MSci Group Programming Project

Code

COMP4028

School

Computer Science

Level

4

Credits

40

Semesters

Full Year UK

Summary

Students undertake a programming project for an External Client in self-formed groups of two to four students under the supervision of an academic member of staff. The client, which can be a company, charity, research group, etc. provides a problem that requires a sufficiently challenging piece of software to be developed. 
The client and project idea could be provided by the students or the supervisor. However, projects must have aspects that are relevant to each student's programme of study; e.g. there needs to be an Artificial Intelligence (AI) aspect if any AI students are involved. 
Each project must ultimately be agreed with the concerned Supervisor and Course Director. The main assessed outputs are the developed software, including any end-user documentation, along with a 15,000-word document that outlines the development, design and implementation of the software, highlighting the most interesting aspects. The software must be developed in a professional and systematic manner appropriate for the problem domain. 
The assessment is informed by a statement from the External Client (if there is any) on how well the developed software addresses the problem. Additionally, the report should explain each student's individual contributions, reflections and give a critical appraisal of how the project went, including group dynamics.

Target Students

Available to Level 4 students in the School of Computer Science. This module is not available to students not listed above without explicit approval from the module convenor(s). This module is part of the Projects theme in the School of Computer Science.

Assessment

• 75% Project 1: A 15,000-word group report/dissertation additionally including group as well as individual reflections and contributions in electronic form (excluding appendices); a brief demo video illustrating the outcome of the project. Any supplementary material and source code must also be included with the electronic submission.
• 15% Practical: Formal presentation/demonstration of the project outcomes.
• 10% Report: Interim report including draft table of contents, background, details of any design and implementation achieved so far, and a brief progress report with reflections based on the project plan.

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

• Programming projects may arise from any area of the curriculum and so may address any of the knowledge and understanding outcomes.

Intellectual Skills

• Clear and logical thinking.
• Understanding complex ideas and relate them to specific problems or questions.
• Acquiring and systematically analysing substantial quantities of information.
• Thinking independently while giving due weight to the arguments of others.
• Depending on the specific project, other intellectual skills may also be addressed.

Professional Skills

• Development skills approaching professional standards, including coding, testing, debugging and use of appropriate tools such as version management systems.
• Work effectively and ethically with others.
• Programming projects may arise from any area of the curriculum and so may address further professional skills outcomes.

Transferable Skills

• Analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Obtaining and critically analysing information from scientific literature, including system and library documentation.
• Devising and carrying out a complex project to meet specific objectives as a team.
• Time management, including scheduling tasks and meeting deadlines.
• Work productively in a collaborative environment.
• Communicating complex ideas and information in writing and orally.
• Confidence in public speaking.
• Reflect upon and assess own performance as well as that of others.

Conveners

• Adam Walker