Authors: Emily Larsen, Darin Aaby, Chuck Pezeshki
Capstone courses at Washington State University once left students struggling to organize themselves through open-ended project work. Emily Larsen, alongside Darin Aaby and Chuck Pezeshki, introduced Agile project management into ME 416, turning scattered efforts into structured innovation.
By replacing unstructured timelines with two-week sprints, student teams gained the tools to break down complex problems, set deliverables, and keep pace. This system includes sprint planning, task backlogs, and end-of-sprint reflections that mirror real-world engineering practices.
The result? Fewer missed milestones, more frequent prototyping, and students consistently finishing projects closer to—or ahead of—schedule. Teams became more accountable, customer meetings more productive, and the role of instructors more efficient.
This shift didn’t just improve outcomes. It prepared students for the modern workforce, where Agile isn’t just a method—it’s a mindset.