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Capstone Experiences

Capstone Experiences. Computer Science & the Liberal Arts. Gail Miles & Kathleen M. Kelm ISECON 2006 November 3-5, 2006. Kathleen M. Kelm Associate Professor of Computer Science Madison, WI. Gail Miles Professor of Computer Science Hickory, NC.

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Capstone Experiences

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  1. Capstone Experiences Computer Science & the Liberal Arts Gail Miles & Kathleen M. Kelm ISECON 2006 November 3-5, 2006

  2. Kathleen M. Kelm Associate Professor of Computer Science Madison, WI Gail Miles Professor of Computer Science Hickory, NC Capstone Experiences: Integrating Computer Science and the Liberal Arts

  3. Edgewood College Private, Dominican undergraduate & doctoral liberal arts 2400 enrolled, traditional, part time & graduate Majors: BS in CIS & Returning Adult Accelerated CIS Lenoir-Rhyne College Private, Lutheran, undergraduate, liberal arts 1600 FTE primarily traditional students (about 65% residential) Majors – BS/BA in Computer Sciences and BA in Information Technology Undergraduate Institutions

  4. Goals of Capstone Projects • Demonstrate individual student exit competencies • Research [1] supports use of collaborative activities as relevant to workplace. • Research [2] and activities support the value and success of team projects • Integrate goals of a liberal arts education with professional goals [1] Deming & Durham, 2001 & Galllivan, Truex & Kyasny, 2004 [2] Bocchi, Eastman & Swift, 2004

  5. Approaches of Capstone Projects • May have Professor as sponsor • Client from community (non-profit or college department) • Follows a traditional cyclic approach of software engineering or system development life cycle • Two course set: • 1st course sets the stage & completes analysis • 2nd course completes design, constructs and presents

  6. Example Capstone Projects • Team Assignments • Types of Projects • Types of Customers

  7. Systems Analysis Requirements Analysis Architectural Design CASE Tools (UML) Project Management Planning Scheduling Costing Quality Assurance and Configuration Management Technical Writing Prototyping Programming Validation & Verification Testing Expected Technical Skills

  8. The Capstone Project & Student Teams • Teams designed for accountability • Selection based on strengths in a variety of proficiencies (leadership, technical & programming, writing, prior experience) • Teams support and encouragement to each other and foster the belief that help from team members and the sponsor readily available [3] • Students who reported a lack of knowledge or skill in some area received support from other team members [4] [3] Willis, 2000 [4] Li, 2001

  9. Skills assessed from the Liberal Arts • Ability to acquire and use knowledge • Awareness of personal values and commitments • Understanding of different values held by others • Interpersonal and public communication • Appreciation of the cultural significance of science and technology • Ethical Impact of work • Reflective assessment of entire college degree [5] [5] Yorke & Kasl, 2002

  10. Demonstrations Walkthroughs Technical Reviews Team Presentations Customer Meetings Team Meetings Requirements that support the Liberal ArtsOral Communication

  11. Project Plan Requirements Document Design Document Quality Assurance Plan Configuration Management Plan Project Notebook User’s Manual Technical Manual Peer Reviews Post Mortem Review Requirements that support the Liberal ArtsWritten Communication

  12. Requirements that support the Liberal ArtsEthical and Legal Issues • Ethical Case Studies • Legal Case Studies • Professional Codes of Ethics • Impact Study of Project

  13. Requirements that support the Liberal ArtsInterpersonal Skills • Collaboration • Compromise • Conflict Resolution • Relationship Building • Problem solving

  14. Assessment of Capstone Project Objectives • High client satisfaction (>90% achievement of goals of project) • Value of project measured using industry quality standards • Each team follow guidelines & negotiate unexpected events on their own (leader, common folder, role flexibility, group grade/individual contribution)

  15. Conclusions • Capstone projects model real life experience • Employers value capstone projects • Capstone projects accepted as equivalent to workplace experience • Students demonstrate high levels of competencies • Rigourous assessment is desired by both academics and employers • Students demonstate the integration of technology and Liberal Arts

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