Spring 2018 • CSS 496 Applied Computing Senior Seminar Capstone
Contact Information
Instructor: Laurie Anderson
Email: lja3@uw.edu
Office: UW1-260C
Office Hours: by appointment, probably on M, T, or W
Alternate contact: text @ 425-999-1476
Start the text, "This is <your name> from 496 <Question>"
Course Objectives
CSS 496 provides a capstone experience for majors in the CSS Applied Computing degree
program. This senior seminar is designed to integrate your minor, or concentration, with
computing in a new way. Methodologies and deliverables include reviewing professional
literature, writing a research paper, and presenting project results to technologists and end-users.
By the end of the quarter, students will be able to:
 Relate your minor/concentration to your computer science education.
 Have demonstrated your research in your intersected topic in writing a comprehensive
research paper, and presenting at the CSS Colloquium (poster and 8-9 minute presentation).
Grading
Your grade will be credit or no credit for the course. To receive credit, for the course, students
must participate fully in all activities and turn in all deliverables to the academic standard of
senior-level research work.
To succeed, I recommend that you pick a topic that drives you to want to learn and become an
expert in this topic area, thus making the outcomes of that work unquestionably worthy of credit
in this course. If I am questioning whether you have done sufficient work for this class, then you
will not receive credit.
Course Materials
OPTIONAL TEXT: Hacker, Diana. Rules for Writers. (any edition) to help with
writing/research process, citations, grammar, etc.…
CANVAS: All on-line course activities take place on Canvas. All students are expected to be
able to access and participate there. Problems with Canvas? Use the Open Learning Lab, email
uwcanvas@uw.edu, or call the UW IT helpdesk at 206-221-1500.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: I use the course canvas announcements to send out information between
classes, which can send an email to your uw.edu account. Recommendation: Modify your
account settings to turn on email notifications of announcements. See Account-> Settings->
Notifications.
CSS 496 Syllabus
Policies
Find School of STEM policies at http://www.uwb.edu/getattachment/stem/about/stempolicies/classroom-policies-stem-fc-1-12-17.pdf on the following topics:
 Academic Integrity
 Access and Accommodations
 Classroom Emergency Preparedness
 For Our Veterans
 Inclement Weather
 Parenting Resources
 Respect for Diversity
 Student Support Services
 Wondering How to Address Faculty?
These additional policies provide an even grading policy and an encouraging learning
environment for all.
DELIVERABLES: All work is due at the beginning of the class, electronically on Canvas or on
paper in class (or both). I’d like a paper copy of your draft paper, and both a paper and electronic
copy of the final works (your research paper).
MISSED CLASSES: If you miss class, you are still responsible for turning in any assignments.
PEER REVIEW: Your work will be reviewed by peers. We will determine these peer groups
and meeting schedule the first week of classes. There are several goals: (1) practice evaluating
another’s work and providing feedback, (2) capitalize on another’s learning to see where it might
intersect with your own research, and (3) help each other see interconnections within each
other’s work. Therefore, please make an effort to listen when someone else is reporting their
work and work collaboratively, even if immediate connections or relevance is not obvious.
BACK UPS: You are responsible for maintaining electronic back-up copies of all your work.
FOOD: Snacking is permitted; however, please be courteous to everyone by avoiding crackling
cellophane, and crunchy and odorous foods. Also please clean up after yourself.
GRADUATING? You must register with the CSS student advisor at the beginning of the
quarter if you plan to graduate at the end of that quarter.
INCOMPLETES: University rules state “an incomplete is given only when the student has been
in attendance and has done satisfactory work until within two weeks at the end of the quarter and
has furnished proof satisfactory to the instructor … the work cannot be completed because of
illness or other circumstances beyond the student’s control.”
CSS 496 Syllabus
Daily Schedule (changes possible) Gray days: no class; work independently
wk
M
1
3/26
Activities / Deliverables
Syllabus, Course deliverables; grading
W
3/28
The Sequence: Holding ideas together
without rushing to the finish.
Activities / Deliverables
DUE: 4+ annotated works re: Brainstorming
fuel: Works to help with brainstorming
Brainstorming revisited (mind mapping).
Learning to x-ray a document
Brainstorm everyone’s project (listing)
2
4/2
DUE: 4+ annotated works re: research
4/4
DUE: 4+ annotated works: Closing your
circle: How do these works bring you closer
to closing your project idea and creating a
project proposal plan?
4/11
DUE: 4+ annotated works re: Outliers? What
are the outliers? What is inside/outside your
scope? What do you still need to complete
your proposal?
BRING a copy of your resume
SET UP PEER GROUPS
3
4/9
Continue your research (no formal
annotations)
Library: Interdisciplinary Research
Bring annotations & laptop
Meet in LB1-220
4
4/16
Bring annotations & laptop
Meet in LB1-220
DUE: Project Proposal & Detailed
outline
Bring paper copy of outline for in-class
review
4/18
Career Fair 10:30-2:00
No class. Post your draft work on-line.
5
4/23
No class.
4/25
No class. Post your draft work on-line.
6
4/30
No class.
5/2
No class. Post your draft work on-line.
7
5/7
DUE: Draft Research paper (as complete
as possible) Paper copy to me.
5/9
No class.
Continue writing on your work.
LECTURE: Pitfalls, strategies, and best
practices with Posters
8
5/14
DUE: Drawings: Storyboard of
Presentation & Poster
Review the paper you were assigned to
review.
5/16
No class.
Finish up your research work.
Review in class
Draft your power in PowerPoint.
DUE: finish peer reviews of drafts in
Canvas
9
5/21
DUE: Draft II paper (Paper copy to me)
5/23
No class.
5/30
Prepare for panels
Fri
6/8
DUE: Final Poster
COLLOQUIUM (NCEC)You're expected to
be present for this entire event
DUE: PowerPoint: Draft poster
Review in class
10
5/28
HOLIDAY. No class.
11
T 6/5 DUE: Final Research paper. Post your
work on-line. Paper copy to my office.