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FYP Preparations

Week 1

Your Lecturer – Sanjiv Udash

Sanjiv Udash

sanjivudas@hotmail.com

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Module Aims

To prepare students for researching, producing and defending/supporting their final year project

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Learning Outcomes (1) On successful completion of this module

students will

Be able to develop, manage and deliver a project specification and an interim report

Demonstrate an awareness of the importance of ethical issues underpinning academic research

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Learning Outcomes (2) On successful completion of this module

students will

Have the necessary attributes in close reading, analysis, critical thinking and debate, finding and using secondary sources, presenting written work correctly, giving oral presentations

Be able to demonstrate the ability to research, plan and structure reports and presentations in an effective manner

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FYP Assessment 100% coursework

Project specification due at the start of the semester and submitted to RTE

Project Interim Report (20%) due in week 10-12 and submitted to RTE

Project Final Report (40%) due in week 24-26 and submitted to RTE

Continous Assesment(40%) due in week 24-26 and submitted to RTE

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University Assessment Regulations

Assessment is capped at 40%: with late submission (up to 10 working

days) without accepted mitigation On reassessment

Note: reassessment will only be allowed if a student attempted the final assessment component of the module

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Weekly Tasks Students will be provided with individual or group

tasks/case studies to be completed and ready to be discussed during the next class

London Met Learning

Access Passwords

CET

FTP Server

Username:studentPassword:islington55

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What is a project?

“A temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique

product, service or result.” Project Management Body of Knowledge

(PMBOK)

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Characteristics of projects (1)

Projects have a purpose have clearly-defined aims produce clearly-defined results

Projects are realistic objectives must be achievable

(taking into account requirements and resources available)

Projects are limited in time have a beginning and an end

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Characteristics of projects (2)

Projects are complex involve various planning and implementation

skills involve various stakeholders

Projects are unique stem from new ideas provide a specific response to a need in a

specific context projects have distinct, identifiable stages

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What is a Final Year Project? The final year project is a major work

that students are required to undertake in order to complete their degree

This will be the largest piece of work (report and implementation) that students are expected to produce as undergraduates

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Why do a Project? The project provides the opportunity to

Bring together the academic knowledge and skills acquired in previous study

Explore an idea, problem or area of study that is of special interest

Gain an insight into the complexity of a real-life problem

Develop new skills Demonstrate independent learning and self-

management

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Final Year Project Types Computing is a extremely diverse field Some projects could be highly technical

(with requirements capture, design and implementation)

Some require more academic content (outcome of critical evaluation, analyses and literature surveys)

(Dawson C W, 2005, Projects in Computing and Information Systems :A student’s Guide, Addison Wesley)

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Final Year Project Types Research-based Development Evaluation Industry-based Problem solving

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Research-based Projects Thorough investigation of a particular area

Identifying strengths and weaknesses

Acknowledging suitable areas for further development and investigations

Reflective = “backward looking”

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Development Projects Development of:

Software and/or hardware systems, process models, algorithms, theories, designs

Requires: Requirement documentation, designs,

analyses, documented test results, user manuals

Critical evaluation of the product and the

development process is expected

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Industry-based Projects Involve solving a problem in an

organisation Must not be forced into the direction

only of interest to the company Should not involve day-to-day routine tasks

Should allow what it is necessary for suitable academic work Should involve identification and solution of

a specific problem

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Problem solving Projects Can involve:

Development of a new technique to solve a problem

Improving the efficiency of existing approaches Evaluation of different approaches in different

situations Application an existing problem-solving

technique to a new area (requires some evaluation)

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Evaluation Projects Involve some form of evaluation as the

main focus of the project. e.g. evaluation of: Several approaches to a particular problem Two or more programming languages Different user interfaces

May include case studies to evaluate the main issue

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Choosing Your Project Topic/Area Your project module

requirements Academic objectives Scope restrictions Assessment criteria Deliverables Essential activities

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Choosing Your Project Topic/Area

Your personal needs: What parts of your course have really interested you? What type of academic activity you enjoy most? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What skills do potential employers regard as

important? What new skill would you like to acquire? Do you have personal constraints?

You can make use of the PDP to be clearer about your personal needs.

