Empowering Students:
Using Basecamp as a
Project Management Tool
Teaching Partners Pedagogical Project
Diana K B Hoover, Professor of Graphic Design
Department of Art & Design, College of Fine Arts and Communication
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
January 2016
UW-Stevens Point
Advanced Graphic Design
Some overarching Learning Goals include:
Working independently and collaboratively
Integrate complex critical thinking skills in problem solving
Navigating real-world design challenges
Activate personal time management skills
Engage in self-evaluation and goal setting
Case Study:
Empowering Students
Project: Create an identity design (logo) for a real-world client
using Basecamp as a primary Project Management tool.
Challenges: team building, communication strategies,
talent assessment, calendar creation, time management,
accountability, completion of deliverables
Why Basecamp?
• Super simple, friendly interface • Essential tools for tracking
collaborative work • Free for educators
• Enables student
initiated projects • Easy to use mobile app
Basecamp Main Dashboard — showing all Projects I am a part of
Basecamp — Project page, Calendar, example of iPhone app interface
iPhone images from: https://basecamp.com/1679267/announcements/33
Case Study:
What worked
C
Using Basecamp, students / teams...
• learned to work on a Project Managment platform
• had discussions, files, calendars accessible to all members
• allowed clients to interact and view designated content
Addressing Learning Goals students / teams...
• increased awareness of interpersonal strengths / weaknesses
• overcame communication / teamwork challenges
• gained experience working with real-world clients
• were successful in meeting project goals
Case Study:
Problems encountered
In general students / teams...
• dealt with team member and client drama
• saw challenges and design issues with naiveté
• heard what they wanted to hear
• had difficulties in team member accountability
• experienced conflicting opinions among client(s)
In Basecamp, some students / teams...
• under-used the communication tools for team building
• neglected to segregate areas for client interaction
• failed to adequately populate project calendar
Case Study:
Next time...
In Basecamp, I will...
• require each student to build their own profile with photo
• require project calendar creation prior to commencing work
• require regular postings/updates from all members on teams
In general, I will...
• do more preparation to help teams develop
troubleshooting strategies
• rotate team member responsibilities
• incorporate in-progress evaluations
Empowering Students
Team CPS-Farmshed — Graphic Design seniors after presenting final work to their clients. Kim Beckham,
director of the CPS Café and Layne Cozzolino, director of Central Waters Farmshed collaboration
developing their new product, Hand Packed Harvest. (from left: Allison Witte, Alissa Christopherson, Greg,
Kim Beckham, Layne Cozzolino, See Xiong, Emily Sikora, and Emily Smith.) UW-Stevens Point. December 2015.
Thank you!