MSc Projects (Computing)
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description
MSc Projects (Computing). Kelvin Hilton [email protected]. Objectives. What is a project? What you need to be The Process Ethics Regulations Planning and Managing Your Dissertation. Welcome. What Is a Project?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of MSc Projects (Computing)
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Objectives
What is a project?What you need to beThe ProcessEthicsRegulationsPlanning and Managing Your Dissertation
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Welcome
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What Is a Project?
Culmination of your knowledge, understanding and ability to apply your skillsPinnacle of your academic achievement to dateYour contribution to your chosen fieldShop window for your skills
IT IS NOT JUST ANOTHER PIECE OF COURSEWORK!
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What You Need to Be
InnovativeOriginalOrganisedProfessionalScholasticMOTIVATED!
If a project is boring for you to produce, it will be boring for us to assess!
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The Process
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Key Dates
All projects have a minimum duration of 12 weeks and a maximum duration of 24 weeksPart-time students get 24-48When is the start date?
For students wishing to commence January 201314th January 2013
Due date1st July 2013
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Deliverables
Dissertation must be written in EnglishYou must submit 2 paper copies and one digital one (CDROM)Contents Guide
Abstract approximately 300 wordsText 12000 (60 credit)Log Book
Must be boundMust be in correct format and correctly referenced
If English is not your first language have your work proof read!
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The Artefact
Software product Prototype of a suitable software application, interface or tool.
Design document or specificationA suitable document to include planning, modelling, implementation and testing recommendations together with a rigorous specification.
FrameworkDocument detailing research into method, components / approach, tools or testing and taken to the production of a small prototype.
GuidelinesSet of recommendations based upon relevant research, developed theorem and models which have undergone some form of trial or testing process.
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Supervisors
Ideally a subject matter expertWill be allocated to you (or agreed)Guide and adviseStimulate ideasMonitor progressYou 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!
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Supervisors
Advice - in the early stages -may include written guidelines; dissertation workshops; feedback on title/proposed literature/ initial planExamples – previous work, writing style, etcDeadlines – mini tasksBE PROACTIVE - do not wait for the supervisor to contact you. Feedback – particularly in early stagesTHEY WILL NOT PREMARK
Please remember that supervisors are busy people! Respect their time.
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Second Assessor
Appointed by Project Coordinator by week 4 of your dissertationCompletes mid-pointJointly assess viva and dissertation
May not be an expert in the field covered by your research.
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Ethics
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Your Project Must Be Ethical
Faculty requires student to complete an ethical statement for all dissertationsThree levels
Fast Track – minor ethical considerationsFull – serious ethical implications
You may be advised to halt work on your project until approved
Must be submitted by week 4http://www.staffs.ac.uk/faculties/comp_eng_tech/current_students_and_staff/beethical.jsp
Failure to submit an ethics form is a breach of project regulations!
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Regulations
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Relevant Regulations
General Postgraduate Regulationshttp://www.staffs.ac.uk/assets/postgrad_regs_tcm44-26797.pdfAcademic dishonesty
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/assets/academic_misconduct_tcm44-26770.pdf
Extenuating Circumstanceshttp://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses_and_study/student_life/student_handbook/extenuating_circumstances.jsp
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Planning and Managing Your Dissertation
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Why Projects Fail
WeaknessFocus – too woolly, too big, too shallowStructureDepth – limited research base, lack of analysisPresentation – poor referencing, dumping content
PlagiarismUnless your name is Ricoh, do not copy!
Time managementLatenessIncomplete
Poor focus and depth are the number one cause of failure!
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Four Phases of a Project
What is the effort map? (Traditional approach)
Literary Review
Empirical Work
RecordResults
Analysis and
Conclusions
Project Duration
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General Effort Map for Dissertation
How does this map to the marking scheme?
Literary Review Empirical Work
Record
Resu
lts
An
aly
sis
an
d
Con
clu
sio
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Project Duration
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A More Effective Approach
Focused Literary Review – find the gurus
Empirical WorkRecordResults
Project Duration
An
aly
sis
an
d
Con
clu
sio
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Itera
te
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Intelligent Planning
When you start your dissertation there are only two dates you know – the start, the endPlan backwards
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Viva
Print & Bind
Revisions
Proof Read
Iterate
Draft Complete
Content Organised
Analysis
Results
Empirical Study
Literary Review
Methodology
Structure Organised
Plan
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What Plans Never Show
THE TRUTH!Work commitmentsBreaksSocial EventsReligious Events
How many hours can you work in a week?Recommended time = 18 hours per week3 – 4 hours a day over 5 days
2 – 3 papers maximum20 – 30 pages of a book50 - 100 lines of code (debugged including comments)
Every week!
Things that don’t get planned don’t get managed!
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Manage Your Project
Use the log bookPlan your meetingsTell the truth, if things are running late how do you intend to catch up?Manage your project aimsSet 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!
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Two Golden Rules
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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…
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Reward Yourself
Set yourself goals, when you achieve them celebrate!
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Key Dates
Registration25/01/2013
Draft Proposal18/01/2013
Supervisor Allocation21/01/2013 (proposal submission dependent)
Ethics08/02/2013
Earliest completion (full time)05/04/2013
Latest completion (full time)01/07/2013
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Questions?
