Applied Research Project

Curriculum Guideline

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Course
CSIS 4495
Discontinued
No
Course Code
CSIS 4495
Descriptive
Applied Research Project
Department
Computing Studies & Information Systems
Faculty
Commerce & Business Administration
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
201830
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15 Weeks X 4 Hours per Week = 60 Hours
Max Class Size
30
Contact Hours
Seminar: 1 Hour per week Field Experience: 3 Hours per week Total: 4 Hours per week
Method(s) Of Instruction
Seminar
Hybrid
Field Experience
Learning Activities

Experiential learning, lecture, seminar and tutorial are used in this course.  Weekly communication with the instructor will be compulsory.

Course Description
This course enables students in Computing Studies and Information Systems Programs to acquire practical experience in defining, designing, developing and implementing a special computer systems project. Projects will be done individually or in small groups in consultation with the instructor. The instructor will work with each individual or group to select an appropriate computer project. Project topics may vary from in-depth research to systems analysis and design development proposals. The student will learn more about technical documentation. Project management fundamentals will also be covered. It is recommended that a student should have obtained 45 credits towards a CSIS credential such as the PBD-CIS before attempting this course.
Course Content
  1. Content Common to all Projects: The content details will depend upon the particular subject of each project. However, there will be several common topics. Lectures and discussions will be held to deal with:
    • the proposal of a project
    • the format of a contract
    • the techniques of gathering data/information
    • organizing and running meetings
    • information sources, such as libraries and resource centres
    • the preparation of a report
    • the management of weekly status reports of a project
  2. Criteria for Selections of Project Topics:
    • A project's subject must be related to computer systems and be viewed by faculty as providing valuable information
    • A project's scope must be such that its objectives can be attained in one semester
    • The client preferably should be an organization outside the educational institution; should be an entity not related to the student (such as a relative)
    • The contents and results of a project must be original
    • Projects are done in groups - group members work cooperatively to attain project objectives
  3. Typical projects have included (but are not strictly limited to) research, analysis, design or development in one of the following areas:
    • Database applications
    • Web applications related to database
    • Visual/object-oriented programming-related applications
    • Data communications systems (such as LAN, WAN)
    • Multimedia/graphical designs
    • Feasibility studies/analyses
    • Accounting applications
    • Hardware/software evaluations
    • Management contact systems
    • Mobile Applications
    • Data Analytics applications
    • Data mapping/visualization projects
    • Data driven business/decision making applications
  4. Project Management Life Cycle:
    • Project management deliverables
    • Project milestones
    • Risk management
  5. Problem solving skills
  6. Project Management software
  7. Project Implementation - full or partial such as a prototype
Learning Outcomes

The student should be able to:

  1. prepare a project proposal
  2. formulate and negotiate an agreement to set up the terms and conditions of a project
  3. identify a set of objectives/tasks that can be accomplished within the time allotment
  4. apply the life-cycle of systems analysis and design to a computer system project
  5. gather pertinent information and data through interviews, questionnaires, surveys and observations of a computer information system’s activities
  6. organize a project meeting, prepare an agenda, and issue timely minutes
  7. use problem solving skills to resolve problems encountered during the project period
  8. present orally and provide written memos/reports to clients and faculty supervisor in a formal environment
  9. prepare technical documentation and a final project report on the work performed
  10. use project management software effectively to manage the project
Means of Assessment
Negotiation:    
      review of contract and the written project plan		    15%
Implementation:  
      review of student's progress reports (including a time line)		    10%
Communication:   
     oral presentations		    20%

Midterm Written Report(s)

Final Written Report:    
     1) review of student's ability to do technical documentation
     2) evaluation of student's ability to convey his/her results in a clear,
         concise, logical manner
     3) evaluation of student's achievement of project goals

   15%


   10%

   15%
   15%

   Total  100%
Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

Because of the possible variety of project topics, no general reference material can be prescribed.  Specific material will be indicated to each student by the instructor as required.

Prerequisites

CSIS 2300, CSIS 3275 and (either CSIS 3360 or CSIS 4175)