I like the structure of the project overview form. It really helps me ground my project idea in reality. I tend to be really good at coming up with ideas and big picture concepts and schemes, but not as good at the nitty gritty and making sure they are realistic. Having a template like this makes me go over my idea with a fine tooth comb and ask myself over and over again…”Is this doing what it should be?”

My original idea was to have students become masters of their environment by pursuing a project in which they can end up being the teachers, and to create a resource for others to use to learn more about their environment. It is a neat idea, but I didn’t really think in too great a detail about how the students were going to do this. I had vague ideas about picture guides created, videos produced, keys  and databases and stories created and recorded.  I wanted the students to get in touch with experts in the field they were focusing on. After that it got…..blurry.

 

The project overview made me sit down and think about how everything would work out. I had to think of a realistic timeline, and what information they would need to be able to do their projects. It also made me realize a significant hole in my idea- what is the use of a resource if no one knows about it? So marketing the website became part of the project.