Computer Science

This is the module in which everything you have learnt in your Computer Science studies comes together in a substantial piece of individual project work, involving initial research and literature review, and specification and design of a software system, followed by implementation, testing, evaluation, and demonstration of the system. You will work under the supervision of an individual staff member who will provide guidance and advice as appropriate.

 

The aim of the module is to enable students to consolidate the knowledge, understanding, techniques and skills acquired over the previous two years through the specification, design, implementation, testing, evaluation and demonstration of a software system.

The module includes both the initial research into the project area, including production of a literature review and the production of the system itself following an appropriate development method.

 

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
1 plan a substantial project taking account of foreseeable risks, ethical considerations, etc;
2 follow a disciplined development method in the productions of software, with an understanding of the necessity for rigorous specification and design prior to coding; or, in the case of more research-based projects, follow a disciplined scientific approach to the experimental research of a relevant topic with the generation of a hypothesis, the development of a system to test the hypothesis and the generation and analysis of results;
3 exercise programming skills to produce effective and correct code in accordance with a design.
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
4 master writing styles appropriate to both a theoretical discursive document and a technical report, including use of tables and figures and good referencing practice.
Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and  Knowledge:
5 undertake independent research in a chosen topic, summarise findings and provide critical analysis;
6 impart the results of your work through oral presentation and practical demonstration;
7 manage your work effectively, with appropriate time planning, attendance at meetings and timely submission of deliverables.

Term 1 Week 5: The first formative assessment will cover project statement, risk assessment, ethical considerations, literature review plan, time plan and a list of references. Week 8: The literature review may cover software as well as both printed literature and web sources all of which must be referenced in a correct and consistent style. It will be marked by the student's supervisor. Term 2 Week 1: Specification and design document will present a precise and sufficiently detailed account of the formal requirements for the software to be produced and/or experiments to be conducted, together with a design showing the proposed system architecture, data structures, experimental protocol, testing and evaluation plan etc. Week 2: The student will give a stand-up presentation to selected peers and staff on the work done so far and plans for future work. Term 3 Week 1: The final report will cover details of implementation, testing and evaluation. It will be independently double-marked by two staff members other than the student's supervisor. Week 4: The student will demonstrate the software produced to the two markers and supervisor.

Referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.

 

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

 

Reading list for this module: