PD 21Engineering Workplace Skills II: Developing Effective Plans
- Last listed
- Spring 2021
No longer offered. It was in Waterloo’s course catalog since at least Winter 2020 (as far back as Open Data goes) to Spring 2021 and last ran in Spring 2021. It isn’t in the 2024–25 or later calendars.
When it ran
- W20
- S20
- F20
- W21
- S21
Ran in 5 terms, Winter 2020 to Spring 2021.
An introduction to problem formulation and problem strategies in the workplace for co-op engineering students. Students will practice defining problems, developing solution plans, and creating technical and non-technical presentations of plans. Topics include: translating client requirements into technical requirements, using SWOT analysis to identify high priority problems and issues, typical solution strategies, brainstorming, appropriate use of technology, assessing potential solution strategies for risk and impact on employer, public and environment, identifying specific tasks along with their priorities, developing and following work schedules, and communication to team members, organizational members, clients, and the public. [Note: Course will be graded on a CR/NCR basis.]
Requirements, as last listed
Prereq: Engineering students only
In today’s calendar
- PD 19 lists it as an antirequisite
Reviewed on UW Flow
11% liked it84% easy20% useful
From 81 ratings and 9 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
If you are going to make a genuine attempt at earning as high a mark as possible in this course, then you may find it slightly more challenging to do so than with PD20. However, this is still a PD course - sleep through it or enjoy a chance to get >100% in a course, the choice is yours.
Feb 2017 · didn’t like it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
shit course
Mar 2018 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Complete waste of time. Much more demanding than PD 20. Honestly, that was a more useful course. At least that had Bayes' Theorem.
Apr 2017 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Boneless
Feb 2021 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Essentially a carbon copy of ME 101. The content itself is useful but I didn't learn anything new. Assignments were easy save for the one quiz we had. Requirements were a bit vague.
May 2020 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
69 posts and comments in 53 threads mention PD 21, December 2012 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2021
Work Term Report 1 point, 4 comments
“I just finished my 2B term for Computer Engineering and am currently on my third coop. Do I have to submit a work term report? It is not a requirement for my PD course. My graduating year is 2024.”
u/Correct_Location: “If this is a serious question: From your info, I'm gonna assume you're in stream 8. This website has the information on submitting work term reports in the ECE department. …”
u/Lone_Wolfffff: “… Also, since I did a work term report for PD20 and for PD21, does this mean I have to only submit one more work term report? Also, do I have to enrol in the WKRPT course in order to have a work term report marked? …”
Spring 2021
ECE Coop Work Term Report 1 point, 3 comments
“I am currently finishing up my ECE 2A coop term. Recently, I realized that I needed to write and submit a work term report for this term’s coop. …”
u/uwvax657687: “I think work reports were replaced with the final response of PD courses for engineering. Someone correct me if I'm wrong”
u/Pure_Marsupial_6540: “PD 21 still has a work term report Source: ECE student currently taking PD 21”
What's your favourite PD? 1 point, 5 comments
“What's your favourite PD course? Discuss View Poll”
u/1000Ditto: “pd 21 is the best of the demons spent 10 minutes every few weeks and yet still passed, forgetting 2 quizzes”
u/10minuteninja: “pd 21 taught me to never trust those little o-ring thingies”
u/1000Ditto: “pd21 in a nutshell engineers: the o ring is going to fail management: nah it wont o ring: fails and blows up rocket ship engineers: sit down and shut up management engineers: 🤔🤔🤔”
Winter 2021
I just submitted my last PD assignment ever 85 points, 10 comments
“AMA”
u/superuwu1000: “1. How does it feel? 2. How many hours did you think you spent on PD, total? 3. Did you learn anything worthwhile? 4. Rank all your PD Courses 5. …”
u/kawhiberry: “… Next: PD21 - forced to take it but I think that’s the one with the workplace simulation where your coworkers spill some hot tea ☕️👀Next: PD5 project management, useless trash. Last: PD20 - forced to take it and had way too many assignments. 5. …”
How bad is PD22 really? 0 points, 7 comments
u/superuwu1000: “… compared to PD 20 & PD 21?) And would you recommend it?”
u/IcyProfit03: “… EDIT : Also yeah I preferred PD 20 and PD 21 over PD 22 but this is just my take on it The assessments for PD 22 (unless it changes yearly)is all Quiz oriented if that helps”
Fall 2020
PD for ECE 6 points, 3 comments
u/clumsyce: “… I have already taken PD 20, PD 21 and PD 22. I am looking for courses that don't involve a lot of essay writing. I was thinking about PD 5 or PD 6. If you have taken these courses how was your experience? …”
Spring 2020
how much effort do you put into pd 8 points, 14 comments
“just curious, how much time do you spend on this nonsense.”
u/__kindStranger__: “… Pd 21- assignments? They took longer about an hour a week Pd 8- absolute bs. Complete trash. SO much writing. Took an hour? Definitely not worth it. Pd 5- my favourite so far. Did 3/6 assignments. They weren't all weighed equal. Spent 15-30 min per assignment. …”
PD21 Dropping knowledge bombs 29 points, 3 comments
Winter 2020
PD 21 Credit? 3 points, 1 comment
u/peach-elixir: “Did anyone get their PD 21 'grade' (CR/NCR) yet? My transcript is still blank in the grade column for PD 21 and I thought it should be up by now...”
What happens if you fail PD? 2 points, 4 comments
u/seiko1305: “Can I retake PD 21 another term?”
u/QuestionTuesdayFTW: “How did you fail PD21? Anyhow yes you're going to have to retake it on another co-op term.”
PD21 - If you have a 60 in the course are you good or is the final also mandatory to pass? 1 point, 2 comments
u/QuestionTuesdayFTW: “I thought there was no final for PD21?”
Fall 2019
ENG Failing Same PD course twice 1 point, 10 comments
u/Taco220: “I have a 2 part question Im an CHEM ENG student going into my 3A term 1.) If I failed PD 21 twice since it's a professional Development course and not part of my GPA will I still be asked to withdraw from engineering. 2.) With only 3 coop terms left and 4 PD courses. …”
u/Def_Not_KGB: “Honestly if you're still on coop email the PD21 people and ask for forgiveness and say you had a bad term (don't make any bs excuses) and say you're willing to do every single assignment you missed. And don't half ass them. …”
u/Taco220: “but If I end up failing PD 21 twice will that get me kicked out of engineering”
u/SpitFir3Tornado: “how do you fail pd21”
Check it elsewhere
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2020–21Its last calendar entry, on uwloo
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them