4th year Students Orientation SeminarJune 13, 2015

Agenda

Capstone Project/Thesis Guidelines Practicum Guidelines

Capstone Project/Thesis Policies and Guidelines

CAPSTONE PROJECT

coined term for “cope” (Latin, capa) and “stone”

one of the finishing or protective stones that form the top of an exterior masonry wall or building

CAPSTONE PROJECT

the crowning achievement, point, element, or event

the final stroke In-depth exploration of an area

of the curriculum. Usually occurs in the final term of study and builds on previous learning.

Objectives of the Capstone Project /Thesis

Bringing together and integrating knowledge and skills in the course as a whole;

Reinforcing and developing competencies that have not been sufficiently emphasized in the fundamental subjects;

Defining a substantial engineering study or design task and carrying it to completion within a specified time and to a professional standard;

Completing a comprehensive written and bound report that places the Research / Capstone Project in context, defines its objectives, and describes the work done with the resulting conclusions or recommendations;

Bridging the gap between the undergraduate studies and the professional future, and demonstrating professional competencies and capabilities;

Demonstrating initiative and creativity, taking pride in the achievement of a difficult task.

Thesis Capstone- Systematic investigation of a computing

problemAddress an existing problem or need

- May include:- A solution- An approximate or partial solution- Scientific investigation- Development of results leading to the

solution of the problem

Focuses on:- Infrastructure- Application- Process involved in introducing a computing

solution to a problem - Comprehensive report on infrastructure

requirements and project’s implications on other existing systems

- Heavily systems development should clearly demonstrate a software development that is algorithm-based and founded on Computer Science principles

Focuses on business processes and the implications of introducing a computing solution to a problem

General Consideration

is considered as a culminating course that form the most important appraisal of whether the previous knowledge and skills gained by the students from 1st year to 4th year are applied and synthesized well.

It must not exist or have been proposed by previous

Proponents/Researchers.

It must be in the form of a Startup Idea(s) related to one or a composition among the following trendy topics, but not limited to:

Cloud/Client Social Media Web-Scale IT Personal Cloud Smart Machines Web Applications Software-Defined Anything Internet of Things / Everything Cloud Computing (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS) Hybrid Cloud and IT as Service Broker Mobile Device Diversity and Management Mobile Apps and Applications (iOS, Android)

Suggested Areas (IT)

Software Development• Software Customization

o Extensionso Plug-ins

• Expert Systems and Decision Support Systems / Intelligent Systems

• Systems Software (e.g. Utilities, Interpreters, Simulators, Compilers, Security-related

Software)• IS Development (with at

least Alpha Testing with Live Servers

• Web Applications Development

• Mobile Computing Systems

• Computer Vision

Multimedia Systems• Game Development• E-learning Systems• Interactive Systems• Information Kiosks

Network Design and Implementation• IT Management• IT Strategic Plan• IT Security Analysis, Planning and Implementation

Suggested Areas (CS)

Software Development and Theory • Mobile Computing Systems• Software Extensions or Plug-ins• Expert Systems and Decision

Support Systems• Systems Software (software tools

or utilities, interpreters, simulators, compilers, security related software)

• Intelligent Systems• Computer Vision• Signal Processing such as Image

processing• Natural Language Processing• Pattern Recognition and Data

Mining• Bioinformatics• Graphics Applications• Cloud Computing• Parallel Computing• Embedded Systems• Emerging Technologies

Foundations of Computer Science• Automata and Formal Languages• Data Structures, Algorithm Design and Analysis• Web Semantics• Coding Theory• Programming Languages• Visualization Systems• Computer and Architecture• Modelling and Simulation Human Computer Interaction• Usability• Affective Computing• Emphatic Computing

Suggested Areas (IS)

Software Development

 • Software Customization• Information Systems development for

actual client• Web Applications Development• Mobile Computing Systems 

IS Planning

 • Enterprise Resource Plan• Information Systems Strategic Plan

Pre-requisites

The student must finish the following courses that prepare him/her to undergo a formal capstone project/research study:

• Res 1 (Methods of Research) - for research methodologies (e.g. Descriptive research method)

• TechWrite22 (Technical Writing) - for formal articles/writing and presentation skills

• SAD22 (Systems Analysis and Design) - for Software Development steps or life cycle

• Math 11/Math 21A (Advanced Statistics / Probability and Statistics) - for statistical process/treatment

