Const - 104 - The Construction Process - Planning and Scheduling - Claudenice Braga-McCalister

Introduction

Hello and welcome to CONST 104: Construction Planning and Scheduling!

My name is Claudenice Braga-McCalister, and you may call me Professor McCalister. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and bring professional experience in project management, construction scheduling, and construction safety. I have taught at College of the Canyons since 2018, covering subjects such as construction fundamentals, blueprint reading, building codes, planning and scheduling, estimating, and construction inspections.

A construction schedule is more than a list of dates. It is a decision-making and communication tool that helps a project team determine what work must be performed, in what sequence, with which resources, and within what amount of time. A well-developed schedule helps the team anticipate challenges, coordinate activities, monitor progress, and respond when conditions change.

In this course, you will learn how construction projects are planned, organized, scheduled, monitored, and controlled. You will progress from identifying activities and relationships to developing network schedules, performing Critical Path Method calculations, evaluating resources, and analyzing how delays and changes affect project completion.

This is a fully online and asynchronous course, which means there are no required in-person or real-time class meetings. However, the course is not self-paced. You will need to participate consistently, follow the schedule established for your section, and complete the required activities by their posted deadlines.

Scheduling is a practical skill developed through careful and consistent practice. Come prepared to analyze project information, perform calculations, draw network diagrams, work with spreadsheets, and apply scheduling concepts to realistic construction situations. I look forward to helping you develop these valuable project-management skills.

Course Description

This course introduces the fundamental concepts used in planning, scheduling, and controlling construction projects including software applications. Introduces diagrams, precedence networks, resources, time assignments and computations, the Critical Path Method (CPM), monitoring and updating.

What This Means to You

In this course, you will develop a practical understanding of how construction projects are planned, scheduled, monitored, and controlled. You will learn the difference between planning what must be done and scheduling when and in what sequence the work will occur.

You will identify construction activities, estimate activity durations, determine logical relationships, and organize project information using bar charts and network diagrams. You will learn how to perform forward-pass and backward-pass calculations, determine early and late dates, calculate float, and identify the critical path that controls project completion.

The course also examines resource allocation and leveling, schedule monitoring and updating, delays, schedule acceleration, time-cost trade-offs, risk, and the roles that project participants play in developing and maintaining a reliable schedule.

You will compare scheduling methods, including the Critical Path Method and Program Evaluation and Review Technique, and evaluate how different charts, diagrams, and network formats communicate project information.

This course uses Microsoft Excel as a scheduling platform to help you organize activities, perform calculations, analyze logic, and present a construction project schedule. The emphasis is on understanding the principles behind construction scheduling so that you can later transfer those skills to professional scheduling applications.

By the end of the course, you will be better prepared to develop, analyze, update, and communicate a construction schedule and evaluate how activity logic, resources, delays, and project decisions affect the completion date.

What to Expect in this Course

This is a fully online and asynchronous course. There are no required in-person or real-time lectures. Course materials, instructional videos, assignments, discussions, quizzes, exams, scheduling exercises, and projects are delivered through Canvas.

Although you may complete your work at different times, this course is not self-paced. Modules, assignments, and assessments follow the schedule established for your section. You are expected to review Canvas regularly, read announcements, follow module instructions, and submit your work by the posted deadlines.

Typical modules may include textbook readings, supplemental resources, instructional videos, practice calculations, network-diagram activities, spreadsheet exercises, graded assignments, discussions or reflections, quizzes, and a module checklist. You will also complete online exams, smaller scheduling activities, and a final project that requires you to develop and present a construction project schedule.

You should plan to dedicate several hours each week to reviewing instructional materials, analyzing project information, drawing and calculating schedules, completing spreadsheet activities, participating in discussions, and preparing for assessments. Scheduling exercises may require more time as network diagrams and calculations become more complex. Shorter and accelerated sections cover the same content in less time and therefore require a substantially greater weekly commitment.

Regular access to a desktop or laptop computer and a reliable internet connection is strongly recommended. You will need a current web browser, a PDF reader, Microsoft Word or compatible word-processing software, and Microsoft Excel or compatible spreadsheet software. A calculator is also required, and colored highlighters may be helpful when analyzing activity relationships and critical paths.

The course uses Excel to teach scheduling concepts and does not require students to purchase professional scheduling software such as Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project. The focus is on developing a strong understanding of logic, sequencing, calculations, resources, and critical path methodology.

A webcam and microphone are not required for routine participation but may be needed for optional meetings, collaborative activities, individual support, or an academic integrity review.

Types of Assessments

Assessments may include online research activities, homework assignments, scheduling calculations, bar-chart activities, network-diagram exercises, resource-allocation activities, spreadsheet assignments, discussion boards and peer responses, short written reflections, practice quizzes, graded quizzes, online exams, micro-projects, and a final scheduling project.

Practice activities may be ungraded and are provided to help you develop scheduling skills, check your calculations, and prepare for graded assessments. Exams evaluate your understanding of planning, scheduling, network logic, resources, monitoring, and project controls. Applied assignments and projects require you to organize activities, establish logical relationships, perform schedule calculations, identify the critical path, evaluate project conditions, and present schedule information clearly.

