Simulating industry: An innovative software engineering capstone design course

Lynette Johns-Boast, Shayne Flint

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    25 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Universities are required to produce graduates with good technical knowledge and 'employability skills' such as communication, team work, problem-solving, initiative and enterprise, planning, organizing and self-management. The capstone software development course described in this paper addresses this need. The course design contains three significant innovations: running the course for two cohorts of students in combination; requiring students to be team members in 3rd year and team leaders in their 4th (final) year; and providing assessment and incentives for individuals to pursue quality work in a group-work environment. The course design enables the creation of a simulated industrial context, the benefits of which go well beyond the usual, well-documented benefits of group project work. In order to deliver a successful outcome, students must combine academic theory and practical knowledge whilst overcoming the day-to-day challenges that face project teams. Course design enables the blending of university-based project work and work-integrated learning in an innovative context to better prepare students for participating in, and leading, multi-disciplinary teams on graduation. Outcomes have been compellingly positive for all stakeholders - students, faculty and industry partners.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publication2013 Frontiers in Education Conference
    Subtitle of host publicationEnergizing the Future, FIE 2013 - Proceedings
    Pages1782-1788
    Number of pages7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2013
    Event43rd IEEE Annual Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE 2013 - Oklahoma City, OK, United States
    Duration: 23 Oct 201326 Oct 2013

    Publication series

    NameProceedings - Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE
    ISSN (Print)1539-4565

    Conference

    Conference43rd IEEE Annual Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE 2013
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityOklahoma City, OK
    Period23/10/1326/10/13

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Simulating industry: An innovative software engineering capstone design course'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this