Project Management Knowledgebase

This article is relatively old (2002). Nonetheless, it contains timeless tips to ensure eLearning success, particularly with regard to managing stakeholder expectations. -Duncan McBogg Abstract: Leading a major e-learning or blended learning initiative is a relatively new, complex and high-stakes challenge. Success depends on a variety of factors, not the least of which is the project leader's ability to manage threats in the form of miscommunication among key constituents, excessive rework, missed milestones, cost overruns, poor quality deliverables, etc. To help ensure the success of your organization's learning initiatives, consider how you might apply these proven tips:

An interesting article about the difference between project control and project authority and what it means to be a project manager. - Sara Lohndorf

This fairly recent article details the risk vs. quality argument and posits that effective risk management underpins a successful project. - Sara Lohndorf

This site is a nice collection of tools (and descriptions) that, although not specific to Project Management, can be helpful when creating certain products (e.g., learning modules). It was shared by our project SME.

Pivotal Tracker is an award-winning, simple, effective, agile project management tool that allows your team to collaborate around a shared backlog of stories in real time.

Resource for eLearning projects (via https://www.facebook.com/groups/171401962882975/)

Good tips on how to problem-solve as a project manager. These seem to be geared more towards corporate settings, but could be adapted for educational settings as well. - Sara Lohndorf

E-Learning projects are different than traditional learning projects

This section of the British Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) website is replete with information, guides, kits, and templates that support project planning.

The British Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) provides the Risk Multimedia infoKit that can help teams planning their projects identifying, preparing, and managing risks.

This article discusses grant management and organization.  

This article is about project management apps for your phone.

This is a good article about Risk Analysis

This handbook is a product of Caltrans, a department in the California state government. By the title, you can see that this resource is focused on project communication. It provides an easy to follow process and guidance on developing a communication plan. It also includes tips on how to identify stakeholder, gather input and how to communicate with stakeholders.

This website contains a free guide to project management and also links to other related resources. There is also a recruitment section for those looking for project management jobs.

ProjectMind's Quick Guide to Project Management is a free ebook that you can download. With an emphasis on simplicity, the book provides clear, step-by-step instructions to project management.

A useful article providing some tips on using technology to assist eLearning project management.

I found this to be an interesting article because it's from Kineo. In my first semester in this ILT program, my first group and I presented on Kineo eXe, an eLearning authoring tool. The article talks about the use of MS Project, a timesheet system, a bug database, and a collaborative tool. All of these are needed to manage an eLearning project. There are tools that offer more than one of these options, such as SharePoint as a collaboration tool and bug database, but with a cost. The article lists other options as well and I'd like to investigate the tools listed there more to see if there are free options.

Although our class has already discussed MS Project, I didn't notice it on our resource list here. It is a great addition to MS Products, such as SharePoint. Teams can manage their parts of projects in SharePoint and add their smaller tasks as needed. Unfortunately it is still something feared and underused. Another disadvantaged is that users must have PCs to. Use it and to view the plans

Sharepoint is a great project management tool, most especially for eLearning. Our online department utilizes it to manages tasks and build online resources for the department. It's a great place to share files and also comment on those files. It has discussion boards and announcement boards. Users can view files and edit them with versioning.

I agree that SharePoint is a great collaboration tool, although it's nice to have someone around who is an expert with using it. Sometimes it can be a little hard to handle. My favorite thing about SharePoint is that you can set up a workflow where a project manager can approve all document updates and new content before it goes live on the site. The manager can even leave comments to help the person revamp their submission. It's a great cloud-based collaboration and information management tool!

I agree, Melissa - it is a great tool but a bit cumbersome. We have a Sharepoint SME in our office who is working on revamping all of our sites. I am hoping it will make our teams use their sites to their fuller potential. If you have a content management plan, it is fantastic - but it can spiral out of control very quickly!

This is a cool site that offers lot's of different PM resources, including articles, templates, and best practice strategies.

This site is from the American Management Association and they offer seminars and resources for developing your project management skills.