Members of the Project Design Team

Creative Team Members:

"One of the most interesting challenges for an instructional project manager is working with creative people." (Trends and Issues in Instructional Design, pp 116). The text goes on to list phrases like: weird, disruptive, disorganized, and eccentric. Tempering the need to produce the project and allow creative members to think freely is a difficult balance. I have never been in a situation where I had to balance team members at such extremes, but I feel that creative members bring energy and excitement to a project and are necessary for a truly successful one.

Instructional Designers:
All teachers take on this role during the school day, week, month, and year. Working together with team members that all fill this role (and subject matter experts) can be challenging, because we all feel our position or idea is the correct one. It is hard to let go and not be a "doer" (Trends and Issues in Instructional Design, pp 117) and allow other views and approaches take hold. Stepping back and taking on the role of manager first and designer second will allow other ideas to be considered for the project.

Subject Matter Experts:

As a subject matter expert, designer, and manager all in one, it can be hard to simply look at the subject, when one is supposed to manage as well. Many of our teachers struggle with this concept, that all of us have multiple roles and it is critical to recognize when to wear each "hat".