Portfolio: Project Report
The following projects are described below:
Instructional Design Project
ID projects are a set of materials with a report explaining key design decisions. The report typically includes these headings:
- Problem or Need. Explain and justify the project need.
- Goals and Objectives based on the need.
- Analysis of your learners, content, and setting.
- Instructional Plan for your objectives.
- Design Rationale for your media including prototype materials.
- Formative Evaluation plan and data from reviews and tryouts.
- Summative Evaluation plan for determining your project’s impact.
- Your project’s product should also be:
- consistent with principles of learning and instruction, and
- exportable/publishable.
Action Research Study
You should conduct an action research study when you want to improve your professional practices through problem-based inquiry. For example, conducting a classroom inquiry to improve teaching effectiveness, or doing a needs assessment of problems in a work setting.
Headings for an action research study would look something like this.
- Problem What problems needs to be addressed through inquiry and action?
- Background about the setting, participants, and problem.
- Research Questions to guide your inquiry.
- Method The, model, or procedure to address the problem.
- Findings and results of your study, including review of literature.
- Action Implications or Recommendations of your inquiry to resolve the problem.
- Reflection about lessons learned and next steps.
Change or Leadership Report
ILT professionals often help an organization undergo a change, such as adopting a new program or technology. These project headings cover the:
- Problem or Need faced by the organization.
- Goals and Objectives based on the need.
- Process and Roles for facilitating change.
- Action Plan for adoption or change.
- Action Report of your change efforts.
- Outcomes data of your project’s success and impact.
- Reflection of lessons learned or next steps to do.
Generic Report
If your project doesn’t fit the other report models, consider using a generic report structure, which includes these headings:
- Problem statement of the opportunity or purpose of the project.
- Background or Analysis of problem aspects such as program participants, clients, politics, and external constraints.
- Method The model, process, or procedure to address the problem.
- Findings or Activities of your project achievements and products.
- Evaluation or Demonstration of Impact with specific evidence.
- Reflection or conclusion of lessons learned or next steps.
Project examples are demonstrations of professional commitment and service; management reports such as running or designing a lab; and reports of grant writing or administration.