• IT 410/SoftEng32 (Software Engineering) co-requisite of IT 415 / CAPSTONE41 - for

Software development paradigms• IT 320/AIS32 (Accounting Information Systems) – for business

processes• AutoLang32 (Automata and Language Theory) - for CS• ProgLan32 (Structures of Programming Languages) – for CS

Capstone41 Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

1.demonstrate initiative, creativity, leadership, communication, project management and professional skills and competencies according to IT industry tandards;

2. evaluate academic literature within real-world systems and software engineering product;

3. produce a comprehensive Capstone Project manuscript;

4. integrate relevant technical and non-technical knowledge and skills acquired from the entire BSIT program;

5. propose a substantial Capstone Project study within a specified time and according to a professional standard.

Capstone42 Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

At the end of the course, the student can:

1. demonstrate initiative, creativity, leadership, communication, project management and professional skills and competencies according to IT industry standards; 2. produce a comprehensive Capstone Project manuscript;

3. integrate relevant technical and non-technical knowledge and skills acquired from the entire BSIT/BSIS/BSCS program

4. develop a functional software project application within a specified time and according to a professional standard;

5. defend a relevant, feasible, practical and functional software application project.

Integrating lean startup methodology in capstone projects

Research Agenda

Startup ideas Ideas that work. Ideas that matter. Ideas that are technically viable, and

has market potential.

Synergy

• Transportation and Construction

• Healthcare• Telcom and IT• Mobile Solutions• Energy• Agriculture and

Food• Mining• Water Technology

Digital Media Education MSM Enterprises Large Enterprises Entertainment Lifestyle Environment

Preservation and Protection

Stages

1. Title Hearing2. Proposal Hearing3. Software Development4. Final Oral Defense

1. Title Hearing

1. Idea Generation2. Stage 1 (Exploration) Validation3. Fire Pitch with their Project Advisers4. Create Explainer Video5. Stage 2 (Landing Page) Validation6. Drafting of Value Proposition Canvas7. Drafting of Initial Business Model

Canvas8. Lightning Pitch

2. Proposal Hearing

1. Pivot/Iterate Business Model Canvas2. Build Customer Empathy Map3. Prepare Proposal Hearing Manuscript4. Build a Storyboard5. Build a Technology Stack Diagram

3. Software Development1. Building a prototype (minimum viable

product) 2. Test prototype in 3 loops with the

customers3. Document prototype validation in

Validation Board (Stage 3)4. Pivot/iterate prototype

4. Final Oral Defense

1. Finalize Capstone Project manuscript2. Prepare revised Business Model

Canvas3. Create Roadmap for the startup

company

Capstone Project Team

3 to 4 members in a team, must be senior students

Job Roles:Project ManagerSystem AnalystSoftware EngineerQA Specialist/TesterTechnical Writer

Panel and Adviser Composition

1 Subject Adviser/Teacher 1 Project Adviser 1 Research Coordinator/Facilitator 1 Content Expert (should also be a panel member) 1 Panel Member 1 Statistician (optional) 1 Chairman

•Project Adviser•Proponents/Researchers•Job-Specific •Subject Adviser/Teacher•Chairman•Panel Member•Content Expert•Research Facilitator

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Adviser

1. Ensures that the study proposed by the students conforms to the standard of the College and has immediate or potential impact on the research thrust of the university.

2. Guides the research/project students in the following tasks while in the proposal stage:

Defining the research problems/objectives in clear and specific terms

Building a working bibliography for the research Identifying variables and formulating hypothesis, if

necessary Determining research design, population to be

studied, research environment, instruments to be used and the data collection procedures

3. Meets the team regularly (at least once a month) to answer questions and help resolve impasses and conflicts.

4. Points out errors in the development work, in the analysis, or in the documentation. The adviser must remind the proponents to do their work properly.

5. Reviews thoroughly all deliverables at every stage of the project, to ensure that they meet the College’s standards. The adviser may also require his/her project proponents to submit progress reports regularly.

6. Recommends the proponents for proposal hearing and oral defense. The project adviser should not sign the Hearing Notice (for Proposal Hearing and Oral Defense) if he/she believes that the proponents are not yet ready for proposal hearing and/or oral defense. Thus, if the proponents fail in the defense, it is partially the adviser’s fault.

