Use of timelines in senior design--an efficient project management tool for faculty

Area of Science:

• Engineering Education
• Project Management

Background:

• Work plans are crucial for managing complex projects, regardless of company size.
• Effective project management involves resource scheduling and identifying critical decisions.
• Timelines serve as indispensable tools for project managers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the concept and utilization of timelines as a project management tool in an undergraduate senior design course.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of project planning for students and faculty.
• To demonstrate how timelines assist faculty in monitoring student progress and grading.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of timelines as a project management tool for faculty and students.
• Analysis of student project planning examples.
• Collection of faculty and student comments on the effectiveness of timelines.

Main Results:

• Timelines effectively assist students in planning and executing their projects.
• Faculty found timelines valuable for charting student progress and meeting course requirements.
• The use of timelines facilitated grading and assessment of student work.

Conclusions:

• Timelines are effective project management tools in undergraduate senior design courses.
• Utilizing timelines enhances student project planning and execution.
• Timelines provide a clear mechanism for faculty to track student progress and manage course requirements.