Course syllabus for Development projects in practice

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-14 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameUtvecklingsprojekt i praktiken
  • CodeCIU260
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPLOL
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyTechnology and Learning
  • DepartmentCOMMUNICATION AND LEARNING IN SCIENCE
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 40117
  • Maximum participants35
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0112 Project 7.5 c
Grading: TH		 7.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

The course Leading self, individuals and groups (CIU226).

Aim

The aim of this course is for the student to develop knowledge about and competences within fundamental project management techniques as well as the ability to lead and participate in development project with focus on learning and leadership and to introduce data collection methods from the social sciences.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • apply basic project management concepts and tools and analyse and evaluate their use
  • define project goals in communication with the project sponsor given available resources and prevailing conditions
  • adapt the project to changing circumstances in relation to the project goals
  • create conditions for a successful project handover and communicate the end result to the project sponsor and other actors and stakeholders (such as MPLOL)
  • create conditions for one's own and others' contributions to the project
  • select and apply the appropriate method of data collection in order to evaluate an existing or reworked product or process
  • evaluate the project process, the project result and one's own contribution to these

Content

This course introduces basic project management techniques and tools as well as social science data collection methods. these methods are directly applied in practice by teams of 4-5 students manageing a small development or evaluation project with focus on learning and leadership in an organisation (such as an industrial company or school).

The project assignment may include a complete whole development cycle or contribute to a particular part of an (ongoing) development or evaluation process within the client organisation. The project work should, however, still include the following steps: 
  • The formulation of a project goal, deliverables and boundaries in communication with the sponsor and client organisation as well as drafting a realistic plan to reach this goal.
  • Implementation according to plan but with adjustments due to changing circumstances as well as a continuous documentation of the work.
  • Delivery and final communication to the sponsor/client in the form of a project report and presentation.
  • Evaluation of the team project process and result. 
The course has a strong emphasis on process (carrying out a project), which the students need to balance with the product focus of the sponsor and client organisation.

Organisation

The course starts with a short introduction to project management methods, techniques and tools in parallel with that the students start up their projects. Thereafter the course is minimally scheduled with a few class sessions for status reporting and the focus lies on the project work. 

The projects are (generally) carried out in teams of 4-5 students. The students are expected to suggest project tasks in advance of course start. The examiner and teacher team may have tips and ideas of suitable projects. The project tasks shall be approved by the examiner before the course starts. Each project has a sponsor within the client organisation (imples time investment, like supervision, reading report and atendance to presentations) and, if needed, a supervisor from the university. A significant part of the work in the project should be carried out in situ at the client organisation (due to the course status as practicum/placement (VFU) for the degree Master of Science in Secondary Education (ämneslärarexamen)).

At the start of the project the teams should define the project goal(s), deliverables and boundaries in consultation with the sponsor and client organisation. They need to produce a projet plan with clear cut stages and individual responsibilities and apply a few methods for project control and follow-up. Each team will present their project, internally as status reports of project progress to the course participants, examiner and teacher team and in the end, externally to communicate the result to the sponsor and client organisation. A written report directed to the sponsor and client organisation is to be compiled at the end of the project (with a public part when confidentiality has to be concerned).The project team members will review and evaluate the project process together and individually reflect upon their own contribution to the project process and result.

Literature


  • Metodpraktikan, Konsten att studera samhälle och marknad, 2017, Esaiasson et al
  • Complementary material.
  • Project Management, 2010, 4e utgåvan, Harvey Maylor, Prentice Hall.

Examination including compulsory elements

The course is examined through assessment of all assignments (individual and group) and an individual grade on the scale Fail, 3, 4 or 5.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.