Project Workbook
A step-by-step guide to turn your idea into action. Use this workbook until you don’t need it anymore.
PDF version available at Incite-Literacy-Project-Workbook-PDF.md
📚 Note: This workbook uses Project-Based Learning to structure your work. While you’re following these steps, you’ll naturally experience elements of Design Thinking through your activities. Don’t worry about the labels—focus on the doing.
⚡ Important: This workbook provides a general framework. For specific weekly activities and AI collaboration prompts, always refer to your chosen project’s detailed week guides.
Step 1: Find Your Starting Point
Answer this first: What brought you here? (Check the one that feels most true)
☐ “Something frustrates me and I want to fix it” → Use the Challenge template
☐ “I have a skill/knowledge I want to share” → Use the Objective template
☐ “I see something broken that needs solving” → Use the Problem template
☐ “I just want to build something cool” → Use any template that feels right
Step 2: Write Your Project Statement
Based on your starting point above, fill in ONE template:
💡 Quick tip: Different project types need different validation:
- Challenge = validate with many (is this frustration widespread?)
- Objective = start with one (perfect your approach first)
- Problem = verify with a few (confirm it’s real)
📚 How this connects to PBL & DT: All three templates use Project-Based Learning (starting with a driving question) and Design Thinking (empathize → define → ideate → prototype → test). They just offer different entry points based on what you bring—a frustration, a skill, or a problem you’ve spotted. Every path leads to the same outcome: real learning through real creation.
If you chose Challenge (something frustrates you):
Your template: “How might I [improve/create/solve] [specific frustration] for [who needs this]?”
Fill it in here:
How might I [improve/create/solve] _________________________________________
for [who needs this] _________________________________________________________?
Example: How might I make healthy eating easier for busy families?
Why this template: Challenges start with frustration. You’re not sure of the solution yet, but you know something needs to be better.
Next steps for Challenge projects:
- Discover & Define (Week 1): Talk to 5 people who share this frustration, clarify your challenge
- Design & Build (Week 2): Research existing solutions, brainstorm 10 ideas, start building the simplest
- Test & Iterate (Week 3): Test your solution with real people, refine based on feedback
- Present & Reflect (Week 4): Share with your audience, gather feedback, document learning
Track Your Progress: Note: The “Stuck?” suggestions are AI prompts. Replace [bracketed text] with your specific project details, then use with ChatGPT or other AI tools.
Week 1: ☐ Project launched Date: ______
Key learning (What surprised you?): __________________________________
AI prompts that helped: ______________________________________
AI safety reflection: What personal info did you protect from AI? _______________
Stuck? Copy to AI: “Help me create 5 questions to ask people who are frustrated by [your topic here]”
Week 2: ☐ Knowledge built Date: ______
Key learning (What will you change?): ________________________________
AI prompts that helped: ______________________________________
AI safety reflection: What AI “fact” turned out to be wrong? _________________
Stuck? Copy to AI: “Generate 10 creative solutions for [your challenge here], including both high-tech and no-tech options”
Week 3: ☐ Solution created Date: ______
Key learning (What was harder than expected?): _______________________
AI prompts that helped: ______________________________________
AI safety reflection: Where did you choose YOUR way over AI’s suggestion? _______
Stuck? Copy to AI: “What’s the absolute simplest version of [your solution here] I could build in 2 hours?”
Week 4: ☐ Presented & reflected Date: ______
Key learning (What would you tell someone else?): ____________________
AI prompts that helped: ______________________________________
AI safety reflection: What will you teach someone else about using AI safely? ___
Stuck? Copy to AI: “Create a feedback form with 5 questions to ask testers about [your solution here]”
If you chose Objective (skill to share):
Your template: “My goal is to [specific outcome] by [your method] so that [the change you want to see].”
Fill it in here:
My goal is to [specific outcome] _________________________________________
by [your method] _________________________________________________________
so that [the change you want to see] ____________________________________.
Example: My goal is to teach 20 seniors basic smartphone skills by creating simple video tutorials so that they can stay connected with family.
Why this template: Objectives start with something you can do. You know your skill; you need to find who needs it.
Next steps for Objective projects:
- Discover & Define (Week 1): Define what success looks like, identify who needs your skill
- Design & Build (Week 2): Research approaches, design your teaching method or solution
- Test & Iterate (Week 3): Test with your first person, refine based on results
- Present & Reflect (Week 4): Help multiple people, gather feedback, document what worked
Track Your Progress: Note: The “Stuck?” suggestions are AI prompts. Replace [bracketed text] with your specific project details, then use with ChatGPT or other AI tools.
Week 1: ☐ Project launched Date: ______
Key learning (What surprised you?): __________________________________
AI prompts that helped: ______________________________________
AI safety reflection: What personal info did you protect from AI? _______________
Stuck? Copy to AI: “What would success look like for teaching [your skill here] to [your audience here]?”
Week 2: ☐ Knowledge built Date: ______
Key learning (What will you change?): ________________________________
AI prompts that helped: ______________________________________
AI safety reflection: What AI “fact” turned out to be wrong? _________________
Stuck? Copy to AI: “Where would I find people who need help with [your skill here]?”
