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Electronics Group project Part A - ELE00088H

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  • Department: Electronic Engineering
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Stuart Porter
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

In this group project you will work as part of a “company” to produce a major software application designed for desktop computer or tablet/phone. You will take on one role with specific responsibility within the company, e.g. project / software / marketing manager, and run the company as a small business. All student companies develop project specifications based on marketable ideas and use modern software engineering methods to design/implement/test that product. Each student company has to pitch initial product ideas to financial backers and business mentors and the final product is demonstrated in a presentation to staff acting as "customers".

Related modules

 This module is available to MEng students only

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

Subject content aims:

  • To gain understanding of design, implementation and testing methods in the context of software engineering

  • To develop an understanding of the role of prototyping in software development

Graduate skills aims:

  • To develop group working skills

  • To understand the role of project management

  • To provide a scenario of a small business environment to develop transferable skills such as presentation skills and time management

Module learning outcomes

Subject content learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Have experience of a variety of aspects of software engineering through the development of a large piece of software within a group

  • Employ the effective use of tools to support the software engineering process

  • Discuss the basic operation of a small business

Graduate skills learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Have the ability to communicate technical concepts to their peers

  • Be able to work as an effective team member

Module content

In groups of 7-9, students will work as part of a “company” to produce a major software application designed for desktop computer or tablet/phone. Each student takes on one major role with specific responsibility within the company, e.g. project / software / marketing manager, and run the company as a small business. All student companies develop project specifications based on marketable ideas and use modern software engineering methods to design/implement/test that product. Each student company has to pitch initial product ideas to financial backers and business mentors and the final product is demonstrated in a presentation to staff acting as "customers", during the “Software Engineering Project Part B” second part. It is important for students to work collaboratively by maintaining good communication and adopting good project management and time management skills.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Groupwork
Individual performance assessment		 N/A 65
Groupwork
Group Portfolio		 N/A 35

Special assessment rules

Non-reassessable

Additional assessment information

There are a number of milestones and deliverables that each group produces. There is usually formative feedback on these from appropriate people, e.g. Business Mentors, Financial Backer, Customer. Some of these constitute planning documents and feedback on these is given as the
plans come to fruition, since each group has some flexibility in planning.

Reassessment

None

Module feedback

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme. We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments. A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.

The School of PET aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme. In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work. The School will endeavour to return all exam feedback within the timescale set out in the University's Policy on Assessment Feedback Turnaround Time. The School would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The School will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.

Summative Feedback

Individual feedback will be provided on your individual performance in the group project. You will also receive group feedback for the group portfolio assessment.

Indicative reading

Some guidance notes and external links will be provided.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.