Department of Computer Science

Final Project SCSE (PR9) 2010/1

Workload - Private Study - Assessment - Description - Learning Outcomes - Content - Teaching Materials - Recommended Books

Module Prerequisites

Prerequisite knowledge

This project is available only to students on the Full-time MSc SCSE programme who have passed the taught course at MSc level. It could use any of the material covered in those modules, and new material related specifically to the project area.

Workload

• Assessment: 900hrs

Project supervision is by arrangement with the supervisor. Supervisions via email or telephone. Three study weeks in York during the project. Timetable for these is stated in the student handbook. Students should try to prepare material in advance for supervisions and place on a website.

Private Study

The project consists entirely of (supervised) private study.

Assessment

Open Assessments

• Final Project: Aut/2/Mon -> Vac/11/Wed, uses electronic submission.
• Presentation: Vac/12/Wed -> Vac/12/Thu

A FAQ has been produced for the project and can be found at www-course.cs.york.ac.uk/pr9

Description

Assessment Fri/11/Vac, uses Electronic Submission. Assessed by a report and a 10-minute presentation, worth 450 marks in total. An electronic copy of the report must be submitted, as well as two unbound, printed copies (see Students' Handbook). The presentation takes place in Vacation week 12. The presentation mark is combined with the report mark in the ration 5:95.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate that they have acquired specialisation in a particular part of the subject area, including enhanced or new technical skills that build on taught theory. Examined in the overall project report.
• Demonstrate that they have engaged in research and critical understanding of advanced scholarship in their chosen area. Examined in the project literature review and evaluation.
• Contribute in an original way to an established area of research or development, demonstrating a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge. Examined in the overall project report. The project report must present some original (and relevant) contribution. It may present a new approach to a known problem, or an existing approach applied to a new class of problems. It may present a new analysis or critique of well-known work. It may devise a new method, or extend an existing method into new areas. The student should be able to clearly identify what is new and to evaluate the contribution made.
• Formulate a moderate sized problem, to select and justify an appropriate approach, and to follow the approach systematically. Examined in the design/implementation chapters of the project.
• Recognise alternatives, selecting and justifying the approach taken at each point in the report, identifying parts of the project area that are feasible within the time (etc) constraints of the project. Examined in the design/implementation chapters of the project.
• Appreciate the latent issues of the subject area (for example, in safety critical engineering they should have met and tackled issues such as emergent requirements, design flaws, equipment/application problems). Examined in the project design/implementation and evaluation chapters.
• Prepare a written report on the work done, according to the defined criteria,and of a standard that would be acceptable for wider publication.In particular, the student should be able to prepare a report the structure and presentation of which is uncontentious, and in which the referencing is of publishable academic standard. The report must demonstrate critical abilities and evaluation of work done and methods applied. Examined in the presentation aspect of the report mark.
• Make a short oral presentation (assessed) summarising their work and demonstrating the end product.

Content

The definitions of projects for each sort of degree are available on the Projects webpage, http://www.cs.york.ac.uk/projects/. The project supervisor will also be your supervisor for all other purposes during your project.You should read the projects section of the current version of the Student Handbook carefully before starting your project, and before starting to write your report.

Teaching Materials

There are project briefing notes on line, see Projects page.

Last updated: 1^st June 2011