Trello can serve as an extremely useful tool for team management for group projects in class. Trello gives users a mechanism for handling deadlines, delegating tasks, and monitoring the work of students. This software is free to use with a Google account. Sign up for an account using your Champlain Google Account at https://trello.com/. Trello is available fully-featured through its website, but can also be accessed with apps for Android and iOS.
Trello Basics
Trello is organized into boards that are meant to be used for specific projects or teams. In these boards, there are lists of cards that can be used to organize tasks that need to be done. These lists and cards can be modified to suit a wide variety of use cases. If there is a project that will last a predetermined number of weeks, it might be beneficial to create lists of cards for tasks that need to be complete by the end of each week. If you want to use your Trello board to manage a dynamic list of tasks, you can use a simple system with only a backlog, in progress, and complete list of cards.
Card Management
When you create a card for each task in your board, there are many options to categorize and modify tasks. Tasks can be assigned to certain individuals in your Trello board, priority levels can be set, and checklists, media content, and hyperlinks can be added. On each card, there are sections for comments where team members can list progress that they’ve made on their assigned tasks as well as field questions to other members and notify them when necessary.
Managing teams of students
Each Trello board has a unique URL. If the board is private, it can only be accessed by members even if the URL is shared. As the teacher of a course, you can store these URLs in Canvas, providing links to each teams Trello board. In this way, you can make it easier for your students to access Trello and for you as the instructor to follow along on their progress.
Setting up teams for success
When designing a Trello board you need to identify the lists (columns) that hold the cards. Instructors may want to create the Trello boards in advance for each team and select lists that make sense for the class project.
Some sample lists are:
- Planned / In Progress / Complete
- Research / Writing / Proofreading / Complete
Additional Information
Trello has a wide range of information and documents specific use cases on their website here. Many teams using SCRUM or Agile processes can find Trello helpful in increasing productivity and focusing energy in spaces where it’s most appropriate.
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