In this module you will prepare a project proposal at the end of Level 5 and complete the project itself in Level 6. This involves: identifying a topic of interest, conducting primary and secondary research, including a critical literature review, planning the residue of the work to be done in Level 6, modelling, creating and documenting an artefact that is relevant to your course of study and that is a solution to the problem set out in your proposal, writing a report describing the technical aspects of the project’s model and artefact, the processes involved in the performance of the project, and critically reflecting on the project’s findings and outcomes, and making a presentation of the technical aspects of the project, including a demonstration of the artefact and a critical evaluation of the project outcomes.

1. IDENTIFY AND SPECIFY AN ACADEMIC PROJECT PROPOSAL THAT IS RELEVANT TO YOUR COURSE OF STUDY AND PLAN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT.
Knowledge and Understanding, Enquiry

2. CREATE AND DOCUMENT A MODEL OF A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM USING RECOGNISED ANALYSIS AND DESIGN TECHNIQUES RELEVANT TO YOUR DEGREE COURSE.
Analysis,
Communication,
Problem Solving

3. CREATE AND DOCUMENT AN ARTEFACT SUITABLE FOR YOUR COURSE OF STUDY, TRANSFORMING THE MODEL INTO AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION USING RECOGNISED STANDARDS AND TECHNIQUES. Application,
Communication

4. TEST, EVALUATE AND DOCUMENT THE PROJECT ARTEFACT CRITICALLY EVALUATING THE PROCESS AND RESULT.
Analysis,
Reflection

5. CARRY OUT THE PROJECT, FULLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROFESSIONAL CODES OF CONDUCT, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ANY RELEVANT LEGAL, SOCIAL, RISK ASSESSMENT, SOFTWARE STANDARDS, CYBERSECURITY PRINCIPLES, AND ETHICAL ISSUES INTO ACCOUNT.
Learning,
Application

An Assignment of three parts –
Assignment 1 – Final Year Project Proposal.
This is developed over the Post Assessment period at the end of Level 5 (Learning Outcome 1).

Assignment 2 – Final Year Project Report.
Model, create and document an artefact that is relevant to your course of study and that extends and applies the solution to the problem set out in your proposal. Write a report describing the technical aspects of the project’s model and artefact, the processes involved in the performance of the project, and critically reflect on the project’s findings and outcomes. The report should conform to prescribed standards of referencing (Learning Outcomes 2 to 5).

Assignment 3 – A presentation and demonstration of the technical aspects of the project, including a demonstration of the artefact and a critical evaluation of the project outcomes (Learning Outcomes 2 to 5).

Project proposal specification planning.
Methods and skills of critical literature review.
Selecting and using appropriate technologies available (e.g. library, digital library, Internet facilities and other sources).
Gathering data from a range of primary sources, including experimental programming.
Techniques for testing project artefacts.
Techniques to analyse data and to present the results in a suitable format.
Critical evaluation of project outcomes.
Critical reflection on one’s performance in the project.
Course-specific guidelines for the individual project.
Project planning and management.
Health and safety.
Legal, ethical, professional and social issues.
Aspects of cyber security and principles.
Organisation of study materials.
Techniques of research report writing.
The roles of the supervisor and the student.
Issues associated to software testing and robustness (including British Standards Institution PAS 754).
Consideration of computing in relation to public well-being.
Industry roles and industry relations.
Environment and sustainability issues.
Business, economics, environmental and sustainability issues.
Commercial issues and principles, and Intellectual Property.
Globalisation issues.
Disability and accessibility.
Health and Safety, and associated risk issues.

An important part of the learning strategy is direct one-to-one supervision of your project by a supervisor, which would typically be 20 minutes per week. Most of your time will be spent in self-managed learning. The independent learning for this module will include your keeping of a logbook, which will encourage you to reflect about the problems you are meeting and the ways in which you are solving them. You will prepare for and conduct business-like meetings with your supervisor and communicate clearly and effectively with him or her. An important part of your learning will take place in direct discussion with your supervisor.

The proposal element of the module will be developed in the timetabled Post-Assessment Activity programme at the end of Level 5.

Dawson, C. (2015) “Projects in Computing and Information Systems: A Student's Guide.” 3rd edition. Pearson Education. ISBN: 9781292073460
Schwalbe, K. (2015) “Information Technology Project Management.” 8th edition. Course Technology. ISBN: 9781285452340

Access to the libraries electronic books and journals

None