---
title: "Is your project on track?"
course: "PMGT 170 · Get projects done on time"
unit: "Delivering results"
lesson: 27 of 38
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/get-projects-done-on-time/is-your-project-on-track
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Is your project on track?

Lesson 27 of 38 in **Get projects done on time** (PMGT 170), unit "Delivering results". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Describe the current state of the project and identify what the PM needs to focus on before the Board presentation
- Determine whether a project is on track, behind schedule, or ahead of schedule by comparing milestone completion against the project schedule and critical path
- Create a one-page project status report with exactly: a one-sentence overall status, 3 milestone-progress bullets, a one-line cost snapshot, top 3 active risks, and 3 next-step bullets

## Teaching notes
Use an illustration showing a multi-signal dashboard: schedule (pulse survey behind, vendor delay on dashboard), cost ($14,200 of $18,000 spent), and one active risk (vendor confirmation overdue). The CrossTown pilot is in week 6 of 8. Ask the student to open a Canvas titled 'Project Status Report' capped at one page with exactly these sections and lengths: Overall Status (one sentence), Milestone Progress (3 bullets), Cost Snapshot (one line), Active Risks (top 3), and What the PM Does Next (3 bullets). For the last section, present four options (escalate to Sam, reallocate Zoe's hours, defer the dashboard scope, or accept the risk) and ask the student to pick one and justify it in one of the three next-step bullets. Stop once all five sections are filled — do not let any section grow past its cap.

## 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 27 complete: Is your project on track?."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Budget vs. actual: spotting cost problems early" (lesson 28 of 38), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/get-projects-done-on-time/budget-vs-actual-spotting-cost-problems-early.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: Defining and measuring quality
Next lesson: Budget vs. actual: spotting cost problems early