brings together and organizes the resources necessary to successfully complete the project. These resources include the skills, talents, and cooperative effort of a tram of people, facilities, tools, and equipment, information, systems techniques and money. Project management focuses on a project with a finite life span. Typically projects need resources on a part time basis. The sharing or resources frequently leads to conflict and requires skillful negotiation to see that projects get the necessary resources to meet objectives throughout the project. The project management skills addressed in this course include: (1) defining the need and the feasibility of the project, (2) describing the project scope, (3) estimating project costs, (4) creating a project plan, (5) executing project activities, (6) controlling the project, and (7) closing out the project.
Economics
The economics of Instructional Systems Design should be a topic of concern to you because it can lead to more efficient use of instructional/training resources; you should always consider how to reduce the cost of reaching particular objectives and how to expand what can be accomplished under any resource or budget constraint.
Consulting Skills
Consulting opportunities have expanded greatly at all levels during the past decade. To capitalize on this trend, you need to be aware of the characteristics and practices associated with internal, external, and independent consultant strategies. For example, how do you develop the project team, ask the right questions, interact with SMEs and team members, and delegate while keeping every body happy? Similarly, skills and understanding of the basic strategies for evaluating the process and the impact of consultation in the work environment is essential.
The consulting skills that will be the focus of this course include; (1) starting the consultation; (2) intervention styles; (3) collecting data; (4) problem diagnosis and decision-making; (5) implementation; (6) disengagement; (7) evaluating the consulting assignment.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. To develop the necessary project planning skills.
2. To develop skills for managing a project.
3. To develop the consulting skills needed to effectively define, assess, monitor, and evaluate the client relationships.
4. To evaluate the effectiveness of your consulting and project management skills in preparation for future self -development.
Course Structure and Expectations
Overview - This course is based on adult learning theory. Every session will include a mix of lectures, discussions, group activities, demonstrations, hands-on guided practice, and hands-on independent work. You will be provided with a substantial amount of in-class work time and with direct assistance and written guidance from the instructor for all exercises and projects. However, you will be expected to spend out-of-class time preparing for classes, working independently with the software tools, and completing your projects.
Participation - A good class requires both an effective teachers and prepared students. Read the assignments. You should attend every class meeting. If you are unable to attend, contact me as soon as possible, and make a plan to make-up missed work. Excessive absence (i.e., more than 2 classes) will impact your final course grade. You are encouraged to talk to me at any time about anything. I will try to return all assignments by the next class period. For class cancellation due to inclement weather or other emergency, listen to local news media and/or call the Great Valley Campus 610-648-3300 for recorded information.
Academic Integrity - "Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception and is an educational objective of this institution. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students.” At the beginning of each course it is the responsibility of the instructor to provide a statement clarifying the application of academic integrity to that course. (from 1989-1000 Policies and Rules for Students, p.25). Violation will likely result in a failing grade for the assignment or course. Even though academic dishonesty, plagiarism, or any form of cheating is not tolerated, collaboration and sharing information among students is recommended and encouraged.
Special Services - Special services are available to students with disabilities. “Penn State encourages academically qualified students with disabilities to take advantage of its educational programs. It is University policy not to discriminate against persons with disabilities in its admission policies or procedures or its educational programs, services, and activities. The University is responsible for making all of its programs and services available to its students. When auxiliary aids are needed for students with disabilities, Penn State is responsible for making reasonable accommodations to individuals with documented disabilities.” If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, please contact, please contact Kathy Mingioni (610-648-3315) in advance of your participation or visitation.”