All required work must be completed and submitted through Canvas according to the instructions and deadlines established for your section.

Textbook Information

Required Textbook:

Construction Project Scheduling and Control, Fifth Edition

Author: Saleh A. Mubarak
Publisher: Wiley
ISBN: 978-1-394-21572-0

This textbook provides the concepts, methods, calculations, and practical examples that support the scheduling activities completed throughout the course. It will be referenced in instructional materials, assignments, discussions, and assessments.

The textbook may be purchased through the College of the Canyons Bookstore or another retailer. Please verify the title, author, edition, publisher, and ISBN before purchasing to ensure that you obtain the correct textbook.

Other Relevant Course Information

Active and consistent participation is essential for success in an online construction scheduling course. Simply logging into Canvas does not count as attendance or participation. You demonstrate academic participation by submitting assignments, completing scheduling calculations and network activities, contributing to required discussions, taking quizzes and exams, working on scheduling projects, and engaging with other required course activities.

Scheduling concepts build progressively. Activity identification and sequencing provide the foundation for network diagrams, Critical Path Method calculations, resource analysis, monitoring, updating, and schedule control. Waiting until deadlines approach or attempting to complete several modules at once may make it difficult to understand the relationships among these concepts.

Show your work on scheduling assignments whenever required. Clearly identify activities, durations, relationships, early and late dates, float, and the critical path. A correct final answer without the required supporting calculations or schedule documentation may not fully demonstrate your understanding.

Carefully review all submission instructions. Before submitting an assignment, confirm that formulas function correctly, all required worksheets or diagrams are included, and the correct file has been uploaded. A blank, corrupted, incorrect, or unrelated file does not constitute a valid submission.

Retain your completed calculations, network diagrams, spreadsheets, and instructor feedback. Earlier activities may support later assignments and the final scheduling project.

Students on the official waitlist will be considered for enrollment as seats become available. Students who are not on the waitlist may be considered only if space remains after eligible waitlisted students have been served. Enrollment is not guaranteed and depends on seat availability.

Your interest in learning is one of the most important components of success in this course. A growth mindset will help you view challenges as opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills. Consistent effort, effective time management, and dedication to meeting assignment and exam deadlines are also essential. The video Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck - YouTube provides additional guidance on developing this approach to learning.

It is also important to identify your academic and professional goals. The video Setting SMART Goals - How To Properly Set a Goal (animated) - YouTube introduces a helpful method for creating goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. When you understand what you want to accomplish and where you would like to go, I can better support you in reaching those goals.

Students on the official waitlist will be considered for enrollment as seats become available. Students who are not on the waitlist may be considered only if space remains after eligible waitlisted students have been served. Enrollment is not guaranteed and depends on seat availability.

Before the course begins, I will send an email with additional information to students who are officially enrolled. Please monitor your COC email and Canvas announcements regularly so you do not miss important course information.

I will be here to answer questions, provide guidance, and support your progress. I hope to see you in this course and look forward to helping you work toward your goals!

Additional Resources

Canvas

This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:

• CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
• CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password

Please visit the Get to Know Your Online Classroom page for help logging into Canvas and for tips on using Canvas and Zoom. Canvas Chat Support is also available 24/7 for any Canvas related issues.

Online Education

Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.

The Learning Center (TLC)

The TLC provides FREE online tutoring resources to COC students!

Academic Accommodation Center (AAC)

College of the Canyons AAC provides educational services and access for eligible students with documented disabilities who intend to pursue coursework at COC. A variety of programs and services are available which afford eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the college programs and activities through appropriate and reasonable accommodations. For more information on their services visit the Academic Accomodation Center website.

Online Counseling

The Counseling Department offers appointments online. You can schedule an appointment by visiting the Online Counseling website. Counselors can help you map out a plan to reach your educational goals as well as advise you on course selection and registration.

Management of Stress and Mental Health

Often the pressure on our students is very strong, involving academic commitments, relationships, outside jobs and family pressure to name a few. The staff and faculty of College of the Canyons are here to see you succeed academically and care about your emotional and physical health. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential student services, including counseling and mental health services available on campus by visiting the Student Health & Wellness Center in the Student Services Building (across from the bookstore). The phone number is 661-362-3259 that you can call 24/7. You can also e mail for an appointment at StudentHealthCenter@canyons.edu. At the Canyon Country Campus the Health Center will be in the new Student Services Building.

Also, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is now 988. All students at COC are encouraged to enter that phone number in their cells. You can call it when you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide or is in severe distress.

You can also now use the Crisis Text Line: Just text "Courage" to 741741. Someone will get back to you immediately. Its free, 24/7, and confidential.

Veterans Resource Center

The College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center is a department within the Student Services Division at the college, created to help veterans and veteran dependents with applying to College of the Canyons, enrolling in classes, and requesting VA Education or Vocational Benefits. For more information please visit the Veterans Resource Center website, email veterans@canyons.edu or phone (661) 362-3469.

Library

The Library provides live online and in-person research help, access to a full range of e-resources and physical materials that support the curriculum, individual and group study areas, and much more!

Last updated: 08/04/2026 Sub#: 2068 Sub ID: 218430