OVERVIEW

This course aims to enable students to apply the technologies and concepts acquired in other courses through the development of a realistic software project, following a specific software development process model.

Therefore, participation is recommended only for students who have already completed at least the exams of the compulsory courses of the first year.

Active participation in the project will foster the development of critical thinking, autonomy in continuous learning, problem-solving skills, and the acquisition of essential transversal skills such as teamwork, effective communication, and time management.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Acquiring experience of a realistic team development effort that follows a given methodology and harnesses different technologies for the implementation of a specific product.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, diligent students will be able to perform the following:

• Knowledge and Understanding:
  • Understand the synergies between the knowledge and skills in software system development acquired in previous degree courses and other master's degree courses in Computer Science.
  • Comprehend the various steps of a complete software project development, following a specific process.
  • Understand the importance of user experience and the methodologies for testing system quality from the end-users' perspective.
• Applying Knowledge and Understanding:
  • Apply an agile development method (e.g., Scrum) and utilize various agile practices to adapt the process to the specific project.
  • Participate as effective members of a software development team, gaining extensive practical experience.
  • Design and develop a specific software product using relevant technologies.
• Making Judgements:
  • Critically evaluate problems and propose solutions within contexts of innovation and evolving creative processes.
  • Demonstrate autonomous decision-making and a collaborative attitude in managing human and material resources and coordinating activities.
  • Manage uncertainty and complexity, negotiate, and resolve conflicts within the team.
• Learning Skills:
  • Organize and evaluate their continuous learning, identifying their own needs and methods for skill development.
  • Utilize various sources and aids for autonomous learning, process and critically evaluate information.
  • Identify and pursue personal learning objectives, seeking support when necessary.

PREREQUISITES

For successful participation in this course, students must possess basic knowledge of:

• Object-Oriented Programming.
• Software Engineering (terminology and main development activities).
• Relational Databases and their design.
• Web and mobile development.
• IoT technologies.
• Testing.
• Distributed systems.
• Basic security issues.
• User Interface design.

In addition to theoretical knowledge, proven practical skills are also required.

TEACHING METHODS

The course will be delivered primarily through a laboratory-based approach, centered on project development.

Frontal lectures will introduce the key concepts of Scrum methodology and User Experience.

The majority of student effort will be dedicated to project work, which represents the main context for in-depth understanding and practical application of the development methodology. Project activities will be monitored and supervised by the instructors.

Students are encouraged to independently learn the technologies necessary for the project, building upon their familiarity with object-oriented programming environments, database management, and web development. Guidance and support for knowledge sharing within the team will also be provided.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course will cover the following topics:

• Agile Methodologies: Introduction to the principles and practices of Scrum (one of the most popular agile development methods), and integration with other agile practices for process adaptation to the specific project.
• User Experience (UX): Principles, practices, and models of UX design and evaluation.
• Project-Specific Technologies: Depending on the project topic, students will be guided in the autonomous learning of relevant technologies and the subsequent sharing of acquired knowledge within the development team.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The recommended bibliography, consisting mainly of freely accessible online resources, will be indicated and discussed during lectures and made available on the course's AulaWeb page.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

According to the calendar approved by the Degree Program Board: https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/10852/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final evaluation will substantially consider the activities carried out during the semester, including the results of some quizzes, participation in project development, teamwork, and individual technical contributions.

A brief oral examination will conclude the assessment process at the end of the course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The verification of learning outcomes will occur through the following methods:

• Ongoing Assessment:
  • The evaluation of knowledge will take place through quizzes dedicated to individual program topics, organized before students are required to apply them in laboratory activities, to help students become aware of any shortcomings.
  • The evaluation of transversal skills (e.g., problem-solving, autonomy, collaboration) and comprehension of the development process will be conducted through continuous observation by the instructor during project work.
• Final Project Evaluation: The overall quality of the software product and adherence to the adopted development process will indicate the team's technical and methodological capabilities.
• Final Oral Examination: The oral examination will complement the ongoing evaluation, allowing for a deeper assessment of both acquired competencies not fully evident during project development and the measure of individual contributions to the team effort.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information, please refer to the course’s AulaWeb module or contact the instructor.