GROUP PROJECTS IN SOFTWARE
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Jiang Guo
Department of Computer Science
California State University Los Angeles
April 3-4, 2009
Background
At Cal State LA, Software Engineering
courses are Core courses.
 Software Engineering is important in
ABET
 Software Engineering courses
CS337/CS437 are two quarter series.

Objectives of Software Engineering

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Students will have the training to
design and implement a large
software system and will have the
ability to work both individually and
collaboratively.
Students will have sufficient oral
and written communication skills.
Prerequisite Courses for SE

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Using Relational Databases and SQL
Object-oriented Programming Java
Programming with Data Structures
Web and Internet Programming
Data Structures and Algorithms.
SE are Lab-oriented Core Courses

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Students are divided into groups of
4 to 5 members each
Each group is responsible for the
design and development of a
software system collaboratively
Group activities includes
documentation, implementation, and
presentation
Benefits of Group Project in SE

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Improved students’ software development
experience.
Enhancement of problem solving and critical
thinking skills for students.
Students trained to master a comprehensive
set of computing skills and to apply them
quickly in a realistic hands-on environments.
Students trained to have teamwork
coordination skills and offer them valuable
opportunities for leadership development.
Organization of Groups
Faculty
Advice
Advice
Group
Leader
Lead
Coordinate
3 UnderGrad
Students
Join
Group 1
Group
Leader
Lead
Group
Leader
Coordinate
Lead
3 UnderGrad
Students
Join
Group 2
Coordinate
3 UnderGrad
Students
Join
……
Group n
Organization and Management of Group Projects
Lab Arrangement

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The instructor works with group members
in the lab twice per week.
Once a month, the instructor hosts
progress presentation seminars, during
which participating students and group
leaders give brief presentations.
At end of quarters, students give a final
presentation and demo.
Projects Selection
The project topics are selected by
students.
 The students join a group totally
depends on their interests.
 If students can’t find their preferred
topics, the instructor assigns a topic to a
group.

Free Project Platforms
Most software tools that we use are open
source software (choice?)
 Java
 MySQL
 Eclipse
 Apache Tomcat
 Apache Struts
 IBM Rational Software Architecture

Documents and Standard Template
To help students finish these documents,
we provide documentation templates
based on IEEE standards:
 Requirement Specification
 Design Specification
 Code
 Test Report

Sample Projects
Empty Pockets.com Online Store
 Video Rental Business
 Automated Online Auto Auction
 Dating System
 MyGrocery.com
 Book Trading System in Library
 Net CAD System
 Music Sharing System

Tiger E-Learning System (I)
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This courseware is designed to facilitate
university faculty and student
coursework activities so that they have
user-friendly interface to effectively
interact with one another.
Tiger E-Learning System (II)

For faculty:
upload slides, lecture notes, homework, etc.
 grade students’ homework online
 get the statistic information of students’
homework and exercise
 use the statistic information to find the weak
areas in the teaching
 send emails to all the students
 use forums to discuss questions with
students
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Tiger E-Learning System (III)

For students:
download slides, lecture notes, homework,
etc.
 submit students’ homework online
 send emails to teacher and other students
 use forums to discuss questions with other
students
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Purposes
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Not all faculty enjoy web-based systems.
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Complexity
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Many faculty still do not have web pages
WebCT  Blackboard… are too complex to
use.
Cost
Too expensive to buy?
 Learn curve?
 Administrator?

Thank you!
Thank you!