Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 1/24 Experiences with Diploma Projects at University of Montenegro 10 th Workshop on “Software Engineering Education and Reverse Engineering”, Ivanjica, 6 th – 11 th September 2010.

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 2/24 Agenda History History Learning outcomes Learning outcomes What contributes to the project mark What contributes to the project mark The assessment form The assessment form Statistics Statistics Problems Problems

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 3/24 History Started in 2001 – academic studies, Computer Science programme Started in 2001 – academic studies, Computer Science programme –First projects presented in 2005 From 2003 – applied studies, Information technologies programme From 2003 – applied studies, Information technologies programme –First projects presented in 2006

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 4/24 Learning Outcomes (1) On successful completion of the module, students should be able to: Conduct a reasonably thorough investigation into a topic of interest, importance or relevance to computer science or its applications Conduct a reasonably thorough investigation into a topic of interest, importance or relevance to computer science or its applications Where appropriate, accomplish an acceptable implementation (or other useful model) to fulfill the main goals of the project Where appropriate, accomplish an acceptable implementation (or other useful model) to fulfill the main goals of the project

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 5/24 Learning Outcomes (2) Work largely independently, within agreed project requirements, with minimal supervision Work largely independently, within agreed project requirements, with minimal supervision Deliver technical presentations during the project development cycle Deliver technical presentations during the project development cycle Complete a detailed project report covering all central aspects of the project Complete a detailed project report covering all central aspects of the project

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 6/24 Learning Outcomes (3) Work within all project deadlines, interim report deadlines and consultation requirements giving regular and timely feedback to your project supervisor(s) Work within all project deadlines, interim report deadlines and consultation requirements giving regular and timely feedback to your project supervisor(s) Plan and manage all your own project milestones Plan and manage all your own project milestones

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 7/24 What contributes to the project mark (1) The achievements of the project The achievements of the project –What was its scale? –How complex was it? –What problems did student overcome?

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 8/24 What contributes to the project mark (2) The process The process –Have student carried out the processes of analysis, specification, design, implementation and testing, as appropriate to his/her project? How well have student analyzed and justified the decisions he/she took? –(In the case of the supervisor) How was student’s performance throughout the year? How well prepared were he/she for meetings? How successfully did student spread the load throughout semester?

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 9/24 What contributes to the project mark (3) The end product The end product –If software, does it have the required functionality? –How good is its user interface? –Is it stable and robust?

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 10/24 What contributes to the project mark (4) The project demonstration The project demonstration –How clear was student’s demonstration? Could he/she answer questions convincingly? The project report The project report –Its content, clarity, presentation. How well have student described what he/she did, and how he/she did it?

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 11/24 Project Assessment Form Quality of demonstration Quality of demonstration Quality of report Quality of report Quality of product Quality of product Quality of process (based on all sources of evidence) Quality of process (based on all sources of evidence) Management (supervisor only) Management (supervisor only) Substantialness of achievement Substantialness of achievement

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 12/24 Project Assessment Form

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 13/24 Statistics (1)

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 14/24 Statistics (2)

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 15/24 Statistics (3) Area # of stud. Genetic Algorithms 11 Graph Algorithms 4 Teaching Software 6 Third-party Projects 11 Web Services 3 Neural Networks 10 Mobile Platforms 2

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 16/24 Statistics (4) Area # of stud. Probabilistic Systems 3 Unsupervised Learning 2 Semi-supervised Learning 2 Machine Learning Applications 8 GIS1 Parallel programming 2 Fuzzy logic applications 2

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 17/24 Problems Intellectual property rights Intellectual property rights –The University has intellectual property rights over any code that student produce in the course of student’s project but… –For students who implements third-party companies’ projects, intellectual property rights are transferred to these companies (T- com, Montenegro airlines…)

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 18/24 Problems Plagiarism Plagiarism –Deliberate plagiarism is a very serious offence and as a minimum it results in disqualification from the project module. So far, 3 students – we gave them new projects –Plagiarism occurs accidentally – students quote or paraphrased other people's work, without clearly indicate that this is what they are doing, and doesn’t include the source –Tables, diagrams, other people's programs or source code etc. copied from elsewhere must also be clearly labeled as such, with reference to the source

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 19/24 Problems Writing report Writing report –Wrong structure of report (all levels) –Lack of precision –Long sentences –Typography –Illustrations –Grammar and spelling (Nightmare!)

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 20/24 Problems Project management (1) Project management (1) –Project work is meant to begin with a period of reading and research. During this period, student ideas about how he/she will approach the project work will crystallize, and he/she will learn the new techniques, background knowledge and perhaps programming languages which he/she will need to complete the project

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 21/24 Problems Project management (2) Project management (2) –our estimate – hours/semester (10-15 hours/week or 2-3 hours/day) –83% of students leave implementation for the last 3-4 weeks of semester (daily 0-12 hours) –90% of students leave writing to the (literally) last minute

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 22/24 Problems Lack of collaboration with third-party companies Lack of collaboration with third-party companies Some lecturers are not interested to provide projects and/or support Some lecturers are not interested to provide projects and/or support

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 23/24 Students' feedback Projects are too demanding Projects are too demanding I need one more week/month/year… I need one more week/month/year… I don't know how to read data from files... start Flex... using python I don't know how to read data from files... start Flex... using python

Goran Šuković, University of Montenegro 24/24 The End More information More information – Thank you for your attention! Thank you for your attention! Questions? Questions?