The aim of this module is to provide the students with the opportunity to undertake a significant software
development project from initial concept stage right through to delivery and evaluation stage in a team
environment that closely represents the project environment in industry.
To achieve this the students work in teams to develop a large software system, with three key deliverables over
the semester: (1) a Project Plan that is developed near the start of the semester, and will detail the aims and
scope of the project as well as details of team members, (2) an Interim Report and Demonstration that is
required in the middle of the semester, and it details the progress of the project, up to this point, as well as
reflections on the team process, and (3) a Final Report and Demonstration that is required in the end of the
semester, and details the entire journey of the project, and well as further reflections on the team process.
This module will equip the students with skills that will ensure they are ready to participate in industry taking a
leadership or an entrepreneurial role. This module will focus on developing both an appreciation for tools,
techniques, and technologies that would be commonly used in an Agile industry-oriented development, as well
as an appreciation of the challenges of participating in a team where the focus is achieving a high quality
outcome.
- Module Information: Introduction to the Module, key deliverables, how to work in teams, how to write reflective and self-reflective content, evaluation approaches
- Design Methods: These lessons will focus on design approaches that are suitable for team-based development tasks, such as Agile approaches (e.g. AUP, xDD, SCRUM, Crystal), and techniques such as Lean and Six-Sigma.
- Technologies: These lessons will focus on technologies that are suitable for team-based development tasks, such as The Python Stack, Web Frameworks, GitHub, APIs and Datasets.
The module will involve lectures for the first two weeks, and student presentations for the rest of the semester.
The content of those lectures are detailed below, and following this, the students will be required to present
their progress on a regular basis, as a show and tell, to the rest of the class and the module coordinators.
Each team will have an opportunity after the show and tell for discussion and feedback from the module
coordinators.
The practical element of the module will be supported through the medium of supervised practical sessions
with lecturers acting both as advisors and end-users as well as talks from industry representatives. Students
will be able to explore the characteristics, advantages and limitations of technologies and methodologies.
Where appropriate, students will provide feedback from team research through cascading the knowledge to
peers and through presentations.
Students will be encouraged to be proactive in their approach to learning through the use of exemplars,
working in their teams and independently.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |