PMI-OC - PMP Certification Examination Preparation Course

Instructor Orientation 8 September 2007

Theme: Better and Better

Instructor Themes
 September 2007
Better & Better

 Winter 2005
Value of Co-Instruction

 January 2007
Create a Significant Learning Experience

 Fall 2004
Be Prepared

 January 2006
New material, New Faces

 Spring 2004
Excel at Instruction (in spite of handicaps)

 October 2005
Building Bridges LAOC joining forces

 Winter 2004
Increase Consistency of Instruction

 Fall 2003
Improve Materials (OuterCore & Sybex)
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Session Agenda
Topic Welcome Introductions & Groups Review of Instructors Role Break Tips to Instructors & 1-minute practice Break Continue Instructor practice Wrap-up Total Time 5 minutes 5 minutes 45 minutes 5 Minutes 55 Minutes 5 minutes 55 5 minutes 240 minutes Lead Instructor & Co-Instructor Lead Instructor 8 AM -12 Noon Co-Instructor & Lead Instructor Facilitator Lead Instructor Lead Instructor Lead Instructor & Co-Instructor

Ground Rules
Stay on schedule Stay on topic Conduct one conversation at a time Provide feedback
 red light / green light

Make accomplishable suggestions

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Introductions

Introduce Yourselves
 Name  Background and Relevant Experience  Motivation for Teaching

Acknowledgment
Acknowledge that you are:
 Project Management Professionals  Experienced Project Managers  Knowledgeable Project Management Instructors

Instructor Orientation Goal

Is Not About Teaching
 UC, CSU, Corporate, Private, etc.

Is About Improving PMI-OC Course

 Improve quality of instruction  Improve consistency of delivery

Embrace your participation and solicit feedback All feedback is helpful

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Course Philosophy and Goals

Course Philosophy & Goals Themes & Recommendations

Course Philosophy
PMI-OC will provide all the study materials and training to enable a student to pass the PMP certification examination Leave no student behind
 (unstated)

Course Goal
Goal is to prepare students for success in the exam:
 Understand learning commitment required  Prepare for certification examination  Take and successfully pass the PMP certification examination Become contributors to the profession and PMI
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Course Goal
Goal is not to:
 Teach project management concepts  Solve project management problems  Provide advice about the real-world application of project management

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Class Evaluation Themes

 Clarify materials

Content of questions not covered in reference text, slides or lecture

 Action: Provide constructive feedback to OuterCore

 Improve quality of instruction

Preparation of instructors
 Action: Leverage techniques and knowledge of participants in this session

Value of co-instruction
 Action: Encourage planning with co-instructor
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Recommendations
Recommendations from Student Evaluations  Explain concepts  Help synthesize information  Provide real-world examples that relate to PMBOK
Be cautious about real-world examples that do not relate to PMBOK

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Recommendations
Recommendations from Instructor Practice  Provide handouts or white board examples  Highlight important concepts in the PMBOK  Expand explanations when dissecting questions and selecting answers
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Session Structure

Session Schedules

Morning Session
Schedule 8:00 AM 9:45 AM 9:45 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM 11:00 AM 11:00 AM 12:00 AM Topic Slide Presentation Break Take and Score Practice Test Review Practice Test Questions and Answers

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Afternoon Session
Schedule 1:00 PM 2:45 PM 2:45 PM 3:00 PM 3:00 PM 3:30 PM 3:30 PM 4:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM Topic Slide Presentation Break Take and Score Practice Test Review Practice Test Questions and Answers

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Ancillary Learning Materials

Caution students not to read too much extracurricular material in that it is sometimes more confusing than helpful.

