---
title: "Setting up a project tracking board"
course: "PMGT 170 · Get projects done on time"
unit: "Leading the execution"
lesson: 17 of 38
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/get-projects-done-on-time/setting-up-a-project-tracking-board
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Setting up a project tracking board

Lesson 17 of 38 in **Get projects done on time** (PMGT 170), unit "Leading the execution". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Describe how to set up a project tracking board with columns that match a chosen methodology's workflow
- Populate the board with tasks from a WBS and assign owners and due dates
- Identify the core agile artifacts — product backlog and sprint — and recognize how they map to columns on a tracking board

## Teaching notes
Use an illustration that shows a project tracking board with columns matching a waterfall workflow (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Review, Done) and an agile workflow (e.g., Backlog, Sprint, In Progress, Done). The illustration should show tasks from a WBS populated on the board with owners and due dates. Walk the learner through how the board layout reflects methodology choice and how tasks move across columns as work progresses. When showing the agile board, introduce the product backlog (the full prioritized list of items) and the sprint (a time-boxed slice of work) as named vocabulary — recognition level only, not deep practice. Mention that popular tools for this include Trello, Asana, ClickUp, and Monday.com — learners should be aware these exist as free-tier options they can explore on their own.

Use the CrossTown Fitness scenario here - deliverables: a new-member onboarding journey, a member pulse survey, and an at-risk member alert dashboard.

## 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 17 complete: Setting up a project tracking board."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Tracking progress during execution" (lesson 18 of 38), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/get-projects-done-on-time/tracking-progress-during-execution.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: Building a risk register
Next lesson: Tracking progress during execution