7. Clarifies points during the proposal hearing and oral defense.

8. Ensures that all required revisions are incorporated in the appropriate documents and/or software.

9. Keeps informed of the schedule of project activities, required deliverables and deadlines.

10. Recommends to the project defense panel the nomination of his/her project for an award.

11. He must be: A provider An encourager A dictator A pushy boss A connector An employment agency

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Proponents/Researchers

1. Keep informed of the Capstone Project Guidelines and Policies.

2. Keep informed of the schedule of project deliverables, requirements and deadlines posted by Subject Adviser and Dean.

3. Submit on time all deliverables specified in this document as well as those to be specified by the Subject Adviser and Dean.

4. Submit on time all requirements identified by the thesis defense panel during the defense.

5. Submit on time the requirements identified by the project adviser throughout the duration of the thesis.

6. Schedule regular meetings (at least once a month) with the subject adviser and project adviser throughout the duration of the thesis/project. The meetings serve as a venue for the proponent to report the progress of their work, as well as raise any issues or concerns.

7. Schedule regular meetings (at least once a semester) with the Dean throughout the duration of the thesis project.

8. Attend all meetings scheduled by the Subject Adviser.9. Each proponent must keep a Project Journal that

serves as a diary of his/her contributions to the project and to the team in general. Each journal entry must reflect the proponent’s job description and must have the following contents:

Date and Time Body of the Entry Witness (with complete name and signature)

10. Ensure that the Project Adviser and the Subject Adviser has signed the Project Journal in every consultation period.

Project Manager’s Job Description

The person with authority to manage a project. This includes leading the planning and the development of all project deliverables. The project manager is responsible for managing the budget and work plan and all Project Management Procedures (scope management, issues management, risk management, etc.)Deliverables: Progress Report (once in every week) Implementation Plan

System Analyst’s Job Description

A systems analyst does research on any reported problem, plans and proposes a solutions, advocates software and systems and coordinates the problem solving process and ensures that the business standards and requirements are met.

Deliverable: Requirements Specification

Software Engineer’s Job Description

A software engineer is responsible for the design and implementation of a variety of software solutions. They might be involved in the design and testing of anything from computers games and business applications, to operating systems and advanced software for the control of highly technical hardware and equipment.Deliverables: Design Document Software Output Executable Code Module

Software Tester’s Job Description

A software tester participates in an initial consultation with his internal or external client, for the purpose of understanding the scope of a project. Either independently or in a group setting, he creates a testing plan based on the parameters outlined during the client consultation. The tester actively uses the software that he is testing, using every function and tool, searching for results regarding performance, reliability, bugs and any other failures. Detailed metrics are recorded and monitored to track the progress and outcomes of the testing process. Testing status is communicated either verbally or in writing to his manager or directly to the client. Deliverables: Test Plan Test Case Defect Documentation Status Report (on a daily basis during Testing stage of

the SDLC)

Technical Writer’s Job Description

A Technical Writer is responsible for writing and editing technical documentation for the organization’s products and offerings. This person must have excellent research skills, must be able to organize his/her ideas, and be able to translate technical terms into text that any reader can understand. An IT technical writer composes written texts about computer systems and related items, including hardware, software and networks. They work closely with computer engineers to understand projects and collaborate with graphic designers and photographers to add visual representations to text.Deliverables: Technical Manual (installation, configuration,

etc.) User Manual

Subject Adviser

1. Announce project areas (at the start of the each semester) to the students.

2. Conduct general meetings with the students to discuss the Capstone Project Guidelines, Policies and Deliverables, and to allow the students to raise and clarify issues.

3. Select a project panel for each project team.4. Schedule project activities, such as the

deadlines of deliverables and defense sessions.

5. Post schedules, defense guidelines, requirements guidelines, and other announcements.

6. Furnish every member of the defense panel with all the necessary thesis documents before the defense.

7. File at least one copy of the defense panel’s evaluation (including revisions) and the Revised and Approved Deliverables at every stage of the project.

Research Coordinator

1. Formulate Capstone Project Manual, and make necessary revisions.

2. Design/create unified checklist, forms, and templates.

3. Act as a research facilitator during the Proposal Hearing and Final Oral Defense. He/she is responsible to record all the suggestions and recommendations of the panel during the oral defense.

4. Organize public presentation.5. Coordinate with SWU CREV for final

requirements.6. Process honoraria.

Panel Member/Content Expert

1. Validate the endorsement of the project adviser. The panel serves as “Internal Auditors”, putting some form of check and control on the kinds of projects being approved by the College.

