Title: Microsoft Project

This is a software project management program used for planning and managing major projects.

Objectives:

To plan a major project with "expert" members of a team.
To research your role as an expert and report back to the group, sharing knowledge.
To construct a task list, based on the jobs that your individual role would need to perform to complete the project.
To complete the planning of a major project, such as building a house, producing a movie, or planning a trip around the world.

NETS Standards met:

In general, working on a project or lesson utilizing this software program will allow teachers to demonstrate a knowledge of technology operations and concepts as well as using technology to enhance their own productivity and professional practice. Microsoft Project is a wonderful organizational tool and teachers may decide to use it to plan and design learning environments and experiences for their own students.

Cognitive Theory : In general, cognitive and contextual theories suggest that we are active constructors of knowledge and that this process and development continues throughout our lives. (Brofenbrenner (1979)
Cognitive theorists suggest that learning is largely an individual process of acquiring/constructing and using information. It can be be represented in many different ways: mental models, images, scripts, schemas and language. Providing a structure or framework to help organize new knowledge is also a key concept of cognitive theory. Also, when we talk about cognitive theory, we think more about subjective terms such as: perception, sensation, image, desire, purpose and even emotion. Wolfgang Kohler (1920's) proved that all learning cannot be explained simply by conditioning, which had been thought by behaviorists. He found that we have "insightful" moments where the light bulb (sort of) goes on... an "AHA!" moment.

In addition, Carl Ransom Rogers (American psychologist, 1902-1997) believed that all human beings (regardless of age) have a natural desire to learn and that that learning can be categorized in one of two ways: meaningless, or cognitive learning (e.g. memorizing multiplication tables or scientific names of biological classifications; and significant, or experiential (applied knowledge which addresses the needs and wants of the learner, e.g. performing first aid on one's child or learning how to use the electronic gradebook program that your school has now made mandatory.)

Theory Connection:The cognitive theory is not necessarily inherent or embedded within this software. Rather you will find the connection between the theory and the program in how the software is implemented in the classroom. For example, as a class, the students could be given the task of planning some major project (i.e. building a house, planning a wedding, planning a trip around the world, producing a short documentary movie using I-Movie, etc.)

In any of the examples above, I would recommend introducing the the lesson (program) by giving a brief talk on "how to use" Microsoft Project. Next, I would set up random teams of people in groups of five. (approximate) Tell the teams that they are to come up with a major project idea that they will plan for the course of the marking period. In fact, this could be done as a semester project also. For instance, one group may decide to plan the building of their "dream" house. Within their group, various roles will have to taken by each of the team members (i.e. contractor, electrician, mason, plumber, carpenter.) Each person will then have to find out what types of activities would be appropriate for that role. What tasks would that person need to do in building this house? They would need to decide (amongst themselves) the relationship of all of the tasks. In other words, is the beginning of one task dependent upon the completion of another task?

Once the team members explore their individual roles, they need to construct a timeline and decide what (if any) constraints they may have in accomplishing their plan.

Remembering to keep in mind that studies have shown that adult learners are autonomous, have a life full of knowledge and experiences to draw from, are goal-oriented and relevancy-oriented, are practical and (like all learners) need to be shown respect (Malcolm Knowles), I think this is a great program for adults and especially for teachers. Depending on how the program is used, it can represent cognitive theory in many ways. The main purpose for using this software is plan and organize major projects or events. Organization is a key concept of cognitive theory. Although the idea with Project is for one person to serve as the project manager, the others who are part of the project (be it building a house, planning a wedding, planning a trip around the world, etc.) each have control of their own piece of the project. Let's say, your school district is planning the implementation of the district's technology plan. The technology coordinator or director would serve as the project manager. However, there are many other people involved in the completion of this project. You would have electrician's, technician's, possibly carpenter's and people to run the cable. Each person, in this example, would be responsible for his/her own part of the project.