The MPM teaching faculty then analyzed the course content in relationship to project management practices and added missing knowledge elements. This centered around monitoring program currency, relevance, and continuous improvement. Since some agencies also require notification and approval prior to making major changes in a degree program, it is extremely important to remain in contact with them to maintain strong relationships. The courses were placed into sequence to foster the skills and knowledge that a project manager would need in the life cycle of a real-world project. Generally, students have responded to such emergencies by supporting their peers and using telephone conferencing, faxes, and other modes of communication to contact each other and to notify professors of delays.
Flexibility is key .
The instructors have learned to maintain quality of instruction while retaining flexibility. They have found, for example, that students in virtual classrooms produce higher-quality work when they have one big project due every two weeks rather than small weekly assignments. They have therefore adjusted their assignment deadlines to better suit student performance. Constant and timely communication is crucial . In using e-mail, we have found that it is extremely important to acknowledge receipt of a message and to respond promptly, even when students do not request an answer.