2. Evaluate the deliverables.3. Recommend a verdict.4. Listen and consider the request of the

project adviser and/or the proponents.

Chairman

1. Brief the project proponents about the defense program during the actual defense.

2. Issue the verdict. The verdict is a unanimous decision among the three members of the project defense panel. Once issued, it is final and irrevocable.

Adviser Reasssignment

In the event that Adviser needs to leave the team, for valid reasons assessed by the Dean, such as long-term Leave of Absence and unavoidable circumstances among others, the group/team may be reassigned to another adviser. This may happen from Capstone41 to Capstone42 or even in the middle of the semester.

Capstone41

1. Orientation2. Business Model Preparation, Validation

and Finalization3. Title Hearing/Critiquing/Lightning Pitch4. Role-based Examination5. Proposal Manuscript Writing6. System Planning7. System Analysis8. System Designing9. Proposal Hearing10. Research/Capstone Projects Pitching

Capstone42

1. Orientation2. Capstone Project Advisers’ Forum3. Skills Test4. Oral Defense Manuscript Writing5. System Planning and Analysis6. System Designing7. System Development8. System Testing9. Oral Defense10. Research/Capstone Projects Colloquium

Grading System

There will be different sets of grading sheets/rubrics to be employed for Capstone41 and Capstone42.

It will consist of grading variables like group grade, individual grade, oral and skills exams, panel’s grades, adviser’s grades, and even project management evaluation.

Capstone 41

Role Based Examination 20Adviser’s Grade

Attendance/Behavior/Professionalism 5Role Commitment / Significance / Contribution

15

Panel’s Grade

Team (Manuscript/System Design) 40Individual(Oral Presentation) 20

Role-based Examination This specialized examination will be conducted by the

department specific to each of the team roles.

This will be done to ensure that every project manager, systems analyst, interface designer, software engineer, software tester/technical writer will understand the crucial roles that she/he plays being an integral part of a team that will complete a project.

This exam is graded but will not measure a role’s level of competency. It will even, in effect, promote awareness to the person assigned of a specific role.

Although not encouraged, it may be optional bases for the team to decide on reorganization/revamp.

Adviser’s Grade

The adviser, being the person who guides the team will grade each member of the team based on behavior, professionalism, significance, contribution, and commitment/competence to the role assigned.

Panels’ Grade

The panel’s quantitative rating is composed of (a) group grade that covers both the manuscript and the system design; and

(b) individual grade that covers the oral presentation and the relevance of her/his answer(s) to question(s).

Each member of the panel’s quantitative ratings comes with a directly-proportional qualitative verdict. Both quantitative ratings and qualitative verdicts will be collated by the chairman of the panel.

Capstone Guidelines

1. Enrolment. Prior to enrolment of the subject, pre-requisites should be complied. Only officially-enrolled Capstone41 and Capstone42 students are allowed to join a group and proceed with pertinent activities thereafter.

2. Orientation. On the first week of classes, a general orientation will be conducted where this Capstone Project Manual will be discussed.

- All students will then be required to secure the Oath of Confirmation pertaining to receipt of copy and discourse about of said manual

Capstone Guidelines

3. Grouping. Part of the general orientation will be the grouping activity where all students across and regardless of section/offer code are given the privilege to form a team of 5 members.

- Upon the team organization, each group will have to secure the Team Composition Form containing important profile of the each member and the corresponding role Assignments

4. BMC Preparation. Immediately after the team is organized, they will be required to prepare a Business Model Canvass of each of the 3 or more initial titles or topics of interest. Business models must be subjected to customer validation.

Capstone Guidelines

5. Initial Review of Related Literature/Studies. - Along with the BMC, the team will have to start reviewing relevant and related literatures and studies for each of the topic.

- Each topic will then have a corresponding related studies comparative matrix.

6. Title Hearing/Critiquing/Lightning Pitching. - The Dean and the Subject Teachers will then

schedule the title hearing/critiquing for each team. It is aimed at selecting a final topic of interest for the team.

- Once a topic of interest is selected and agreed by all, the team will then secure the working title form.

Capstone Guidelines

7. Advisers’ Assignment. - The Dean, Subject Teachers, and Board of Advisers will then meet and decide/appoint/assign each team’s adviser based on expertise and other objective considerations.

- The advisers’ assignment document will then be posted in the bulletin/portal.

- The Working Title Forms will then be signed by the identified adviser of each team.

- Copies will be given to the Dean, the Adviser, and the Project Manager.

