The Individual Project

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The Individual Project
Tony Field

• http//www.doc.ic.ac.uk/ajf/Teaching/Projects/Ind
  Projects.html

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Project Weighting

• BEng 13.1
• MEng 12.3

Of the overall degree
This is the most important piece of work you will
ever do
The project is the key indicator of your
qualities as a computer scientist
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Project Selection Assessment

• Use the on-line administration system
• Shortlist three projects
• A second marker from your team will be allocated
  in January
• The project must be reviewed by them by February
  18th
• Assessment (June) is team-based

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Staff-Proposed Projects

• There can be stiff competition for some projects
• Tips for success
• Create a good impression with the proposer
• Do some homework before the meeting
• Avoid shortlisting three popular projects

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Own Proposals

• You can propose your own project
• Enter the proposal on CATE
• Find a candidate supervisor
• They must agree (sign) to supervise you before
  you can shortlist it
• You dont need to shortlist any other projects if
  you have an approved own proposal

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Pitfalls
1a. Choosing a project that is too easy
1b. Choosing a project that is too difficult

• Under/Over ambition are common problems. Bear in
  mind the following when considering a proposal
• Subject matter
• Technical difficulty
• Scope
• Risk
• w.r.t. your interests, background and expertise
• Technical difficulty and risk are taken into
  account when awarding marks make sure you get
  the balance right

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Pitfalls
2. Starting work too late

• Only 30 of the marks are awarded for technical
  achievement the (current) mark scheme assesses a
  range of other skills
• Background research, context, planning etc. (15)
• Management, organisation etc. (25)
• Achievement (30)
• Report (30)
• Project evaluation is also extremely important
• Manage your time! Complete as much as possible
  before Easter. MEng should do all the background
  work before Xmas.

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Pitfalls
3. Avoiding your supervisor

• Good supervision will transform any project for
  the better
• Non-existent or sparse supervision usually
  coincides with bad management and a poor project
  mark
• Important note It is usually better to do a
  second-preference project with an enthusiastic
  supervisor than a first-choice project with an
  unenthusiastic supervisor

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Pitfalls
4. Trying to do everything in one go

• Things go wrong all the time
• Break your project down as much as possible and
  identify milestones, i.e. fall-back positions in
  the event of a problem

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Pitfalls
5. Working part- or full-time for your local
start-up

• You cannot do both well

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Pitfalls
6. Copying some or all of your project from the
web

• Students who plagiarise the work of others (code
  and report) may leave with no degree at all
• Use the work of others as much as you want/need,
  but always cite your sources
• Your project MUST demonstrate a substantial body
  of original work (no "survey" or "documentation"
  projects)

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Distinguished Projects

• The best projects are published each year on the
  Departments web pages READ THEM!
• http//www.doc.ic.ac.uk/teaching/projects/DistPro
  jects.html

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Timetable

• From today - Project proposals posted on CATE
• 29th October - Submission of project preferences
• 5th November - Project allocation
• 16 January - (Comp MEng4 students only) Project
  outsourcing due
• 23rd January - Allocation of second markers and
  assessment teams
• 18th February - Project review deadline
• 16th 18th June - Report Submission
• 22nd 23rd June - Presentations
• 26th June - Prize Day/Open Day and end-of-year
  party