IFSC 4396 Information Systems Application (Capstone Project)

 

Fall 2007

 

Location: ETAS 354

Meetings: Fridays 10:00-12:30 

Course Web site:   http://ifsc.ualr.edu/jdberleant/courses/capstoneproject/index.htm

 

Course Supervisor
Daniel Berleant
ETAS 258D
683-7056
berleant@gmail.com (primary)

jdberleant@ualr.edu (forwards, perhaps with a delay, to berleant@gmail.com)

http://ifsc.ualr.edu/jdberleant

Technical Advisor

            John Talburt

            ETAS 258C

            371-7616

            jrtalburt@ualr.edu

            http://ifsc.ualr.edu/jrtalburt/

Technical Consultant

            Eric Nelson

            ednelson@ualr.edu       

Senior Projects Director

            Joe Swaty

            ETAS 202

            jwswaty@ualr.edu
            537-9864

 

 

Office hours:

Dan Berleant is available:

·         Tuesday 1:00-3:00 in ETAS 258D

·         Friday 1:30-3:00 in ETAS 258D

·         24/7 at berleant@gmail.com (I usually read email daily)

·         By appointment

John Talburt is available

·         Wednesday 4:00-5:00pm

·         Thursday 4:00-6:00pm (before my Thursday night class at 6pm)

·         By appointment

Joe Swaty is available

·         By appointment

Course Description
This is part of the 2-semester senior project sequence. The course involves largely self-directed teams of students working on projects with a real-world character. An average of nine hours per week of involvement with the course (in class and outside of class) is assumed for each student. A software product is expected as part of the results, in addition to a report containing findings and recommendations. Neither product is necessarily more or less important than the other. The project will proceed iteratively and incrementally. A waterfall-like project life cycle model in which all the planning occurs in semester 1, and execution of the plan occurs in semester 2, will be avoided.

Textbook and Other Information Sources   

  • No textbook is assigned. Background reading and study is, however, expected. Use your textbooks from other classes, the Web, and the library.
  • Assistance and advice regarding presentations will be useful. The Communication Skill Center (CSC) is a campus resource devoted to helping students in the various stages of preparing a presentation. Services include, but are not limited to, anxiety management, brainstorming, research, organization, outlining, PowerPoint presentations, and providing presenters with ethical feedback. The CSC is located in room 201 of the Speech Communication building, which is located across from the tennis courts. Appointments are available and walk-ins are welcome; please feel free to stop by or call at 569-8208.

 

Grading

    1. There will be a grade assigned each week for each student based on their concise presentation of what they did that week, their plans, and other relevant items. Powerpoint slide(s) or other visuals are suggested. Students may indeed work on their presentations during class, time permitting. What a deal! The grades will be averaged and that average will count for ½ of the grade in the course.
    2. The overall project results will count for ½ of the grade in the course and will be averaged from the input of course management and of clients.
    3. Students in each team will assess each others’ contributions and this will affect grades. Team members are permitted to rate all of their teammates as excellent, if appropriate.
    4. Letter grades will be assigned as follows:

A+ (96.67-100%)

A (93.33-96.67%)

A- (90-93.33%)

B+ (86.67-90%)

B (83.33-86.67%)

B- (80-83.33%)

C+ (76.67-80%)

C (73.33-76.67%)

C- (70-73.33%)

D+ (66.67-70%)

D (60-66.67) 

F (0-60)

(+’s and –’s will not appear in the grades submitted to the registrar.)

Lateness: late assignments will not be accepted, as it doesn’t fit in with the structure. If you get sick or have some other hardship that interferes with a particular assignment, please let the instructor know and a reasonable solution will be arranged.

Students with disabilities:  It is the policy and practice of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to create inclusive learning environments.  If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion or to accurate assessment of achievement--such as time-limited exams, inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos--please notify the instructor as soon as possible.  Students are also welcome to contact the Disability Resource Center, telephone 501-569-3143 (v/tty). For more information, visit the DRC website at www.ualr.edu/disability.  

Schedule of Activities, Fall 2007

Session 1, M 8/24/07: Unified process; HW1
Session 2, M 8/31/07: Notes on visit to headquarter; HW2