8. Project Scheduling and Staffing. The Project Manager and her/his team will then finalize the Project Plan and schedule each pertinent activity in a form of a Gantt Chart or even PERT Chart

Capstone 42cGuidelines

1. Orientation. On the first week of classes, a general

orientation will be conducted where this Capstone Project Manual will be discussed again and reiterated.

All students will then be required to secure the Oath of Confirmation pertaining to receipt of copy and discourse about of said manual

2. Capstone Project Advisers’ Forum. Each team adviser must meet her/his

teams in one setting. General and specific issues and

concerns must be reported and settled. Furthermore, if there are changes or

the Dean and Subject Teacher approved team regrouping, a new duly- signed copy of the Team Composition Form

Capstone Guidelines

3. Skills Test. Each Capstone42 student must take the Skills Test

which is an important component of the grading system.

This is an individual machine-based programming exam and does not in any way involve team activities.

This is usually held on Sundays and examinees are spread in different laboratories depending on the platform chosen.

4. Finalization of the List of Modules.

The Project Manager and her/his team must finalize the List of Modules.

The adviser must check that the same list is anchored from the title, objectives and scope.

5. Adviser-Team Consultation. The team will continue doing formal consultations

with their adviser. This time, each team is required of at least 3

consultation cycles imposing extent of completion of modules. Refer to: Appendix W: Capstone 42 Consultation Logs Form.

The adviser and the project manager will affix their signatures in each formal consultation.

Said form will be required in the processing of the Oral Defense Hearing Notice.

Hence, the adviser will be made to endorse the team whether or not they are allowed to defend their project or not.

6. Panel-Team Consultation. The team can, from time to time,

consult any member of the Panel to whom they proposed/defended for clarifications of their recommendations.

The panel member must ensure that academic integrity is observed and therefore must not be biased in any form/aspect.

7. Censor-Team Consultation. The team will once again consult to the

Censor/Technical Editor, this time, the Oral Defense Manuscript incorporating additional chapters/section and the ACM-formatted Manuscript.

The Censor/Technical Editor will once again certify and endorse the team’s manuscripts for oral defense. (Please see: Appendix H: Censor/Technical Editor’s Certificate Template)

8. Oral Defense Manuscript Finalization. The manuscript for Capstone42 must

be completed and finalized by the team and their adviser and duly-checked by the censor.

There is an official outline to follow (see: Appendix X: Capstone42 Manuscript Outline). Oral Defense Manuscript Mechanics must be strictly followed (see: Appendix J: Capstone Project Manuscript Mechanics).

9. Oral Defense Presentation Preparation. The oral defense presentation must

be prepared well by the team. It must strictly follow the set outline

and rules. Refer to: Appendix Y: Capstone42 Oral Defense Presentation Outline and Guidelines. It must be precisely-timed and must be duly-checked by both adviser and censor.

11. Processing of Oral Defense Hearing Notice and Form 10. After all the necessary steps will

have been complied, the team will secure the ff: Oral Defense Hearing Notice Form Panel Honoraria (Form 10).

Together with the 2 forms will be the following requirements to be submitted to the College Secretary: a. 1 copy of the complete Oral Defense

Manuscript b. 5 copies of the complete ACM-formatted

Manuscript c. Consultation Logs Form with Adviser’s

Endorsement d. Technical Editor/Censor’s Certificate

12. Oral Defense. If the 2 forms are successfully

processed, the team will then undergo the oral defense as scheduled.

Oral Defense Rules and Mechanics will have to be followed and strictly adhered.

During the proceedings, the Technical Editor/Censor and Adviser will take note of all the recommendations of the Oral Defense panel.

13. Oral Defense Manuscript Revisions. The team and adviser will ensure

that all the recommendations will have been incorporated in the Revised Oral Defense Manuscript with the corresponding title page.

14. System output Revisions. The team then implements all the

recommendations not only of the manuscript but also the equally-important system or output.

Said revisions will be bases of the panel member(s) in the signing of the Approval Sheet

15. Oral Defense Approval Sheet Routing. The team then routes the Oral

Defense Approval Sheet together with the revised system output to all required signatories.

Standard Form 10

Position Honorarium

Adviser PHP 800.00

Chairman PHP 500.00

Panel Member 1 PHP 400.00

Panel Member 2 PHP 400.00

Technical Editor/ Censor PHP 400.00

Administrative Fee PHP 500.00

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