Grading - There are several scored components. Your final project carries the most weight (see table below). Final letter grades will follow the convention:
A / A- / B+ / B / B- / C+ / C / D / F100 - 92 / 91 -- 90 / 89 -- 88 / 87 -- 82 / 81 -- 80 / 79 -- 78 / 77 -- 70 / 69 -- 60 / 59 -- 0
Course Schedule
Date / Scheme /Assignments
/ Readings1 / Sep 6 / Welcome, Intro & overview, basic concepts, set up teams for C Map 1
2 / Sep 13 /
Work on C Map 1 online
/ C Map 1 (pre) / Block pp.1-36 & pp.327-3423 / Sep 20 / The consulting process, gaining entry, contracting, project need and feasibility, scope, teams work on final project (consulting contract) /
C Map 2 (pre)
/ Block pp.37-1064 / Sep 27 / Cost estimates and spending, plan disengagement, teams work on final project (phase 1 and 2 deliverable) /
C Map 3 (pre)
/ Greer pp.19-805 / Oct 4 / Risk assessment, project dependencies, teams work on final project (phase 1 and 2 deliverables) / Greer pp.97-102; Appendix A1-A3
6 / Oct 11 / Network diagrams and critical path, intervention styles, change management and communication plan, teams work on final project / Greer pp.85-88
Block pp.139-171
7 / Oct 18 / Phase 3 Project Deliverables Specs, how to measure and manage project variability, teams work on final project / Greer p.14, pp.111-123, & pp.129-145
8 / Oct 25 / Work on C Map 1 online (or face-2-face)
9 / Nov 1 / Phase 4 Creating Deliverables, prototypes, data collection, teams work on final project / Block pp.189-215
10 / Nov 8 / Interpret data, present findings to client, implement consultant agreement, teams work on final project / Block pp.217-246
11 / Nov 15 / Phase 5 test and implement deliverables, execute plan, control, teams work on final project / Greer pp.129-145
12 / Nov 22 / Catch up and. teams work on final project
13 / Nov 29 / Disengagement and follow-up, evaluating success, Project Management and ISD, Reflections on the course and course assessment, teams work on final project / Block pp.107-133 &
Block pp.307-326
14 / Dec 6 / Final reflections / All projects due
Assignments
Map 1 (5% + 5%) / Pre and post concept map of Project Management with a three page narrative (double-space!) describing the relationships among the concepts (team activity)Map 2 (5% + 5%) / Pre and post concept map of Consulting Strategies with a three page narrative (double-space!) describing the relationships among the concepts (team activity)
Map 3 (5% + 5%) / Pre and post concept map of the Economics of Project Management with a three page narrative (double-space!) describing the relationships among the concepts (team activity)
Final Map (10%) / Put it all together, including all three maps plus all other information (individual activity)
Glossary (5%) / Alphabetical list of important terms in the course with definitions/examples. Some terms will be provided, while you also should also add your own unique terms.
Complementary material (5%) / Provide a handout on some topic relevant to the course and audience. Take 5 minutes to sell it to the class. It may be practical, like an approach that you have used at your job; a new process you are doing, ISO compliance at your work, or theoretical, such as a model or theory. (individual, sign up sheet)
Personal Handbook (5%) / Develop a personal knowledge base of course materials as a take-away. Organize into sections, with handouts, articles, etc. Submit a description of your handbook with a reflection of the process and product. Your score will be determined informally based on the description and reflection. (individual)
Preparation and participation (5%) / Prepare for classes and actively participate in activities
(individual)
Course Project (40%) / Analyze posttest data and write an executive summary that contains judgments you have made based on the data. The class will complete a CBT feedback lesson to produce ‘mock' data for the analysis, or you may use real data from work (preferred). Convert several of the posttest questions into another format, i.e., essay, short answer, etc. Your final project score will be based on a rubric; note that the decisions you make based on the data and your ability to communicate those decisions carries more weight than the accuracy of the data analysis.
(as teams)
Jan’s Assignments
1. You will select a current or up-coming proj ect that will drive your course proj ect and consulting plans. Your project plan will include the following:
. Need and feasibility study (phase 1)
. Proj ect scope document (phase II)
. Estimated project costs (phase II)
. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) (phase II)
. Project dependencies (phase II)
. Network diagram highlighting the project's critical path (phase II)
. A communications plan (phase II)
. Risk assessment (phase II)
. Software-based project plan (e.g. MS Project - Phase II)
. Projectdeliverables specifications (phase Ill)
. THREE communication pieces written for different constituencies (phase Ill)
. Prototype of your final project deliverable(s) (phase IV)
. Projectdeliverables (phase N)
. Results of field test(s) and description of revisions (phase V)
. TWO project-related templates
. Project variance analysis
2. You will also be required to develop a consulting contract that you have established with your client. This deliverable includes:
. What you and your sponsor/client expect from each other . How you and your sponsor plan to work together
. Data collection methodology
. Cost of services
. Decision-making process
. Criteria for a successful relationship
. Disengagement plan
3. You will be required to maintain a log of your thoughts and activities associated with your project and summarized on a weekly basis. The log should be 5-6 pages in length and will be collected at the beginning of the last night of class
4. You will be required to submit an assessment at the end of the course that addresses the following points:
. What went well/what could have gone better
. The accuracy and comprehensiveness of your project plan . Successes and failures in your consulting agreement
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