Project Management Life Skills for Youth We can think of our lives, and those of students, as a set of complex projects. Thank about the elements of a project: it’s temporary (although it could last a few seconds or several centuries); it is clear when it starts and when it’s done, often because it’s constrained by time, money, or other resources; it has a purpose. Examples of projects include things as simple as making and eating a sandwich, to as complex as landing on the moon; as small as making a kite, or as large as constructing a skyscraper; as easy as learning a new exercise routine, or as difficult as researching a cure for cancer. For students, projects can be learning about the letter “A,” developing something to show in a science fair, or successfully completing a class in 4th grade science, creative writing, or differential calculus. In our lives, we do many projects at the same time. As students advance in their schools, they lead ever busier lives with multiple projects, after school jobs, multiple classes, and trying to complete everything they need to be graduated. Students are given complex projects as early as 4th grade and they are graded on these projects. We wouldn’t expect a student to write a paper without providing instruction in grammar and spelling; nor would we expect a child to pass a math test without knowing how to add and subtract. Yet, we grade students on projects and don’t teach the project management skills. Learning project management skills, including prioritization and scheduling multiple, inter-related tasks helps students balance their workload, while giving them practice in skills they will be able to use when they graduate and join the workforce.

Our lives, and the lives of students are, in part, a set of complex projects

A project is a temporary endeavor, having a defined beginning and end, undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result.

Some students are given projects in preschool or kindergarten, and…

By the time they’re in elementary school,

students are given complex projects. Yet we don’t consistently teach the skills they need to

be successful in completing their projects.

Teachers and administrators gain professional benefits when they receive project management training that they can use to manage their schools and classrooms. Teacher training programs today require that teachers learn a number of skills, but not project management skills. A few states are recognizing this fact, and addressing it. *Note that these are the skills noted in the Project Management Book of Knowledge, the Project Management Institute’s Global Standard that is ued in the US by government and industries of all types. Some of the skill sets overlap, but they generally appear in the PMBOK like they do in the table above.

Management skills are used to manage work. - Management skills support the 5 process groups of project management

initiating, Planning Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing projects.

Teachers conduct projects as part of their jobs, and lead and mentor on student’s projects

Project Management is a professional

competency for teachers and administrators and a tool they can bring to their students, yet

teachers, typically are not trained in project management skills, tools, or techniques.

Project Management covers a wide array of skill sets

Management Skills Interpersonal Skills Technical Skills Conceptualizing Leadership School Subjects

Planning and Prioritizing

Team Building

Executing Motivation

Controlling Communication

Presentation Influencing

Negotiation Decision Making

Writing Political and Cultural Awareness

Public speaking Negotiation

- Some of these skills are taught in teacher training, but some are not. If teachers are taught the global-industry-standard skills for project management, they can pass them on to students.

- If students learn these skills, they can become better able to manage their school demands and the other demands on their lives.

Interpersonal skills allow project managers to accomplish work through team members and/or stakeholders.

- Interpersonal skills are relevant whether teachers or students are working in groups or as individuals.

- Again, some of these skills are incorporated into teacher training, but many are not.

- If students learn these skills as part of their schooling, they are better prepared to deal with life in general.

Technical skills are skills used to conduct project work. - Technical skills are those skills that teachers teach and that students learn. - Teachers learn these skills as the subject matter of their specialties, e.g., math,

foreign languages, computer education, early childhood education (that covers all subjects that they are required to teach), etc., and teach these skills to students.

A new frontier of education has emerged in which projects have become an integral part of a child’s learning experience and as project based learning increases in the classroom, many

Educators are recognizing the value of project management skills for themselves and their students

• Most states include completion of a project as a

requirement for graduating from high school, and are beginning to realize that students need some skills training.

