1. 1 MSc Projects (Computing) Kelvin Hilton k.c.hilton@staffs.ac.uk

2. 2 Objectives What is a project? What you need to be The Process Ethics Regulations Planning and Managing Your Dissertation

3. 3 Welcome

4. 4 What Is a Project? Culmination of your knowledge, understanding and ability to apply your skills Pinnacle of your academic achievement to date Your contribution to your chosen field Shop window for your skills IT IS NOT JUST ANOTHER PIECE OF COURSEWORK!

5. 5 What You Need to Be Innovative Original Organised Professional Scholastic MOTIVATED! If a project is boring for you to produce, it will be boring for us to assess!

6. 6 The Process

7. 7 Key Dates All projects have a minimum duration of 12 weeks and a maximum duration of 24 weeks Part-time students get 24-48 When is the start date? For students wishing to commence January 2013 14 th January 2013 Due date 1 st July 2013

8. 8 Deliverables Dissertation must be written in English You must submit 2 paper copies and one digital one (CDROM) Contents Guide Abstract approximately 300 words Text 12000 (60 credit) Log Book Must be bound Must be in correct format and correctly referenced If English is not your first language have your work proof read!

9. 9 The Artefact Software product Prototype of a suitable software application, interface or tool. Design document or specification A suitable document to include planning, modelling, implementation and testing recommendations together with a rigorous specification. Framework Document detailing research into method, components / approach, tools or testing and taken to the production of a small prototype. Guidelines Set of recommendations based upon relevant research, developed theorem and models which have undergone some form of trial or testing process.

10. 10 Supervisors Ideally a subject matter expert Will be allocated to you (or agreed) Guide and advise Stimulate ideas Monitor progress You are required to attend a 30 minute meeting each week Attendance is monitored It is your responsibility to prepare for the meeting A dissertation student is expected to work independently, do not expect your supervisor to set you tasks!

11. 11 Supervisors Advice - in the early stages -may include written guidelines; dissertation workshops; feedback on title/proposed literature/ initial plan Examples – previous work, writing style, etc Deadlines – mini tasks BE PROACTIVE - do not wait for the supervisor to contact you. Feedback – particularly in early stages THEY WILL NOT PREMARK Please remember that supervisors are busy people! Respect their time.

12. 12 Second Assessor Appointed by Project Coordinator by week 4 of your dissertation Completes mid-point Jointly assess viva and dissertation May not be an expert in the field covered by your research.

13. 13 Ethics

14. 14 Your Project Must Be Ethical Faculty requires student to complete an ethical statement for all dissertations Three levels Fast Track – minor ethical considerations Full – serious ethical implications You may be advised to halt work on your project until approved Must be submitted by week 4 http://www.staffs.ac.uk/faculties/comp_eng_tech/curre nt_students_and_staff/beethical.jsp Failure to submit an ethics form is a breach of project regulations!

15. 15 Regulations

16. 16 Relevant Regulations General Postgraduate Regulations http://www.staffs.ac.uk/assets/postgrad_regs_tc m44-26797.pdf Academic dishonesty http://www.staffs.ac.uk/assets/academic_misco nduct_tcm44-26770.pdf http://www.staffs.ac.uk/assets/academic_misco nduct_tcm44-26770.pdf Extenuating Circumstances http://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses_and_study/stude nt_life/student_handbook/extenuating_circumst ances.jsp

17. 17 Planning and Managing Your Dissertation

18. 18 Why Projects Fail Weakness Focus – too woolly, too big, too shallow Structure Depth – limited research base, lack of analysis Presentation – poor referencing, dumping content Plagiarism Unless your name is Ricoh, do not copy! Time management Lateness Incomplete Poor focus and depth are the number one cause of failure!

19. 19 Four Phases of a Project What is the effort map? (Traditional approach) Literary Review Empirical Work Record Results Analysis and Conclusions Project Duration

20. 20 General Effort Map for Dissertation How does this map to the marking scheme? Literary ReviewEmpirical Work Record Results Analysis and Conclusions Project Duration

21. 21 A More Effective Approach Focused Literary Review – find the gurus Empirical Work Record Results Project Duration Analysis and Conclusions Iterate

22. 22 Intelligent Planning When you start your dissertation there are only two dates you know – the start, the end Plan backwards 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425 Viva Print & Bind Revisions Proof Read Iterate Draft Complete Content Organised Analysis Results Empirical Study Literary Review Methodology Structure Organised Plan

23. 23 What Plans Never Show THE TRUTH! Work commitments Breaks Social Events Religious Events How many hours can you work in a week? Recommended time = 18 hours per week 3 – 4 hours a day over 5 days 2 – 3 papers maximum 20 – 30 pages of a book 50 - 100 lines of code (debugged including comments) Every week! Things that don’t get planned don’t get managed!

24. 24 Manage Your Project Use the log book Plan your meetings Tell the truth, if things are running late how do you intend to catch up? Manage your project aims Set yourself achievable targets Do not allow weeks of a task, break it down If your supervisor thinks you are wasting their time, chances are…you are!

25. 25 Two Golden Rules

26. 26 Know When You Are Beaten Set strict time limits on your tasks, if you cannot complete it in time do not be afraid to leave it. The cost of bad management is failure…

27. 27 Reward Yourself Set yourself goals, when you achieve them celebrate!

28. 28 Key Dates Registration 25/01/2013 Draft Proposal 18/01/2013 Supervisor Allocation 21/01/2013 (proposal submission dependent) Ethics 08/02/2013 Earliest completion (full time) 05/04/2013 Latest completion (full time) 01/07/2013

29. 29 Questions?