Planning with Post-it Notes and Spreadsheets

Divide Project into Manageable Components

• the biggest impact to the organization.
• some impact to the organization.
• little or no impact to the organization, but must be trained due to other considerations (such as a legal requirement).

Next, review each task with those involved to see what type of method and modality are needed, such as online HTML and Flash, step-by-step classroom instruction, Electronic Performance Support System (EPSS), movie, etc.

Write a brief note on each of the task Post-it notes. This will allow you to better estimate the resources needed and the scope of the project.

Post-it Note Method

Make five columns on a large wall or board and label them Analysis, Design, Development, Implement, and Summative Evaluation (ADDIE). On the very bottom make a row titled "Formative Evaluation."

For each task, use one or more Post-it notes to track it through the design process. Use more than one if it will be in more than one phase at a time as this process (ADDIE or ISD) is dynamic, NOT linear:

You can make small notes on them as needed, such as type of conversion needed, the assigned designer's initials, etc.

This method works well if the project is not too large and you have everyone centrally located. It also provides a nice large visual display.

Spreadsheet Method

Click on picture to download Excel template

For larger projects or if the people are not centrally located, a spreadsheet might work better. Basically you divide it into columns as above. You can change the cells' color to better represent Post-it notes. You can also use the "comment" function to insert long notes.

One of the other advantages, beside the ability to insert comments and easily change cell colors, is the ability to insert direct Hyperlinks to other material, such as Word, Flash, pictures, and HTML documents.