IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Dec 2024

Getting it Wrong: Student Estimations of Time and the Number of Drafts in Linked Computer Science and Technical Communication Courses

Olga Menagarishvili Metropolitan State University ; Rebecca E. Burnett Georgia Institute of Technology ; Andy Frazee Georgia Institute of Technology

Abstract

Background: Students in technical communication classes need to develop expert-like competence in project schedule management to prepare for academic and career success. We address two aspects of project schedule management—estimating time and estimating the number of drafts—that affect undergraduate computer science students in linked computer science–technical communication courses as they prepare documents for their client-based team project. Literature review: Our research considers three areas (developing expert-like behaviors, estimating time, and estimating the number of drafts) that students need to address in their coursework with complex, client-based problems. Research question: What percentage of students accurately estimate, overestimate, or underestimate the time needed to complete project tasks in face-to-face and hybrid sections? We define accurately estimating time as an expert-like behavior and categorize both generating documents and estimating the number of drafts as project tasks. Research methodology: To discuss this research question, we introduce the participants, explain our informed consent, describe our survey instrument for collecting data, and detail our research design. Results/discussion: We present student estimations in two categories: estimated versus actual time to complete assignments and the number of estimated versus actual drafts completed. We learn that students misjudge the amount of time and the number of drafts needed to complete a project, suggesting that technical communication coursework can better prepare students in developing these competencies.

Journal
IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Published
2024-12-01
DOI
10.1109/tpc.2024.3477012
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
technical communication digital rhetoric affect and writing book reviews
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. Menagarishvili et al. (2026)
    Configurations and Modalities: Student Preferences about Individual/Collaborati…
    Technical Communication Quarterly

References (53) · 9 in this index

  1. (2017)
    A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: PMBOK Guide
  2. 10.1108/00483480710726136
     ↗
  3. 10.1145/1083431.1083474
     ↗
  4. 10.1145/3587102.3588825
     ↗
  5. Burnett (2022)
    Sustainable collaboration: A co-taught, client-based course sequence integrating computer…
    Programmatic Perspectives
Show all 53 →
  1. 10.1177/2158244018824506
     ↗
  2. 10.1108/ijmpb-09-2017-0107
     ↗
  3. 10.1177/1461444818820073
     ↗
  4. Lauer et al. (2019)
    Redefining Writing for the Responsive Workplace
    College Composition and Communication
  5. 10.1145/961290.961575
     ↗
  6. Berger et al. (2023)
    Peer-Led Professional Development: How One Technical Communication Team Learns …
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  7. 10.21125/edulearn.2019.2238
     ↗
  8. Livingston (2019)
    Incorporating universal design for learning principles in online and hybrid technical com…
    J. Online Eng. Educ.
  9. 10.1007/978-3-319-54325-3_2
     ↗
  10. Lauren (2018)
    An integrative literature review of project management in technical and professional comm…
    Tech. Commun.
  11. Wisniewski (2018)
    Novice engineers and project management communication in the workplace
    Tech. Commun.
  12. Weimann et al. (2013)
    Enhancing Team Performance Through Tool Use: How Critical Technology-Related Is…
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  13. Persky (2017)
    Moving from novice to expertise and its implications for instruction
    Amer. J. Pharmaceut. Educ.
  14. O’Neill (2020)
    Social responsibility, human centered systems and engineering ethics: A new manifesto for…
    IFAC-PapersOnLine  ↗
  15. Pope-Ruark (2015)
    Introducing Agile Project Management Strategies in Technical and Professional C…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  16. Eyal (2019)
    The Crisis of Expertise
  17. 10.1016/j.ijproman.2020.02.001
     ↗
  18. 10.3102/0091732X18821125
     ↗
  19. 10.1017/9781316480748.006
     ↗
  20. 10.1017/CBO9780511816796
     ↗
  21. Chi (1988)
    The Nature of Expertise
  22. 10.1037/0022-3514.67.3.366
     ↗
  23. Dunning (2007)
    Prediction: The inside view
  24. 10.1016/j.iheduc.2017.01.004
     ↗
  25. 10.1007/s10648-020-09519-z
     ↗
  26. McMannus (2008)
    Internships and occupational socialization: What are students learning
    Developments Bus. Simul. Experiential Learn.
  27. Barchilon (1995)
    A flexible technical communication education model for the year 2000
    Tech. Commun.
  28. Clark (2005)
    Re-negotiating with technology: Training towards more sustainable technical communication
    Tech. Commun.
  29. 10.5465/amp.2016.0166
     ↗
  30. 10.2190/EC.49.4.d
     ↗
  31. 10.1111/dsji.12216
     ↗
  32. 10.3109/13561820.2011.653609
     ↗
  33. Koh et al. (2012)
    Too Early, Too Bad: Uncovering and Understanding the Initial Participation Para…
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  34. Kahneman (1977)
    Intuitive prediction: Biases and corrective procedures
  35. 10.1348/000712699161459
     ↗
  36. 10.1016/j.jesp.2010.03.005
     ↗
  37. 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2012.00958.x
     ↗
  38. Suri (2009)
    Time estimation for project management life cycle: A simulation approach
    Int. J. Comput. Sci. Netw. Security
  39. 10.1109/fie44824.2020.9274203
     ↗
  40. Harris (1989)
    Composing Behaviors of One- and Multi-Draft Writers
    College English
  41. Dave et al. (2010)
    Drafting and Revision Using Word Processing by Undergraduate Student Writers: C…
    Research in the Teaching of English
  42. Hill et al. (1991)
    Revising on-line: Computer technologies and the revising process
    Computers and Composition
  43. 10.1007/s11251-017-9420-6
     ↗
  44. Bremner et al. (2014)
    Task Design and Interaction in Collaborative Writing: The Students’ Story
    Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  45. 10.7551/mitpress/11352.003.0012
     ↗
  46. Sandman (1987)
    Risk communication: Facing public outrage
    EPA J.
  47. (2018)
    Success in disruptive times: Expanding the value delivery landscape to address the high c…
  48. (2024)
    Estimating time to complete: Calculating realistic project timelines
CrossRef global citation count: 1 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Communication Design Quarterly Sep 2025
    Review of "Queer Techné: Bodies, Rhetoric, and Desire in the History of Computing by Patricia Fancher," Fancher P. (2024). Queer techné: Bodies, rhetoric, and desire in the history of computing. National Council of Teachers of English. ↗
    Thomas Gurinskas
    rhetorical criticism technical communication professional writing archival research digital rhetoric gender and writing book reviews
  2. Communication Design Quarterly Jun 2025
    Review of "User Experience Research and Usability of Health Information Technology by Jessica Lynn Campbell, PhD," Campbell, J. L. (2024). User Experience Research and Usability of Health Information technology. CRC Press. ↗
    Chip Warner
    teacher development technical communication digital rhetoric book reviews
  3. Philosophy & Rhetoric Dec 2023
    Scale Theory: A Nondisciplinary Inquiry ↗
    S. Scott Graham
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism technical communication gender and writing affect and writing body and rhetoric book reviews editorial matter
  4. Communication Design Quarterly Dec 2022
    Review of "Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things by Jane Bennett," Bennett, J. (2010). Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things. Duke University Press. ↗
    Wesley Mathis
    argument technical communication affect and writing book reviews
  5. Pedagogy Apr 2022
    Contributors ↗
    rhetorical criticism writing pedagogy creative writing writing across the curriculum teacher development collaborative writing assessment writing program administration technical communication professional writing digital rhetoric literacy studies gender and writing disability studies literary studies book reviews editorial matter