← Years 9–10 Data & Information

Kanban boards

A board where each task is a card that moves through columns like To do, Doing and Done, so the whole team can see the project's status at a glance.

Part of: 9-10 Digital Technologies: Project management — Module 4, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 3 — Interactions Between Users, Data and Digital Systems — Module 122

Understanding Kanban boards in Years 9–10 Data & Information

What it does: Cards represent tasks. Moving a card across columns shows the project's progress. Putting a name on a card makes responsibility clear for the whole team. Each card is one task. It moves across the board as the work gets done. Finished cards move to Done. They stay visible so everyone can see the progress made. A WIP limit stops the team from starting too much at once. Finishing work first keeps the project flowing. Assigning a card shows who owns the task. Then nobody is unsure who should do it. A Kanban board is shared. The whole team can see what is waiting, in progress and finished.

Common mistakes: The columns are in the wrong order. A Kanban board reads left to right, so cards move from To do to Doing to Done. It should be COLUMNS To do | Doing | Done. The board has no Testing column. A card can only move to a column that exists, so this should be MOVE Write quiz TO Doing.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

🖨 Print worksheet + answer key Add Kanban boards to a class →

This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 83–132) and word search (Modules 6–132).

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Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning
Duo
On a Kanban board, what does each card represent?
A single team member's whole jobA single task in the project
Matches
Doing (WIP limit: 2) has 5 cards
↓
The Doing column holds 5 cards, which goes over its limit of 2. The team should finish tasks before starting new ones.
Applying
Meanings
Term
Kanban board
Meaning
A board where each task is a card that moves through columns like To do, Doing and Done, so the whole team can see the project's status at a glance.
Practice
Column: To do
Testing
Gaps
Columns: To do | | Done
Check Answer
Spots
1BOARD Website
2COLUMNS Done | Doing | To do

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Quick Questions

1. On a Kanban board, what does each card represent?
A. A single team member's whole job
B. A single task in the project ✓
Each card is one task. It moves across the board as the work gets done.
2. Your team has finished designing the logo. Where should that card go?
A. Move it to the Done column ✓
B. Delete it so the board stays tidy
Finished cards move to Done. They stay visible so everyone can see the progress made.
3. Which set of columns is typical for a simple Kanban board?
A. To do, Doing, Done ✓
B. Start, Middle, Deadline
A basic board uses To do, Doing and Done. These show the status of every task.
4. A team sets a work in progress (WIP) limit of 3 on the Doing column. Three cards are already there. What should happen next?
A. Finish a card before pulling in a new one ✓
B. Add a fourth card so no one is waiting
A WIP limit stops the team from starting too much at once. Finishing work first keeps the project flowing.
5. Why do teams limit work in progress?
A. It makes the board look neater for the teacher
B. It helps tasks get finished instead of piling up half-done ✓
Too many tasks in Doing slows everyone down. A limit keeps the team focused on finishing.

Match the Pairs

To do | Doing | Done → The three basic columns of a Kanban board, showing a task's stage from left to right
Doing (WIP limit: 3) → A column that allows no more than 3 cards at once, so the team finishes work before starting more
Each task is written on a card, and the card moves to the next column when its stage is finished → Card: Design logo | moved from Doing to Done
A card is assigned to one person so everyone knows who is responsible for that task → Card: Write survey questions | Assigned to: Mia
Doing (WIP limit: 2) has 5 cards → The Doing column holds 5 cards, which goes over its limit of 2. The team should finish tasks before starting new ones.
Card: Build website | Assigned to: Everyone → The card is assigned to everyone, so no single person is clearly responsible. It should be assigned to one named person.

Key Term

Kanban board
A board where each task is a card that moves through columns like To do, Doing and Done, so the whole team can see the project's status at a glance.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Columns: To do | Doing | Done
Hint: Type the name of the middle column, where work is under way.
2. Doing [WIP limit: 3]
Hint: Type the short term for work in progress, used to cap how many cards the Doing column can hold.
3. Card: Draw wireframe Assigned: Mia
Hint: Type the label that shows which person is responsible for the card.
4. Card: Test app Move: Doing -> Done
Hint: Type the final column, where finished cards end up.
5. Add card: Write report Column: To do
Hint: Type the first column, where new cards wait before work begins.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A BOARD Website
B COLUMNS Done | Doing | To do
C CARD Draw logo IN To do
Line B — The columns are in the wrong order. A Kanban board reads left to right, so cards move from To do to Doing to Done. It should be COLUMNS To do | Doing | Done.
Question 2
A BOARD Quiz App
B COLUMNS To do | Doing | Done
C CARD Write quiz IN To do
D MOVE Write quiz TO Testing
Line D — The board has no Testing column. A card can only move to a column that exists, so this should be MOVE Write quiz TO Doing.
Question 3
A BOARD Game Jam
B COLUMNS To do | Doing | Done
C LIMIT Done 3
D CARD Sprites IN Doing
Line C — A work in progress limit goes on the Doing column. Capping Done would stop finished work from piling up, which is not the point. It should be LIMIT Doing 3.
Question 4
A BOARD Poster
B CARD Draw art IN To do
C ASSIGN Sam TO Draw art
D MOVE Draw art TO Doing
Line C — The card and the person are swapped. You assign a card to a person, so it should be ASSIGN Draw art TO Sam.
Question 5
A COLUMNS To do | Doing | Done
B LIMIT Doing 1
C CARD Record IN Doing
D CARD Edit IN Doing
Line B — Two cards are already in Doing, so a limit of 1 is broken straight away. The limit should be 2 to match the work in progress.

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