Project management skills are highly valued in the modern workplace across many industries. Teaching core project management concepts to students can provide them with useful knowledge and skills to utilize in their future careers. Here are some tips for effectively teaching key project management principles in a classroom environment.
Introducing the Project Life Cycle
One of the most fundamental project management ideas to convey is the notion of the project life cycle. The project life cycle refers to the typical stages that most projects go through, from initiation and planning to execution, monitoring, and closure.
Introducing the project life cycle gives students a framework to understand the progression of a project from start to finish. Using examples and having students map out the life cycle phases of a sample project can help reinforce this concept.
Explaining Key Project Documents
Certain documents commonly used in project management can be highlighted to students as well. For instance, a project charter formally authorizes and outlines key details about a project. Teaching about charters, scopes of work, requirements documents, and other paperwork gives students insight into the types of documentation that projects involve. Having students craft a simple charter for an example project is a hands-on way to apply this knowledge.
Discussing Project Estimation and Scheduling Basics
Core planning processes like estimating timelines, budgets, and resource needs are important for students to learn. Instruction on developing project estimates, activity durations, and schedules can provide students with a taste of how real-world project managers map out plans. Introducing tools like Gantt charts and network diagrams, and giving them a project roadmap template to work with also gives students applicable skills for visually mapping schedules.
Simulating the Project Execution Cycle
The project execution phase is when plans translate into action. Students can gain firsthand experience with executing, monitoring, and controlling projects through simulations. For example, instructors can assign an in-class, time-bound group project around building a physical product or creating a marketing campaign. Students can then implement their plans while instructors observe and coach. This gives students a taste of collaborating on a team project under constraints.
Reflecting on Risks, Changes, and Lessons Learned
Lastly, reflecting on project outcomes is a key part of the learning process. Have students present their project results and evaluate their estimates and plans versus actuals. Teams can discuss their project outcomes. Analyzing what went well, what could be improved, and lessons learned mirrors professional project wrap-up processes. Tying lessons back to the project life cycle framework solidifies understanding.
Consider Guest Lectures or Site Visits
If possible, organizing guest lectures from professional project managers can provide great real-world context. Students may find it interesting and motivational to hear how seasoned project professionals have applied classroom concepts to actual projects. Site visits to see active project job sites could also make concepts more concrete.
Making project management concepts tangible through examples, simulations, and templates gives students hands-on exposure to applying core methodologies. Equipping students with these fundamentals sets the stage for developing proficiency in project execution down the road.
