As a Scrum Master, author, and parent, I've often been asked whether Scrum is only for professional teams and complex projects. My answer? Absolutely not. To illustrate, I'd like to share a story about my middle school-aged son. He recently took a creative assignment to another level with a unique blend of Scrum, technology, and classic literature.
My son was introduced to Scrum at the tender age of four. Through the years, these agile principles have become second nature to him, influencing not just his academic projects but also his approach to problem-solving and learning. The proof? His recent school project, 60-Second Julius Caesar, earned rave reviews from his teachers, classmates, and even the wider school community.
When presented with a creative assignment on Julius Caesar, he saw an opportunity to tell a tale and create an experience. He used Scrum to structure his project, tackling the uncertainty of the task with Sprints, daily checks, and regular Retrospectives. Each task represented a part of the Caesar narrative he needed to unravel. When asked what he did to keep on track with such a tight deadline (2 weeks), he said,
"I turned to Scrum. First, I labeled stickies for tasks like a theme, storyboard, text, dialogue, images, sound effects, transitions, musical score, editing, and captions. Then, I ordered them according to what made sense to tackle first."
But the Scrum methodology was only part of this middle-school masterpiece. My son taught himself to use a tech stack that would make many adults balk: Descript, MS PowerPoint, MS Word, Canva, Imagine AI, Minecraft, and YouTube. He wrote the script, voiced the narrator, and used Minecraft-generated AI images to bring the story to life. This was no small feat for a 7th grader, but his familiarity with Scrum helped him manage his workload and meet his deadline.
"While fun, I didn't anticipate how many times I would have to rewrite the script for brevity or record the audio to get it to fit with the correct image, and don't get me started on the soundtrack. It was more complex. It wasn't if you fail once, then the next time, it will turn out right. We're talking multiple iterations. My original script, a story narrated by the Soothsayer, ran over four minutes. I reenvisioned the Soothsayer as a Disney-inspired character that spoke in rhymes to cut down on time. Finally, I asked my teacher if it was okay to go over the 60 seconds by a few seconds, and she approved the change."
This project showcased my son's creativity, tech-savviness, and Scrum skills. It serves as an inspiring testament to the applicability of Scrum in various spheres, including education. It shows that when the principles of Scrum are genuinely understood and applied, even a complex and creative endeavor becomes manageable and fun. On top of that, my son was the Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Developer, precisely as I started with Scrum so many years ago in construction.
As a parent, I couldn't be more proud. As a Scrum Master and trainer, I'm thrilled to see these principles take root and yield tangible results outside the typical confines of a workplace. It's not just about the final product, but the process that led to its creation. Check it out on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/q1eNhnT-lzk
We can learn a lot from this example. From the way Scrum can help manage and break down a complex task to the ease with which today's students can embrace and leverage technology, the future seems bright. And who knows? The Scrum Masters of tomorrow might be found in tech firms, boardrooms, construction sites, and today's classrooms.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this project and how you've seen Scrum used in unconventional ways. You may have a story of Scrum in education or another creative project endeavor. Share your stories, and let's learn from each other! If you want to learn Scrum from me, check out my four options, including a free 30-minute course here. https://store.theebfcshow.com/learn-the-framework
