Major/Minor Projects 1

Why is this important?  Because it will make a big difference to your degree  A good 394 project mark can go a long way towards bumping your degree class  It can help you get the job you want afterwards - portfolio for employment Major/Minor Projects2

3 Must Pass Module

Major/Minor Projects4 Must Pass Module To gain an honours degree, e.g. BSc (Hons), you need to pass this module. If you fail, you will need to resit the module for an honours degree. Don’t fail

Today’s lecture  What is the Major/Minor Project?  Choosing a project and supervisor  What help can you expect?  What you should be doing now Major/Minor Projects5

What is the Major/Minor Project?  1/3 of your final year – dedicated to building a system.  It is the summation of your time in Aber.  Draws on skills you have developed and will develop over this year.  (Hopefully) something to be proud of by the time you hand in.  400 hours of work for Major projects and 200 hours of work for Minor projects Major/Minor Projects6

What we looking for  You will work to solve a reasonably difficult technical problem  You will show your analysis and understanding of the problem  You will approach the design and implementation in an intelligent way  You will show that you understand how to ‘deliver’ the software  You will be able to critically evaluate what you have done and discuss what you have learned.  You will work in an area relevant to your degree scheme. Major/Minor Projects7

Choosing a project supervisor  Go to: Dept/Teaching/CourseNotes/current /CS39440/projects.html Dept/Teaching/CourseNotes/current /CS39440/projects.html  Common question: “ I want to do X, but nobody says that they are interested in this area… who can supervise me?”  Once you have chosen a project/title area:  Register the details at: Dept/Teaching/CourseNotes/current /CS39440/register.html Dept/Teaching/CourseNotes/current /CS39440/register.html Major/Minor Projects8

SAW Projects  Software Alliance Wales projects  Projects linked to companies in Wales  Andy Starr will supervise you on a weekly basis  Another member of staff will be the person who marks your work Major/Minor Projects9

What help can you expect?  This series of lectures  Online resources  Your supervisor  Weekly meetings  support  The module co-ordinator Major/Minor Projects10

What we expect of you  You will turn up to your project meetings  You will get in contact with your supervisor if you cannot make a meeting  You will do your own work  You will manage your own time  You read the instructions and follow them  If there are things you don’t understand … ask  And… Major/Minor Projects11

Major/Minor Projects12 Used in accordance with Universal Uclick Educational / Classroom Usage policy: Making Progress Be honest with yourself, and your supervisor

Overall Shape of Project  Select your projects by 12 noon on Thursday 11 th October  Start work on project with supervisor  Produce an outline description of your project  Produce a progress report  Demonstrate progress  Produce a final report  Demonstrate final outputs Major/Minor Projects13

The Final Report  The main report  What you did  How you did it  What the outcome was  What you learned  Appendices  KEEP A PROJECT DIARY Major/Minor Projects14

The Final Report  Common Problems:  Report that doesn’t tell us what the project is supposed to achieve  Report that doesn’t tell us what was and wasn’t achieved  Report that doesn’t tell us how it was achieved  Report that doesn’t tell us what you have learned from the experience Major/Minor Projects15

Final Report: Appendices  Useful supporting material that is too detailed for main report but useful  e.g. entity-relationship diagrams and data flow diagrams  Output from selected test runs  Important extracts from your code  “Voluminous appendices are unwelcome” Major/Minor Projects16

Final Project: Software (CD/DVD?)  Must work - check accessing files when you have written it on a machine other than your own  Should contain a deliverable version of your software with instructions (***Think now)  Should contain all source code for your project  Should contain all of final report material Major/Minor Projects17

What you should be doing now  Looking through the project list  Arranging to meet supervisors and discuss possible projects  Selecting a project – remember you need to do this by the 11 th October.  Once you have selected your supervisor/project, start work. Major/Minor Projects18

iOS/Android…  Chris Price and I will be running iOS training on Wednesday afternoons starting soon.  Chris Loftus and Andy Starr have agreed to run an Android session Major/Minor Projects19

Major/Minor Projects 20

It is YOUR project It is within your own control to spend time and do the work Major/Minor Projects21