Description
CSCE 482 is a project-based course to develop system integration skills for solving real-world problems in computer science. Significant team software projects that integrate advanced concepts across computer science specializations will be executed by students. These projects require design, implementation, documentation and demonstration, as well as design methodology, management process and teamwork. Students will employ the use of the iterative design process in order to create user-centered systems that address various requirements, associated goals and tasks, and expose underlying creativity.
Prerequisites
Students need to be of Senior classification (U4) in order to take this course. In addition, students must have taken at least two CSCE courses from one track including CSCE 411.
Learning Goals
Learning Goals
We will specifically be trying improving your ability to deal with knowledge uncertainty, enabling you to understand and critique work in the field, as well as hypothesize and implement new solutions, even when these solutions are not obvious.
During the semester, you will learn/practice how to:
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
Learning Needs and Activities
Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and computing
Grading
Course Matters
During the semester, you will learn/practice how to:
- identify needs
- identify/hypothesize a solution
- create a sophisticated software or hardware system for that solution
- identify and critique the current work in the area
- improve reading, writing, and critical thinking skills
- plan a product development cycle
- work effectively in teams
- manage team priorities
- manage uncertainties
- take papers through multiple drafts
- present effectively
- communicate effectively in writing and speaking
- identify appropriate evaluations for a solution
- evaluate a software solution
- analyze results
- formulate conclusions and/or select the best solution with appropriate justification;
- evaluate the worth and importance of these conclusions - including their placement in a social, historical, and environmental context, as appropriate
- work effectively as a leader and/or member of a team
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and computing
- Design and conduct experiments and to analyze and interpret data
- Design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs
- Function on multidisciplinary teams
- Identify, formulate, and solve computer related problems
- Identify and summarize knowledge of the key insights of the field
- Understand professional and ethical responsibility
- Communicate effectively – both orally and in writing
- Understand of the field of computing in a global and societal context
- Display a knowledge of contemporary issues
- Use the techniques, skills, and modern computing tools necessary for computer science practice
- Recognize the need for and an ability to engage in lifelong learning
- Create reusable long lasting code.
- Critique and evaluate research in the field
Learning Needs and Activities
Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and computing
- Weekly Status Updates: Identifying problems and applying computing solution
- Completion of Project: Applying computing to problem
- User Studies 1 and 2
- Group Proposal (Project Plan and Components sections only)
- User Studies 1 and 2
- Final Paper (content component only)
- Group proposal – Team Bio section only
- Peer Review
- Development and alignment of Gantt chart
- Group Proposal (Project Plan and Components sections only)
- Project implementation
- Final Presentation (Strength of Material and Organization sections only)
- Final Paper (Implementation and Results sections only)
- Literature survey and critique
- Completion of IRB Certification
- Dress, manner, actions, and presentation during IAP poster presentations
- Dress, manner, actions, and presentation during final presentations
- Weekly in class demonstrations and updates
- Group Proposal
- User Study 1 (clarity section only)
- User Study 2 (clarity section only)
- Final Paper
- Final Presentation
- Final Video
- Presentation of User Stories
- Group Proposal (Research Benefits section only)
- User Studies 1 and 2 (Introduction and Motivation sections only)
- Final Presentation (Overall Awareness of Audience section only)
- Final Paper (Introduction section only)
- Literature Survey
- Use of GIT as source control
- Problem motivation
- Implementation of projects
- Final presentation
- Future research
- Implementation of solution
- Weekly presentation and critique of related work
- Prior research section of presentation and final paper.
Grading
Your total grade for the semester is divided into the following sections.
- 10%: Class Participation
- 20%: Weekly Summaries
- 20%: Presentations
- 20%: Mini-deliverables
- 30%: Final Project
- 100%: Total
Your total grade is also corresponded to the following letter grades.
- 90% ≤ A ≤ 100%
- 80% ≤ B < 90%
- 70% ≤ C < 80%
- 60% ≤ D < 70%
- 0% ≤ F < 60%
Course Matters
IRB Training
You need to complete IRB training before you can do any of the assignments. Until your IRB is completed, your assignments are considered late and not submitted.
Attendance Policy
Attendance is vital for class discussion. To make clear the importance of attendance, students are permitted a maximum of 5 absences before they automatically fail the course.
Course Email List
The course has a class Google Group which will be used to post updates, but more importantly it is access to your classmates at all hours. If you have a question, probabilistically, the fastest response will probably come from another student. Also if you absolutely need to trade with another person for your presentation, this is probably your best option.
Account Setup
Before you can begin writing your blog posts for the class, you obviously need to have a blog set up. While there are several blogging services available, it's recommended that everyone uses the Blogger service for consistency. If you are new to using Blogger, then follow the steps below to set up your own blog on Blogger.
- Go to the Blogger site and log in with your Google account credentials. If you don't have a Google account, you have bigger problems to deal with.
- On the home page, locate and click on the link labeled Create a New Blog.
- Follow and complete the instructions to create your blog specifically for use in this course.
- Locate the Profile widget on your blog and post your personal details. At the minimum, include your real name so that students know whom are the owners of their respective blogs.
Note: If you can't find the Profile widget, first click on the Design tab, then click on the Page Elements sub-tab, and finally select the Profile widget.
Course Policies
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy Statement
The following ADA Policy Statement (part of the Policy on Individual Disabling Conditions) was submitted to the University Curriculum Committee by the Department of Student Life. The policy statement was forwarded to the Faculty Senate for information.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, the legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities, in Cain Hall or call 845-1637.
Copyrights
The handouts used in this course are copyrighted. By “Handouts” we mean all materials generated for this class, which include but are not limited to syllabi, lab problems, in-class materials, review sheets, and additional problem sets. Because these materials are copyrighted, you do not have the right to copy such handouts, unless the author expressly grants permission.
Scholastic Dishonesty
As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as one’s own the ideas, work, writings, etc., that belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you have the permission of the person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated. If you have questions regarding plagiarism, please consult the latest issue of the Texas A&M University Student Rules [http://student-rules.tamu.edu], under the section “Scholastic Dishonesty”.
Academic Integrity Statement
"An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do."
Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Honor System. Students will be required to state their commitment on examinations, research papers, and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the Texas A&M University community from the requirements or the processes of the Honor System. For additional information please visit: http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor
University Regulations, Section 42, define scholastic dishonesty to include acquiring answers from any unauthorized source, working with another person when not specifically permitted, observing the work of other students during any exam, providing answers when not specifically authorized to do so, informing any person of the contents of an exam prior to the exam, and failing to credit sources used. Disciplinary actions range from grade penalty to expulsion.
This course has a zero-tolerance policy. Academic misconduct on any assignment will result in failing the entire course! All such cases will be referred to the Aggie Honor Council for additional disciplinary action by the University. Finally, misconduct will also result in an "Unsatisfactory" rating on the annual departmental review of Ph.D. students. Please refer to http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/acadmisconduct.htm for more information about the scope and meaning of academic misconduct.
On all course work, assignments, and examinations at Texas A&M University, the following Honor Pledge shall be preprinted and signed by the student: "On my honor, as an Aggie, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work."