• Project-learning-based classrooms are beginning to yield positive results

• Some states are offering project management training for teachers

– North Carolina • 4 Course PM Program • Part of the SREB a 16 State Coalition

– Washington • Proposing a Project Management

Framework • Career and Technical Education (CTE)

schools are seeing decreased drop-out rates, increased standardized test scores, and increased numbers of students going on to schools beyond high school. States are starting to recognize the value of project management for their students and teachers. As the states of North Carolina and Washington State started to investigate new programs, they turned to business leaders to provide input and these business leaders told them that project management is a valuable skill set and one that they would like their future employees to have. The State of North Carolina is developing a series of four project management courses and reached out to the PMI Education Foundation for help. The State of North Carolina is part of the Southern Regional Education Board, a coalition of 16 states that develop curriculum and training resources. There is potential that the project management program could adopted by all of the 16 states. Washington State is evaluating a project management framework that would be incorporated into the state’s Career and Technical Education programs. The framework is based on the PMBOK and incorporates PMI principles. Both of these programs provide a wonderful opportunity to teach youth an important life skill. Whether students choose the profession of project management, own their own business, or work as an engineer, teacher or architect, they will all use project management skills; and employers value these skills.

Employers Value Project Management Skills

• Project management is results-focused and employers want employees who can deliver results

• Project management is one of the few fields delivering people who can lead both the work and others

• Good project management includes 21st century skills such as critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity and innovation

• Project management is a universal professional skill – virtually all occupations and industries use project management and benefit from employees with these skills

US Government and industry has used project management for the past 60 years, and within the past 20 years, its use has spread throughout global industry. Some of the more common industries that require the use of project management include: Construction, Medicine, Information Technology, Banking, Government, Defense Programs, and Technology Development. Many studies and examples of the benefits of the use of project management can be found, but it’s only very recently that our educational system has begun to recognize that students need these skills to be successful in their ultimate work lives. Project based learning involves projects focused on solving complex, real world problems. Students work individually or in small groups to investigate, research, and create solutions to problems that have multiple solutions and methods for researching them. Teachers and students create a “contract” to achieve required competencies, and track progress towards goals. Research on learning through projects demonstrates that student gains in factual learning were equal or better than those using more traditional learning methods. School attendance is higher because students are engaged and because they have the opportunity to work on real problems, sometimes problems that the students identify for themselves. This method of learning is gaining in popularity because it is highly effective with this generation of digital learners. Since students learn through projects it makes sense that project management tools and terminology are integrated in project learning programs.

Project-Based Education and Project Management Training benefit youth

• When students participate in a project team they

learn and practice 21st century skills • Students are more active and engaged in their

learning • Students gain a deeper knowledge of the subject

matter • Students have an opportunity to work on real

problems • School attendance can be higher and standardized

test scores can improve

As a non-profit and through our partnerships, we can connect schools with resources to implement project management programs for youth.

The Project Management Institute Educational Foundation Can Help

The Project Management Institute Educational Foundation, through the local PMI Chapter, can provide resources to help you implement a project management program in your school or for your teachers. The PMI Education Foundation is a member of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, working as a collaborative partner with a “Who’s Who” in industry, to position 21st Century readiness at the center of US K-12 education. Both the PMI Educational foundation and the local PMI Chapter are non-profit organizations that bring the benefits and the power of project management to local communities and to the farthest reaches of the world for social good.

Resources Available from the PMI Educational Foundation to Implement Project Management for Youth Programs

• Mentors • Curriculum • Scholarships • Grants • Career Resource Information and Presentations • Program Development and Implementation Guides • Networking and lessons learned from others who’ve

developed similar programs The PMI Educational Foundation can provide resources for schools to use including materials that can be downloaded at no cost for non commercial use.

A student project is a key component of any project management program. Local project management professionals from PMI, SWIC will attend classes and work with the students and be a resource for the teachers. We also realize that many primary and secondary teachers do not have project management training, so PMI-SWIC provides training and mentorship for these teachers. The Project Management Toolkit for Youth provides classroom resources for ages 6 – 18 and the materials incorporate 21st century skill building. All of these materials are available in English and some are available in Spanish. They are available for download, CDs, or hard copy materials.

Mentors

Mentors are a valuable resource for both students and teachers. Your local PMI,

Southwestern Indiana Chapter, which serves the entire Tri-state provides project

management professionals to volunteer in our youth programs

Curricula and Classroom Resources for Ages 6-18

PM Toolkit For Youth

• Curricula • Guide to Leadership • Presentation Skills • Program Development Handbook • Power Point Presentation

Scholarships

We provide academic scholarships for students and training scholarships for teachers.

We provide academic scholarships for students pursuing project management careers and training scholarships for teachers. Teachers can attend on-site or virtual classes. In some states, the teacher training counts as Continuing Education Units for certification. PMI-SWIC partners with the University of Southern Indiana and with Workforce Solutions Division of Henderson Community College to offer certificate courses in project management. Careers in Project Management is another resource that can be used in schools. This provides information about salary levels, industries that employ project management, and examples of the type of work that project managers do as well as the impact that they have. This can be provided to guidance counselors, used at a career fair, or during a career presentation. Careers in PM has been used in schools and programs throughout the world from India to Washington, DC. Project Management Skills for Life provides a basic introduction to project management; and is perfect for a 4 to 8 hour class, or to be used with a school club or student competition. This is

Careers in Project Management Is a career resource

• Salary Information • Industry Career Examples • Career Paths

Project Management Skills for Life Is a resource that can be used as a 4-8

hour introduction to project management for students

Examples: • After School Programs or Clubs • Student Competitions Including

Robotics and Future Cities • In Partnership with Youth-Based

Organizations including Junior Achievement and Public Color

available in both English and Spanish and contains a Power Point presentation with instructor notes and student manuals.

If your school is interested in offering or developing a project management program please contact your local PMI Chapter to arrange a meeting for discussing possibilities. Contact PMI,

Southwestern Indiana Chapter via Email: President@pmiswic.org . professional competency for teachers and administrators and a tool they can bring to their students available beyond the traditional implement a new elective

In our lives, we do many projects at the same time. As students advance in their schools, they lead even busier lives with multiple projects, after school jobs, multiple classes and trying to complete everything they need to graduate. A half-century of studies on how people learn have shown that projects are by far the best vehicle for learning engagement and teaching higher order skills. Think about your experience in school or that of your children. As we advance in school, we lead ever busier lives with multiple learning projects, after school jobs, multiple courses, and striving constantly to complete everything needed to be graduated. By the time students are in the 4th grade they are graded on their projects. We wouldn’t expect a student to write a paper without providing instruction in grammar and spelling; nor would we expect a child to pass a math test without knowing how to add and subtract. Yet, students are graded on projects without being taught the skills of project management. The expectation that everyone will ultimately learn these on their own continues into college, graduate school, and on into the workforce. Far too many people fail or just fail to reach their potential because they are never provided with training in the methodology and tools to help them carry-out, document, and properly report the work needed to succeed. Project management skills, including prioritization and the scheduling of multiple inter-related tasks helps people balance their workload, while giving them practice in skills essential to attaining the greatest “measure” of success and avoiding the necessity of repeating the same work over and over. Some students are given project in preschool or kindergarten, and…Students are given complex projects as early as 4th grade and they are graded on these projects. We wouldn’t expect a student to write a paper without providing instruction in grammar and spelling; nor would we expect a chold to pass a math test with out knowing how to add and subtract. Yet we grade students on projects and don’t teach the project management skills. And as our student move beyond elementary school, the projects they ar assigned are more complex, and they have different projects going on in different classes. All of this requires that students learn more sophisticated project management skills. Learning project management skills, including prioritization nad scheduling multiple inter-related tasks helps students balance their workload, while giving them practice in skills they will be able to use when they graduate and join the workforce. Teachers conduct projects as part of their jobs, and lead and mentor on student’s projects Project management is a professional competency for teachers and administrators and a tool they can bring to their students, yet teachers, typically are not trained in project amangement skills, tools, or techniques. Teachers and administrators gain professional benefits when they receive project management training that they can use to manage their schools and classrooms.

