---
title: "Building a project schedule with dependencies"
course: "PMGT 170 · Get projects done on time"
unit: "Planning the work"
lesson: 12 of 38
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/get-projects-done-on-time/building-a-project-schedule-with-dependencies
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Building a project schedule with dependencies

Lesson 12 of 38 in **Get projects done on time** (PMGT 170), unit "Planning the work". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Create a project schedule by sequencing tasks with finish-to-start dependencies and milestones
- Identify the four types of task dependencies and recognize when each applies

## Teaching notes
Use an illustration that shows a Gantt chart with 5-6 tasks, bars representing durations, and arrows showing finish-to-start dependencies. Highlight a milestone marker. The student sequences the work packages from their Google Sheet into a schedule, identifying dependencies and milestones. Focus on finish-to-start as the primary dependency type; treat other types at awareness level.

Use the CrossTown Fitness scenario here — member pulse survey deliverable.

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.

## When the lesson is done
The lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed above. Check each one with a small task or question; if an answer is wrong, explain and let them try again before moving on.
When every outcome is covered:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson 12 complete: Building a project schedule with dependencies."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Finding the critical path" (lesson 13 of 38), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/get-projects-done-on-time/finding-the-critical-path.md. Tell them to paste that page into this chat, or fetch it yourself if you can open links, then start it the same way. Do not start teaching the next lesson's topic until the learner has it.

Previous lesson: Presenting your plan: a stakeholder checkpoint
Next lesson: Finding the critical path