The win-win of synchronizing last semester’s Computer Engineering courses

• This contribution addresses how two parallel courses during the last semester, where one is a final course for degree projects, have been synchronized. This is to give students a greater chance to complete the courses on time, and at the same time create a greater understanding of complicated problems.The three-year Computer Engineering program at Kristianstad University, Sweden, has for several years suffered from difficulties during the third semester of the third year, where students most often tend to miss significant deadlines. This semester, which is the students' last, comprises a final degree project of 15 credits, which corresponds to half the work effort during the semester. Different approaches have been tested to give students the best possible conditions to complete the degree project on time. On the one hand, the degree project has been full-time during the latter part of the semester, with the first half consisting of other courses. On the other hand, the degree project has run in parallel with other courses throughout the semester. However, both approaches have resulted in situations where the students in many cases do not complete the degree project, and that other courses during the semester have also suffered.A revision of the Computer Engineering program was made three years ago. The difficulties with the last semester have then also been considered. An effort has been made to develop synchronization opportunities between the courses during this semester. A new course, Systems Engineering, of 15 credits throughout the semester, has been developed, where the content of the course, as well as levels of learning objectives and examination forms have been considered to suit the parallel ongoing course for the degree project. Students have been offered opportunities to develop and analyze advanced systems where the course System Engineering has been based on the implementation of technical constructions, while the course for degree projects has been based on more theoretical and exploratory perspectives.The students design the systems with both hardware and software. At the same time as they conduct literature studies, and investigate suitable analysis methods. Examples of systems include:- Drones. Processors for these, as well as software to give these flying properties, are developed. Technical measurements are made, for analysis and evaluations. Measurements made are based, e.g., on the placement of sensors, and performance on technical protocols.- Body Sensor Networks. Here, too, both hardware and software are designed to put the system into operation, and technical measurements are made to study at the usability of the system.Synchronizing the courses has generally given good results, where the opportunity to complete the courses has increased drastically. A survey of the students' experiences has been made, and this has shown high satisfaction.The program is clearly CDIO-oriented, which is also expressed in the education plan. The perception is that the synchronization of courses described in this contribution, and the effects of this, further increase the fundamental values ​​pointed out by the CDIO.

Ämnesord

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)