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What next? Break Developing a Project Specification

Document Samples

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Part 2:

Developing a Project Specification Document

Developing a Project Proposal Identifying and selecting a

project The role of the project

supervisor The project proposal Literature search and review

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Sources of Project Ideas Brainstorming Workplace Personal contacts The Internet Background reading Lecturers Clients or local businesses Past projects

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How to find an area?You could Follow up a previous project Follow up a topic from your current year

e.g. system development methodologies for mobile devices Specialise in a year 3 topic

e.g. Formal Methods; Network security management Exploit your other strengths

e.g. Mobile devices and community gardening Improve your CV

e.g. Mobile devices and Financial Services

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What Types of Projects?

You could Replace or extend an existing system Move a system to a new platform or

operating system Make an old system more efficient Create a new system to provide a better

service

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How to Select a Potential Project? Brainstorm an initial list of potential

topics Research into the topics and narrow

down your list to what is feasible Spot a gap in the research

This can be indicated by your lecturers or your own reading

Test your ideas

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Test Your Potential Projects/Ideas (1)

Does the topic really interest you? Do you have the necessary skills,

facilities and tools readily to hand? Do you have the finance available to

purchase materials or tools, if needed? Do you have the time and the facilities

to acquire missing skills? Are all team members committed to this

topic? (if a group project)

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Test Your Potential Projects/Ideas (2)

Is your idea original and not just a near duplicate of a past project?

Is your project to a level that exceeds previous coursework?

Does the project enable you to explore, develop and demonstrate skills and knowledge relevant to your course?

Is your project consistent with your career goals?

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The role of the supervisor (1) The role of your supervisor is to guide

you He/she agrees your project proposal You meet him/her regularly to discuss the

progress of your work He/she signs your logbook (meeting log) He/she is your first marker He/she arranges your Interim

presentation and the final Viva

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The role of the supervisor (2)

Your supervisor Does NOT provide additional

teaching Can only advise you on your work

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The Project Specification Doc. The project specification is a document agreed

and signed by the supervisor and the student It includes information about the project

1. Project Details2. Introduction to the project3. Aims of the project4. Deliverables of the project5. Suggested Starting Point6. Estimated Costing and Resource Required7. Bibliography/References 8. Project Plan

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1. Project Details Project Title Student’s Name First Supervisor name and

signature Second Supervisor name and

signature Date Approved

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2. Introduction to the project Description of the

Topic Advancements Examples in other contexts (maybe other

countries) The problem domain Your project as a solution

what is the project to achieve? why is it worthwhile?

For Computing/Networking students, it is important to produce working system as one of the main project deliverables

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3. Aims of the project Brief description of what your

project is intending to do and achieve

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4. Deliverables of the project List of objectives and the likely deliverable which

would meet that objective. Objectives could relate to the research, analysis,

design, implementation and testing Each objective should be given a deliverable, e.g.

bibliography, design documents, target code, packaged demonstration system

In your final report a critical appraisal of the project is needed, and you should refer back to the objectives

Objectives should be SMART

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5. Suggested Starting Point

An overview of where do you actually lie during the start of the project

List the definite tasks you will start off with

Try to avoid alternative tasks

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6. Estimated Costing and Resources Students are responsible for ensuring

that the necessary resources needed for projects are available or requested

State your need of: data sources letter of agreement regarding obligations of

employers or clients access to domain specialists installing special software on your machine

Please note: The College will not normally provide or pay for special facilities

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7. Bibliography/references

Avoid plagiarism: it is important to show where you have used someone else’s words or ideas

Referencing is required when you Quote another person words Summarise or paraphrase ideas, opinions or

information of another writer Use diagrams, tables, figures and statistics from

another source Using references shows your awareness of the

subject area and the key concepts

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8. Project Plan Plan for the main tasks of your project

Indicate 3 – 4 substantial tasks that you will undertake in the first semester of your project:

in-depth literature review feasibility study analysis design prototype

These tasks will be evaluated at the Interim assessment

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References Dawson C W (2005), Projects in Computing

and Information Systems A student’s Guide, Addison Wesley

London Metropolitan University, Personal Development Portfolio (PDP) Web Site Student Guide 2009-10,

Skills4study About personal development planning (PDP) available online: http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/pdp/about/index.asp accessed 05/02/2012

What to do till next time Look into the samples that are

provided in fserver Do the activity

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