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Instructor Responsibilities

Instructor Responsibilities

Embrace Consistent Approach

Understand course philosophy & goal Learn relevant course materials Understand instructor responsibilities Follow consistent delivery approach Participate in instructor orientation Provide constructive feedback for improvement
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Prepare to Present
Be Prepared
        

Review Instructor Orientation Guide Review relevant PMBOK chapter Review OuterCore Overview Review the OuterCore Slides and understand their meaning Identify relevant examples that relate to PMBOK Review OuterCores questions and understand the answers Work from the questions backwards Present at the proper level for retention Practice pacing presentation
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Prepare with Co-Instructor

Meet with Co-Instructor
 Review slides together and determine points  Review the questions together and determine points  Determine if there are general points to be made  Determine if any exercises, study tips, and / or handouts are needed and who is responsible  Rehearse or script who will say what and when

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Teach in Partnership
Instructors Have Partner -- like a pilot and co-pilot, both capable of flying the plane
Act as a unit Provide opportunity for both to teach Be a time keeper for one another Help monitor immediate feedback and watch for non-verbal clues  Do not interrupt one another
   
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Co-Instructor
Allow instructor to teach and students to focus
 Assist when instructor is unable to make a point  Consider the value-added before interjecting  Make your point when there is a natural opening  Use phases like I would like to add to
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Present Positively
Keep Session Focused Positively
 Convey all information and your knowledge in a positive light.  Be upbeat in your presentation style and demonstrate enthusiasm.  Be alert to students who inject negativity; respond by realigning the class in a positive direction.  Expect one student who knows at least as much as you do about your topic.  Use phrases like: I have never heard it put that way before. and Thank you for your contribution.
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Uphold PMBOK
Support PMBOK
 Remind students about class goal  Acknowledge PMBOK is limited, but also broad.  Point out PMBOK was written and edited by volunteers  Use phrases like PMBOK is ambiguous in places  Refocus students their goal:
 Pass the exam!
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Add Value
Focus on passing the PMP certification examination
 Offer pertinent ancillary information  Provide examples consistent with PMBOK  Turn war stories into examples
 30 seconds, on topic and with a PMBOK point

 Help students synthesize and offer study tips  Check your ego at the door
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Communicate Clearly
Make communication clear, concise, complete and understandable
 Identify student industries and provide relevant examples  Acknowledge and repeat questions  Test student understanding by asking them to explain  Use PC (rather than slides) as prompt  Stand to side of screen, not in front of it  Use dark marker when writing on the board (no red/yellow colors Blue/Black Only)  Use phrases like Are we OK?
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Provide Accurate Info About PMP Certification Exam

Be familiar with current exams structure:
 200 Questions, 175 count, 25 Questions are being tested.  Minimum score (%) in each category.

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Learn from Teaching

Review Evaluations
 Inform your students in advance that you require their instructor evaluations  Review their evaluations at end of class  Ignore statistical outliers

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Ensure Quiet Testing Time

Ensure quiet time during practice examination
 Avoid interrupting students with additional comments  Take your conversations outside the classroom (e.g., cell phone call)  Follow the six foot rule everyone must stay 6 feet away from the door during the testing.
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Stay on Topic
Action Items / Parking Lot
 Place unrelated items in parking lot  Document action items and review at end of session  Refer project management questions to PMI-OC breakfast meetings  Understand content of orientation and optional sessions

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Manage Feedback
Be receptive to immediate feedback
 Yellow (warning)  Red (stop)  Green (continue)

Tips
 Follow student feedback (within reason)  Ask for feedback forms at session end

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Provide Afternoon Breaks

Students lose focus in the afternoon
 Breakup session with exercises or activities  Encourage students to take some fiveminute stretch breaks

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Consistent Delivery Summary of Your Approach

Respect the schedule Stay focused on topic Manage feedback diplomatically

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Break
5 minutes

Presentation Excellence The Three Parts of a Speech

1. Open 2. Body 3. Close

Gets the Audiences Attention States the Main Point(s) Moves the Audience Towards Your Purpose
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Presentation Excellence Part 1: Open

Use It to Get the Audiences Attention by Means of:
 Startling Facts  Personal Experience  Reference to the Occasion

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Presentation Excellence Part 1: Open

