Module: CS_254P, Year 2 Tutorial

Announcement:

Year 2 Tutorial Groups 2010-2011
Tutorials start week 3 (18 Oct 2010). Year 2 tutorial groups meet every other week.
Bob's tutorial group meets on Thursdays at 17:00 after the CS_254 lecture in room 508 of Faraday Tower. This tutorial is open to all students taking CS_254 for questions.

Recommended Discussion Topics

Tutorial Meeting 1

1. What is software engineering?
2. Disasters Caused by Software:
   • The Ariane 5 Crash: Flight 501, which took place on June 4, 1996, was the first, and unsuccessful, test flight of the European Ariane 5 expendable launch system...
   • The Blue Screen of Death (BSoD): is an error screen displayed by certain operating systems, most notably Micro$oft Windows, after encountering a critical system error...
   • 20 Famous Software Disasters: Software errors cost the U.S. economy $60 billion annually in rework, lost productivity and actual damages...
   • Study: 68 percent of IT projects fail by Michael Krigsman, published December 2008

1. A Guide to Working in Groups: from the University of Southhampton.
2. Working in Groups: Answers to common questions and discussions of common fears regarding group work.
3. Writing and Working in Groups: Guidelines from Colorado State University
4. Working in Groups: Guidelines from the University of Canberra, Australia
5. Group Development: An introduction to the topic on wikipedia.

1. Assignment 2: from software engineering on GUI desing.
2. Bob's Lecture on Team Roles: these team roles are required for assignments 3 and 4.
3. The unexpected disadvantages of email. This is an interesting article on the harm email can cause.

1. Practical Tips for Software-Intensive Student Projects by D. C. Rajapaske, a great guide to working in teams on software engineering projects
2. The truth about grit. This is an interesting article about one of the characteristics that leads to success.

1. Assignments 3 and 4 of Software Engineering This is a non-trivial project, so groups start working early on it.
   First, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes will be awarded to the best group projects!
   Grid Tools Ltd sponsers the 1st, 2nd and, 3rd place group prizes.
2. A (very small) sample data file for assignments 3 and 4. This is a text file (Unicode) in CSV format. It was exported from a spreadsheet.
3. Another sample data file (cars) for assignments 3 and 4.
4. The original spreadsheet file that the above CSV came from (Open Office format)
5. A 3rd sample data file (crime-by-state) for assignments 3 and 4.
6. The original crime-by-state spreadsheet file that the above CSV came from (Excel format)

1. Top 10 Things That Annoy Programmers by Kevin Pang, 2008

1. A3 and A4 Assessment Report from last year- This is the report that was used to assess assignment 3 last year. The assessment report for this year's assignment will be similar.
2. (LaTeX source)

1. A3 and A4 Assessment Report- This is the report that is used to assess assignment 3
2. (LaTeX source). Since you know how your are assessed before the deadline, there is no reason not to do an excellent project.
3. Skills4study.com- an interesting web site providing very useful advice on attending lectures, essay writing, presentations, assessments, revision, and planning your future.

1. Assignment 5 of Software Engineering This is non-trivial, so start working early on it.
   
2. The Death of Computing by Neil McBride, November 2007 This is a popular and controversial article that promises to spark interesting discussion.

   "The new computing department will be the department of interdisciplinary studies, drawing ideas from biology, design, history, medicine and contributing a rich computing foundation to those disciplines. It will be looking outwards rather than inwards, concerned to address the vast landscapes of computing application."

3. BCS Welcomes the Curriculum Review but warns there is a serious problem with the teaching of computing in schools..., 25 November 2010

1. 140 Google Interview Questions Ever wonder what an interview at Google can be like? Interviews at Microshaft can be similar.

1. Feedback on Databases Exam, 2011 This valuable feedback was provided by Mark Jones to his database students. It contains five essential lessons and general advice that can be applied across all modules.