Teacher training projects today require that teachers learn a number of skills, but not project management skills. A few states are recognizing this fact, and addressing it.

Management Skills Interpersonal Skills Technical Skills Conceptualizing Leadership School Subjects

Planning and Prioritizing Team Building

Executing Motivation

Controlling Communication

Presentation Influencing

Negotiation Decision Making

Writing Political and Cultural Awareness

Public speaking Negotiation

Educators are recognizing the value of project management skills for themselves and their students

Most states include completion of a project as a requirement for graduating fro high school, and are beginning to realize that students need some skills training.

Project-teaming-based classrooms are beginning to yield positive results

Some states are offering project management training for teachers o North Carolina

4 Couse PM Program Part of the SREB a 16 State Coalition

o Washington Proposing a Project Management Framework Career and Technical Education (CTE)

o A new frontier of education has emerged in which projects have become an integral part of a child’s learning experience and as project based learning increases in the classroom, many schools are seeing decreased drop-out rates, increased standardized test scores, and increased numbers of students going on tto schools beyond high school.

Steates are starting to recognize thte value of project management for their students and teachers. As the states of North Carolina and Washing ton State started to investigate new projecgrams they turned to business leaders to provide in-ut and these business leaders told them that project management is a valuable skill set and one that ethey would like their future employees to have.

The State of north Carolina is developing a series of four project managemt course and reached out to the Foundation for help. The State of North Carolina is part of the Southern Regional Education Board, a coalition of 16 states that developcurriculum and training resources. There is potential that the roject amangemtn programs could be adopted by all of the 16 states. Washingto State is evaluating a project management frameword that would be incorporated into the state’s Career and Technical Education programs. The framework is based on PMBOK ad incorporates PMI principles. Both of these programs provide a wornderful opportunity to teach youth an important life skill..

Whether students choose the profession of project management, own their own business or work as an ingeineer, teacher or architect, they will all use project management sk8ill and employers vale this skill. US government and industry has used project management for the past 60 years, and within the past 20 years, its use has spread throughout global industry. Some of the more common industries that require the use foproject management include: Construction, Medicine, information Technology, Banking, Government, Defense programs, and Technology Development. Many studies and examples of the benefits of the use of project managmetn can be found, but it’s only very recently that our educational system has begun to recognize that students bneed these skills to be successful in their ultimate work lives. Project base learned invololves projects focused on solving comoplex, real world problems. Students work individually or in small groups to investigate, research and create solution s to problems that have multiple solutions and methods for researching them. Teachers and students “contract” to achieve required competencies, and track prograess towards goals. Research on learning through projects demonstrates that student gains in factual learningwee equal for better to those using more traditional learning methods. School attendance is higher because students are engaged because they have the opportunity to work on real problems, sometimes problems that the students identify for themselves. This method of learning is gaining in popularity becuae it is highly effective with this generation of digital learners. Since students learn through projects it makes sense that project managneemtn tools and terminology are integrated in project learning programs. Projct-Based Education and project management training benefit youth

When students participate in a project team they learn and practice 231st century skills

Students are more active and engaged in their learning

Students gain a ddeeper knowledge of subject is gained

Students have an oppoortunbity to work on real problems

School attendance can be higher and standardized test scores can improve pMI Education al foundation can provide resources to help you implement a project management program in your school or for your teachers. We are a member of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, working as a collaborative partner with a “Who’s Who” in industry , to position 21st Century readiness at the center fo US K-12 education. We are a non-profit organization that brings the benefits and the power of project management to local communities and to the farthest reaches of the world for social good.

Elementary, High School, College/University