Week 3: ☐ Solution created Date: ______
Key learning (What was harder than expected?): _______________________
AI prompts that helped: ______________________________________
AI safety reflection: Where did you choose YOUR way over AI’s suggestion? _______
Stuck? Copy to AI: “Break down [your skill here] into 5 micro-lessons a beginner could follow”
Week 4: ☐ Presented & reflected Date: ______
Key learning (What would you tell someone else?): ____________________
AI prompts that helped: ______________________________________
AI safety reflection: What will you teach someone else about using AI safely? ___
Stuck? Copy to AI: “How can I document what happened when I helped someone with [your skill here]?”
If you chose Problem (something’s broken):
Your template: “The problem is [what’s broken]. I will [your solution] to [the outcome].”
Fill it in here:
The problem is [what’s broken] ___________________________________________.
I will [your solution] _________________________________________________________
to [the outcome] ___________________________________________________________.
Example: The problem is local small businesses have no online presence. I will create simple website templates to help them reach more customers.
Why this template: Problems are clear and specific. You can point to what’s wrong and envision it fixed.
Next steps for Problem projects:
- Discover & Define (Week 1): Verify the problem with 3 people, define it clearly
- Design & Build (Week 2): Research existing solutions, design and start building your approach
- Test & Iterate (Week 3): Test your solution with real users, refine based on feedback
- Present & Reflect (Week 4): Share with broader audience, document insights and learning
Track Your Progress: Note: The “Stuck?” suggestions are AI prompts. Replace [bracketed text] with your specific project details, then use with ChatGPT or other AI tools.
Week 1: ☐ Project launched Date: ______
Key learning (What surprised you?): __________________________________
AI prompts that helped: ______________________________________
AI safety reflection: What personal info did you protect from AI? _______________
Stuck? Copy to AI: “Help me create 3 questions to verify if [your problem here] is really affecting people”
Week 2: ☐ Knowledge built Date: ______
Key learning (What will you change?): ________________________________
AI prompts that helped: ______________________________________
AI safety reflection: What AI “fact” turned out to be wrong? _________________
Stuck? Copy to AI: “What existing solutions are there for [your problem here] and why might they not be working?”
Week 3: ☐ Solution created Date: ______
Key learning (What was harder than expected?): _______________________
AI prompts that helped: ______________________________________
AI safety reflection: Where did you choose YOUR way over AI’s suggestion? _______
Stuck? Copy to AI: “How could I solve [your problem here] in a simpler way than existing solutions?”
Week 4: ☐ Presented & reflected Date: ______
Key learning (What would you tell someone else?): ____________________
AI prompts that helped: ______________________________________
AI safety reflection: What will you teach someone else about using AI safely? ___
Stuck? Copy to AI: “Create a simple test plan for my solution to [your problem here]”
Step 3: Reality Check
Before you start building, answer these:
Who specifically will use this? (Name actual people if possible)
What’s the smallest version you could build this week?
What might stop you? How will you handle it?
Who can you show this to for honest feedback?
Step 4: Your Week-by-Week Plan
Week 1: Discover & Define
☐ Define your driving question clearly
☐ Talk to people affected by this challenge
☐ Research the problem/opportunity
☐ Refine your project statement
Week 2: Design & Build
☐ Research existing solutions or approaches
☐ Gather resources and tools you’ll need
☐ Design your approach (your voice matters)
☐ Start building your solution
Week 3: Test & Iterate
☐ Test with real people (not just friends)
☐ Gather specific feedback on what works/doesn’t
☐ Refine and improve based on testing
☐ Document what you’re learning
Week 4: Present & Reflect
☐ Share with real audience (3+ people)
☐ Gather final feedback
☐ Reflect on your entire journey
☐ Celebrate what you created
Step 5: Common Roadblocks (and Solutions)
“I don’t know where to start”
Start with one person’s problem. Just one. Solve it manually first, then build tools.
“My idea keeps changing”
Good. That means you’re learning. Write down each version—you might come back to earlier ideas.
“No one seems interested”
Either you’re talking to the wrong people, or solving the wrong problem. Try a different angle.
“The tech seems too hard”
Every tool has YouTube tutorials. Start with no-code options. Use AI to help you learn.
“I don’t have time”
Track where your time goes for one day. Find 30 minutes. That’s enough to start.
When You’re Stuck
Three questions to unstick yourself:
- What’s the real problem I’m solving? (Get specific)
- Who has this problem the most? (Get more specific)
- What’s the absolute simplest solution? (Even simpler than that)
Gradual Independence
First project: Use every step in this workbook
Second project: Skip the parts that feel obvious
Third project: Just use the template
Fourth project: You won’t need this at all
That’s the goal—to not need this workbook.
Ready? Start Step 1
Don’t read this entire workbook first. Just do Step 1, then Step 2, then start building.
Perfect plans don’t exist. Start messy. Learn by doing.
Your project begins now.
Back to Self-Assessment | Getting Started | Homepage
Note: This workbook is training wheels. Use it as long as it helps. Abandon it when you’re ready to ride on your own.