Introduction |Objectives |Class Organization |Assessment |Project

Class organization

Participants in the course will function as a systems design team with oversight of multiple development projects. The first half of the course is devoted to three streams of activity:

• Building an understanding of system and database design concepts and techniques.
• Defining and scoping prototype project(s).
• Gaining familiarity with software tools.

The second half of the term is devoted to

• Applying concepts and techniques in the context of active case studies.
• Discussing, presenting, and revising project development work.
• Revisiting topics in more depth as the group requires.

Classes are held from 6:30 to 9:00pm on Tuesday nights. Most classes will include a presentation and discussion period followed by a hands-on systems workshop. Presentations and discussions will be held in Gerber 215. Most workshops will be located in Horn Computer Center.

This course is conducted more like a seminar than a formal lecture course. If you have any questions about or preferences for specific research (including specialized project ideas), please consult with me immediately and I will attempt to accommodate your interests. Please be aware that participants bring different levels of software experience and different systems perspectives with them to the course. The sessions are designed to provide everyone with a common base of experience from which to proceed. If you feel that we are progressing too slowly, and particularly if you feel we are progressing too rapidly for your comfort, please talk to me right away and we will take steps to correct the situation.