NDLI: Teaching a capstone subject in computing science- a variety engineering approach

Content Provider	IEEE Xplore Digital Library
Author	Lederer, B. Plekhanova, V. Jay, C.B.
Copyright Year	2000
Description	Author affiliation: Sch. of Comput. Sci., Univ. of Technol., Sydney, NSW, Australia (Lederer, B.)
Abstract	Software Development Case Study is a capstone subject in the BSc (Computing) degree at the University of Technology, Sydney. Its purpose is to give students as realistic an experience as possible of working in an IT industry environment on software development. At the same time we are trying to ensure that certain educational aims, such as students being exposed to programming in the large and having a sense of engaging with this task and completing it, are met. In analysing the way we run the course we use Ashby's concept of requisite variety: that for a system's essential variables (subject coordinator) must be able to deploy enough variety (or manoeuvres) to match that of the system being regulated (class). In our case the regulatory variety relates to the type and complexity of the projects on offer as well as to the project roles; this has to match the variety of vocational needs and interests brought to us by the students. We give examples of how conflicts, e.g. between educational and industrial aims, can trigger the emergence of new regulatory variety (such as specialised approaches to the task). We also describe how the coordinator's regulatory variety is amplified by involving the students: e.g. in the framing of the project requirements, where we solicit input from the students via proposals: or in the running of the teams, where the students manage themselves but with monitoring by liaison officers. This student-centred approach is designed to promote project ownership and team responsibility. Although it also produces greater task uncertainty than the students are used to it provides them with greater opportunities for exploration and creativity.
Starting Page	136
Ending Page	142
File Size	46816
Page Count	7
File Format	PDF
ISBN	076950518X
DOI	10.1109/ACSC.2000.824392
Language	English
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Publisher Date	2000-01-31
Publisher Place	Australia
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Rights Holder	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Subject Keyword	Education Electrical capacitance tomography Page description languages Read only memory Hip Uncertainty Software engineering Programming Software systems
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in