Sample Project Planner

Project Planner 1. Project Overview Project Title

"USNSCC Sea Stories"

Deliverables

1. Template for what each unit entry will look like in the anthology.

Driving Question How could compiling and sharing the stories of individual units benefit recruitment and retention efforts for the entire USNSCC program?

2. Organized spreadsheet of units and contact information.

3. Acquire logbooks for distribution, postage information, and plan for tracking.

4. Update briefing on status of project and

Timeframe (Start/end dates)

progress.

5. Completion and collection of all entries.

09/01/2021 - 08/01/2022

6. Final product, presentation, and reflection.

Project Summary

The USNSCC includes members from hundreds of different units spread across multiple states and US territories. Even though we share uniforms and other customs, many home units may feel isolated and detached from the program as a whole. In addition to reducing feelings of geographic isolation, maybe offering more ways for cadets to share or document pride in their home units could more effectively unite the USNSCC under one corps for all cadets.

2. Project Goals My leadership goals will have to do with communication and using my chain of command. In order to collect stories from home units, I will need to reach out to and communicate with a wide variety of officers, cadets, and other personnel. I will need to keep organized so that I can know which units have and have not responded and find an efficient way to collect information. I may need to recruit others from my unit to assist me and keep them motivated throughout the project. As I communicate with other units and gather their stories, I also seek to develop my ability to speak in a tactful manner in order to keep good relationships with units. Finally, this project will also test my endurance. I need to stay motivated to see this yearlong project to completion, which means challenging my patience as I wait to hear back from units and to remain persistent in my requests.

CO Initials__________

Date:

3. Project Milestones Directions: Use this section to create a brief high-level overview of your project. Think of this as the broad outline of the story of your project, with the milestones representing the significant ‘moments’ or ‘stages’ within the story. As you develop these, consider how the inquiry process is unfolding and what learning will take place. The Project Calendar will allow you to build out the milestones in greater detail.

Milestone #1

Milestone #2

Milestone #3

Milestone #4

Milestone #5

Decide how I will

Develop a map

Create a plan for

Begin distributing

Demonstrate

to display or

and background

soliciting and

log books to

progress with

publish unit stories

information on a

collecting unit

various units,

collecting unit

and create a

set of units in

stories, including

communicating

stories and

template of how I

geographically

how I send out

with them, and

tracking their

want it to look.

diverse areas.

books and track

tracking progress.

development.

Key Question

Key Question

Assemble, present, and publish a final product, thinking about how to share and extend impact.

them.

Key Question

Milestone #6

Key Question

Key Question

Key Question

What is the best

How do I identify

What are

How will the

How will I check

What will be the

way to share unit

units that may be

effective means

logistics for this

for accuracy of

long-term benefit

stories?

interested in the

to communicate

project operate?

information?

of this project?

project?

with units?

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment

Identify examples

Identification of

Meeting with

Assess progress

Create and

End with a

of similar

all necessary unit

mentor on project

and provide a

discuss a plan for

completed project

anthologies and

details in my

logistics and how I

clear explanation

evaluating and

and successful

discuss the

region/area in an

will organize with

of the work that

revising entries for

presentation.

template with my

organized

units.

remains.

publication.

Complete

mentor.

manner.

reflection.

4. Project Calendar How could compiling and sharing the stories of individual units benefit recruitment and retention efforts for the entire USNSCC program?

Decide how I want to display or publish unit stories and create a template of how I want it to

Weeks 1-7

look.

What is the best way to share unit stories?

1

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Read all capstone project

Arrange conversations with my

materials and confirm choice of

mentor, share and discuss ideas,

mentor

and organize a work schedule

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Choose the best

Create a template that meets my

way to collect

expectations for outcomes and

and display

get it ready for sharing with

stories

target units

Make sure to write a schedule for work on the project and mentor check-ins.

How could compiling and sharing the stories of individual units benefit recruitment and retention efforts for the entire USNSCC program?

Develop a map and background information on a set of units in geographically diverse areas.

Weeks 8-14

How do I identify units that may be interested in the project?

2

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Decide the scope of the project

Work with my mentor to compile

Kick off initial communication with participating

(region or area) and identify

contact information and organize

units about the project, sharing the visual template

units that will participate

a plan for communication

for the information, and process and procedures for submission.

Would using a digital form be the best way to collect information and I put it in the format?

4. Project Calendar How could compiling and sharing the stories of individual units benefit recruitment and retention efforts for the entire USNSCC program?

Create a plan for soliciting and collecting unit stories, including how I send out books and

Weeks 15-21

track them.

What are effective means to communicate with units?

3

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Communicate with and track the

Communicate with and track the

Communicate with and track the

first group of respondents,

second group of respondents,

third group of respondents,

providing a clear deadline.

providing a clear deadline.

providing a clear deadline.

Review the first group.

Review the second group.

Week 7 Review progress during this phase and decide next steps.

I'm going to need assistance collecting contact information for units.

How could compiling and sharing the stories of individual units benefit recruitment and retention efforts for the entire USNSCC program?

Begin distributing log books to various units, communicating with them, and tracking progress.

Weeks 22-29

How will the logistics for this project operate?

4

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

The majority of this time will be devoted to logistics for assigning, collecting, and

Focus on any final collection or

reviewing information provided by units. This will likely require delivering or circulating log

edits of materials, or outstanding

books and frequent updates on their completion. I may also need to recirculate books

entries. Evaluate completion by

whose entries did not initially meet requirements.

the end of week 7.

Figure out an easy way to keep organized as to what needs to be completed.

4. Project Calendar How could compiling and sharing the stories of individual units benefit recruitment and retention efforts for the entire USNSCC program?

Weeks 30-37

Demonstrate progress with collecting unit stories and tracking their development.

How will I check for accuracy of information?

5

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Identify a plan for evaluating the

Evaluate all unit entries according to the criteria that I established.

accuracy of information

Contact units and other personnel who may respond to additional

included in each unit

feedback or questions.

Week 7 Wrap up all revisions and final details.

contribution.

I will need to create my own evaluation materials to check the accuracy of entries.

How could compiling and sharing the stories of individual units benefit recruitment and retention efforts for the entire USNSCC program?

Assemble, present, and publish a final product, thinking about how to share and extend

Weeks 38-42

impact.

What will be the long-term benefit of this project?

6

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Write an introduction or other

Plan for the legacy of this

Finalize all details and project

Prepare for the

descriptive details to explain the

project, such as how to notify

documents with my mentor,

final

book and its origins. Digitize all

new units to send their stories for

ensuring all requirements have

presentation

information for my records.

publication.

been met.

and defense.

Coordinate with someone at the NHQ level to keep this project going.

Project Pathway What should I think about?

What is this project doing?

What do I need to know?

Why is this important?

Project Launch: Entry Event and Driving Question

Who will benefit?

What resources can and should I use?

Can I trust the information I am finding?

What is my role in the process?

How can I apply my research?

What new questions do I have?

Do I need more information?

Is my work on the right track?

Research, Gathering Information and Skills, to Answer Driving Question(s)

Develop Products and Critique Answers to Driving Question(s)

What should I explain about my work?

How can I best share this with others?

What have I learned and how would this apply to future projects?

Present or Publish Project and Answers