Tell What You are Going to Talk About. Keep It:
 Simple  Clear  Concise

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Presentation Excellence Part 2: Body

Use the Body to Deliver the Main Point(s). Present Your Message in a Logical Pattern:
 Logical Patterns Allow Audience to Understand, Recall the Information Received

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Presentation Excellence Part 2: Body

Build Your Speech Around Your Purpose:
 Persuade  Inform  Motivate & Inspire

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Presentation Excellence Part 2: Body

Use the Body to Deliver the Main Point(s). Present Your Message in a Logical Pattern:
 Logical Patterns Allow Audience to Understand, & Recall the Information Received

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Presentation Excellence Part 3: Close

Focuses the Audiences Attention on the Ultimate Reason for Sharing Your Message, i.e., on Your Purpose:
 Summarize  Return to Your Main Theme

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Presentation Excellence Part 3: Close

Signals the Audience, Alerts Them to a Moment of Decision, That It Is Time to Evaluate the Information, to Make a Judgment:
   

Review Summarize Return to the Opening Theme Move Toward Your Purpose
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Presentation Excellence Delivery

Nervousness
 Channel Your Nervousness Into an Enthusiastic Delivery (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

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Presentation Excellence Delivery

Verbal Communication
 Choice of Words: Use Definite, Specific, Concrete Language  Prefer the: Specific to the General Definite to the Vague Concrete to the Abstract
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Presentation Excellence Delivery

Speak Out! Speak Clearly; Speak to Be Understood.

Stay on Mission!

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Presentation Excellence Nonverbal Communication

Posture Gestures Eye Contact

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Presentation Excellence Nonverbal Communication

Posture
 Be Guided by Your Knowledge of Audience & Occasion.  Your Stance Lets the Audience Know, If the Occasion Is Formal or Informal.

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Presentation Excellence Nonverbal Communication

Gestures
 Suit the Occasion to the Word (Shakespeare)  Emphasize Important Points  Use Natural Gestures

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Presentation Excellence Nonverbal Communication

Eye Contact
 Use It to Establish Support With Your Audience  Look for a Friendly Face  Focus on a Small Group  Look to the Whole Group. This Tells the Audience that You are Speaking With Them
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Presentation Excellence Visual Aids

They Compete With Your Words for the Audiences Attention They Must Be Integrated With Your Speech Use Them Only When They Add Understanding to Your Message Make Them Simple & Easy to See Tie Them to Your Words Practice Using Them
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1-Minute Instructor Practice

How can we improve this presentation, documentation and the PMP certification examination preparation course?

Next Steps
Form Groups Select Single Slide for Each Person Practice Teaching a Single Slide Present Single Slide to Audience Receive Feedback from Audience Review Feedback in Group

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Break
5 minutes

Lessons Learned
Instructor Practice Sessions Peer Review Feedback

Revision History
No.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Version From
1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.45 1.5 1.6

Version To
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.45 1.5 1.6 1.7

Date of Change
Dec 2004 January 2004 March 2004 April 2004 April 2004 May 2004 August 2004 January 2005

Change Reference
Incorporated changes from general feedback. L Bagwell Incorporated changes from Instructor Orientation. L Bagwell Incorporated changes from Winter 2004 Student Evaluations. L Bagwell Incorporated changes from Winter 2004 Lessons Learned. L Bagwell Synchronized with Instructor Orientation Guide. L Bagwell Updated based on instructor orientation session. L Bagwell Updated based on self-review, rather than instructor orientation session. L Bagwell Updated based on Fall 2004 lessons learned, additional materials provided, results of student evaluations. Incorporated feedback from instructor orientation session. L Bagwell Edited down content, added Instructor tips and new PMBOK Guide review. M Graupner Updated to the 2006 3 hour format Included selected principles of presentation excellence Fixed bugs, improved formatting for legibility Removed reference to old test and names from agenda.

8 9 10 11 12

1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.2

1.8 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.3

October 2005 January 2006 January 2007 April 2007 September 2007

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