CS493: Senior Projects II (Spring 2021)

Instructor

Michael Joseph Woodley

(217) 244-1971

mwoodley@illinois.edu

Course Description

Senior Projects (CS492/493/494) is a two course sequence in computer science. Students work in teams to solve typical commercial or industrial problems as directed by industry sponsors. These sponsors act as clients with specific requirements and needs. Students then work in teams to design and implement solutions that achieve these requirements. Work involves planning, design, creation of appropriate solutions, and presenting their solutions as a team. Written and oral presentations are required, which detail the work of the team throughout the course.

Course information

CS 492 must be taken as a sequence with either CS 493 or CS 494. Must be a Computer Science major with senior standing. 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Credit is not given for both CS 492 and a project course in another engineering department for the same project. Students: for more information including details for milestones, etc:

Four Areas of Student Responsibility in Senior Projects

First Semester Deliverables

  1. Client and Liaison Profile
  2. Problem Statement
  3. Solution Proposal
  4. Individual Presentation
  5. Group Presentation
  6. Individual Semester Synopsis Write-up
  7. Team Semester Synopsis Write-up

How Are Final Grades Determined?

First Semester Topics  (lecture/discussion)

  1. Responsibilities as a Team Member
  2. Managing Your Project
  3. Client Relationship
  4. Managing Your Team
  5. Choosing Projects and Forming Teams
  6. Team Success and the Importance of Inclusivity
  7. Working with clients and team members of different genders and backgrounds.
  8. Understanding Client Goals
  9. Understanding Client Expectations
  10. What to do when you do not have specific expertise
  11. Managing Expectations
  12. Professionalism
  13. Defining Outcomes
  14. How to Work with Your Client to Make Them Happy
  15. Meetings with Clients
  16. Team Meetings
  17. Taking Responsibility and Ownership
  18. Written Communications
  19. Planning and Estimating
  20. Agile Methods and Tools
  21. Useful Status Reports (Are Honest and Accurate)
  22. Honesty and Evaluation (Team Evaluations)
  23. Measuring Team Productivity (You were probably wrong but that's OK)

Second Semester (CS493/CS494)

Focuses mainly on completing the project functional requirements, documentation and the final write-up.

Writing Assignments (For students enrolled in CS493: Advanced Comp II)

Second Semester Topics  (lecture/discussion)

  1. Getting Back to Work
  2. Start of Semester Contact
  3. Objective Status Report
  4. Re-evaluating Expected Outcomes
  5. Managing Expectations
  6. Honest Communication
  7. Restoring Trust
  8. Tying Things Up