6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Chief examiner(s)
Unit guides
Offered
- First semester 2018 (On-campus)
- Second semester 2018 (On-campus)
- First semester 2018 (On-campus)
- Second semester 2018 (On-campus)
Synopsis
This unit provides practical experience in researching, designing, developing and testing a substantial computer science project. Projects are generally software-based, although sometimes they may involve hardware development or investigation of theory. Projects cover the whole process of software (or hardware) development, from analysis through design to implementation and testing. Comprehensive written documentation on the project is required. Students are assigned in groups to a project supervisor. Students will be expected to meet weekly with their project supervisor during formal lab sessions, and attend 2-hour project management seminars during the first six weeks. Other workshops relevant to research and development of the project will be held in the latter six weeks.
The unit is the first part of a 12-credit point project sequence; the second part and exit point for the project is FIT3162.
Outcomes
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- recognize and execute the factors essential for successful systems development projects, including teamwork and interpersonal communication;
- construct a project proposal;
- evaluate and select research methods and techniques of data collection and analysis appropriate to a particular project;
- search, access, and analyse research literature as part of the process of developing solutions to problems;
- operate effectively both as a developer and researcher, both individually and in a collaborative pair-programming context;
- communicate the deliverables of the project in written and oral form;
- develop a collaborative project report explaining methodology, outlining their contributions and the contributions of other team members, and documenting the developed project from appropriate perspectives, for instance that of a user, researcher or developer.
Assessment
In-semester assessment: 100%
Workload requirements
Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours over 12 weeks comprising:
- Contact hours for on-campus students:
- 2-hour project meeting and peer-learning session per week in a lab environment
- 2-hour project management seminars (for 6 weeks)
- Additional requirements (all students):
- The remaining 108 hours is for personal study in order to complete the objectives and implementation of the project.
See also Unit timetable information