COMP SCI 4404 - Software Engineering Research Project

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2017

Final year research project, jointly supervised by software engineering and computer science academics with external industry involvement. The research topic will be selected from CS staff research interests, while the area of application will be negotiated with industry partners. Students will be expected to learn and demonstrate the application of SE principles to conduct research for industry based clients outside the school. The project will provide a pathway to enrolment in a higher degree by research.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code COMP SCI 4404
    Course Software Engineering Research Project
    Coordinating Unit Computer Science
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Up to 2 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange
    Restrictions Available to BESE students only
    Course Description Final year research project, jointly supervised by software engineering and computer science academics with external industry involvement. The research topic will be selected from CS staff research interests, while the area of application will be negotiated with industry partners. Students will be expected to learn and demonstrate the application of SE principles to conduct research for industry based clients outside the school.
    The project will provide a pathway to enrolment in a higher degree by research.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Christoph Treude

    Coordinator: Christoph Treude 
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

     
    1 Gain exposure to research in an area of software engineering
    2 Learn to interpret and assess literature related to a current area of research
    3 Learn to present work to an audience, both in written form and orally
    4 Apply software engineering principles and research to industry projects
    5 Learn to work and plan in groups

     
    The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.
    The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency: 1.1   1.2   1.3   1.4   1.5   1.6   2.1   2.2   2.3   2.4   3.1   3.2   3.3   3.4   3.5   3.6   

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1,2,3
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    3,5
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,2,4
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    4,5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    The resources required for this course will vary with the project undertaken.  Generic information will be provided as-needed on the course forums.


    Recommended Resources
    Resources are recommended on a group basis by project supervisors. A dedicated computer laboratory is available. Specialised computing requirements should be arranged through the project supervisor.


    Online Learning
    A Moodle forum (“Software Engineering Honors Research Project”) is available for announcements and discussion about the project: at : http://forums.cs.adelaide.edu.au/
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Class sessions will vary from short lectures on relevant topics to small group workshops and project presentation sessions. 
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    As a project course of 6 units students are expected to organise their own time between meetings. Course participants are expected to communicate frequently via the online resources used for the project. Each student is expected to devote 20 to 24 hours per week throughout the semester.

    Learning Activities Summary
    The Project consists of several stages, including:

    1. Literature review and research proposal presentation,
    2. Reporting on research findings
    3. Engagement with academic supervisor and industry client
    4. Implementation of research within industry project
    5. Demonstration of software engineering best practice The specific content of each step is highly project dependent, and should be discussed with the project supervisor.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Note: The following items and weightings are incomplete and subject to change prior to the course. 
    Deliverable Assessment Type    % CBOK Mapping
    Poster and Associated Presentation Group 10 Interpersonal Communication: 3
    Problem Solving Abstraction: 3
    Peer Assessment Individual 10 Teamwork concepts & issues 3
    Project Quality Group 10 Hardware & Software 3
    Data & information 3
    Programming 3
    Systems Development 3
    Project Quality Individual 30 Hardware & Software 3
    Data & information 3
    Programming 3
    Systems Development 3
    Change Management 2
    Meeting Contributions Individual 10 Professionalism 2
    Interpersonal communications 3
    Development Process - midterm Individual 10 Teamwork concepts & issues 3
    Communication 3
    Human Factors 2
    Development Process - final Group 10 Teamwork concepts & issues 3
    Communication 3
    Human Factors 2
    Development Process - final Individual 10 Teamwork concepts & issues 3
    Communication 3
    Human Factors 2
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Hurdle Requirement: If your overall mark for the course is greater than 44 F but, your mark for the individual project quality component is less than 40%, your overall mark for the course will be reduced to 44 F.
    Assessment Detail
    The Project is assessed based on a number of written and oral deliverables. The final project quality is marked by two examiners and verified by all academic staff. Students mark for the group will be based on their individual performance in the project.

    Meeting contributions will be assessed by academic supervisor, peer review and contributions from the industry client.

    CBOK mapping:

    Poster and Associated Presentation
    Abstraction: 3
    Design: 3
    Interpersonal communications: 3
    Understanding of ICT profession: 3
    Peer Assessment
    Professional Expectations: 3
    Teamwork concepts & issues: 3
    Interpersonal communications: 3
    Understanding of ICT profession: 3
    Human Factors: 3
    Project Quality
    Abstraction: 4
    Design: 4
    Professional Expectations: 3
    Teamwork concepts & issues: 3
    Hardware & Software: 5 
    Data & Information: 5
    Programming: 5
    Human Factors: 5
    Systems development: 5
    IT governance & organisational: 3
    IT project management: 3
    Meeting Contributions
    Professional Expectations: 3
    Teamwork concepts & issues: 3
    Interpersonal communications: 3
    Understanding of ICT profession: 3
    Human factors: 3
    Development Process
    Professional Expectations: 5
    Teamwork concepts & issues: 5
    Interpersonal communications: 5
    Understanding of ICT profession: 5
    Programming: 5
    Human factors: 5
    Systems development: 5
    IT governance & organisational: 5
    IT project management: 5
    Submission
    Project deliverables are submitted via Git and web submission.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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