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Learning Objectives
After completing this project, you should be able to:
- Identify peer-reviewed conferences and journals in computer science.
- Search for recently published literature for a specific research topic.
- Outline and write a research paper using online collaboration tools.
- Design a visual and technical poster using online collaboration tools.
- Discuss technical details and make connections to computer science.
- Explain the connections between computing and social contexts.
- Analyze the beneficial and harmful effects of computing innovations.
Project Overview
During the past six weeks, we have focused mainly on the hardware and systems side of computer science. You have learned how data is stored and processed, what the operating system does, how the Internet is organized, and what information security entails. Along the way, we have discussed some of the social and ethical issues related to each topic.
Now it's your turn to explore a computer science topic of your choice! During this project, you will work in teams of four students (or five) to write a collaborative research paper. You will also design a research poster about your topic and present what you have learned to the rest of the class. Approach this project as you would a take-home midterm exam.
Process and Deadlines
The instructors will provide you with a shared folder in Google Drive to manage all files related to the project. You will have some time during class to coordinate efforts, but most of the work will take place outside of class.
| When | What | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 9/23 in class |
Step 0: Form a Team | Confirm the names and email addresses of your team members. Most teams will have four students, but some may have five. Exchange contact information with each other. | N/A |
| Wed 9/25 in class |
CS 101 PT1 Templates | Each team will have one person copy the template files into their shared folder. Rename the files so that they don't say "Copy of", and replace "##" with your team number. | N/A |
| Fri 9/27 11:59pm |
Step 1: Select a Topic | In the provided document in your team's Google Drive folder, write the title and brief description of your project. Begin to identify the relevant computer science journals and conferences for your topic. See Guide 2 Research for a comprehensive list. | 6 |
| Fri 10/4 11:59pm |
Step 2: Identify Sources | Use DBLP and Google Scholar to find literature in relevant journals and conferences. Each team member must append and summarize at least two references in the provided Google Doc. You will receive feedback during Monday's class. | 10 |
| Tue 10/8 11:59pm |
Step 3: Draft Outlines | In the provided document, (1) outline the main ideas of your paper based on your references, and (2) summarize the layout and content of your poster. Get feedback during Wednesday's class before you start writing the actual paper and poster. | 14 |
| Fri 10/11 in class |
Step 4: Peer Review | Each team must bring three hard copies of their paper and poster to class. Your written responses should reflect the team's best work, as if today were the final deadline. Teams will review each other's work using the paper rubric and poster rubric. | 10 |
| Sun 10/13 11:59pm |
Step 5: Final Revisions | Revise your work based on feedback from Friday's peer review. Submit PDF versions of your final paper and poster to Canvas for subsequent grading and printing by the instructors. We will notifiy you on Monday morning if there is a problem. | 30 20 |
| Wed 10/16 in class |
Step 6: Present Poster | We will have a "poster session" in the main hallway of the ISAT/CS building. Your posters will be set up for the entire day, for all students and faculty to see. Be prepared to discuss your work with others and demonstrate what you have learned. | 10 |
Topic and References
Select a recent computing innovation that has had a significant impact on society, economy, or culture. The innovation must be directly related to computer science, and it must consume, produce, and/or transform data. Some examples of computing innovations include:
- Hardware innovations, such as Google glasses and self-driving vehicles
- Software innovations, such as interactive websites and mobile applications
- Computing concepts, such as eCommerce, which rely on the global Internet
Your project should teach the class something we don't already know. For example, everyone knows that tablets and smart phones have changed society, so there's little point in researching those topics in general. Instead, you should focus on a new application or technology that computer science enables. The more specific your topic is, the easier (and more fun) it will be to complete this project.
In both your paper and poster, you will need to make connections between important computer science concepts and the impacts of your selected computing innovation. You must provide evidence of what you have learned throughout the course and during your research. Your responses should be understandable to someone who is unfamiliar with the computing innovation.
As you write about the computing innovation, you will need to explain its intended purpose or function, describe its harmful and beneficial effects, and describe the data storage, data privacy, and data security concerns. Your research poster should illustrate, represent, or explain the computing innovation's intended purpose, its function, or its effect to a general audience.
Written responses must be based on relevant, credible, and easily accessible sources. You are required to provide in-text citations for at least five primary sources (journals and conferences) that helped you formulate your paper. Additional sources may include technical blogs, magazines, and websites. You must avoid plagiarism by acknowledging, attributing, and/or citing sources throughout your paper (and include a bibliography).
Required Content
Please write a separate paragraph (100 to 150 words) for each of the prompts below. Your writing must convey a deep level of understanding about your chosen innovation and its relationship to computer science. Technical details should be about topics from this course, not just hardware specs or other random jargon.
Name the computing innovation, and describe its intended purpose and function. Discuss the problem that it solved, the opportunity that it created, or the discovery that it made possible.
Explain the role that computer science plays in the innovation. Provide background information about a related area of research, and give an example of recent work in this area.
Describe how a user interacts with the innovation. Use language that would be understandable to someone who is not familiar with the topic.
Explain how the innovation works. Describe how it uses abstraction, algorithms, programming, and/or the Internet to accomplish its purpose.
Describe the data your innovation uses. Explain how the computing innovation consumes (as input), produces (as output), and/or transforms this data.
Describe at least one data storage concern, data privacy concern, or data security concerns directly related to the computing innovation.
Explain at least one beneficial effect the computing innovation has had, or has the potential to have, on society, economy, or culture.
Explain at least one harmful effect the computing innovation has had, or has the potential to have, on society, economy, or culture.
You may arrange the order of your responses so that the paper flows naturally. For example, it might make more sense to discuss harmful effects before beneficial effects. However, your paper must have exactly these eight paragraphs.
Your paper should be 2-3 pages, single-spaced with a blank line between paragraphs, and have 1-inch margins. The narrative itself should be about 1000 to 1200 words, not including references. You are expected to write professionally, use complete sentences, have no spelling errors, etc.
Poster Specifications
Using the provided template in Google Slides, create a 36"x24" (or 24"x36") poster. Your poster should explain, clarify, or depict the innovation you have selected. It should convey technical knowledge in clear manner that requires the observer a short amount of time to understand.
The poster should have the following components:
- Title (larger font and centered on top)
- Authors (list your first and last names)
- Image(s) that give a comprehensive overview
- Text that provides the necessary information
- Graphs, charts, and/or diagrams if appropriate
- Colors that improve readability/comprehension
It is generally okay to use images from your sources, but remember to reference them on your poster. During the poster presentation, each team member will be expected to stand by your poster during class time and answer questions about your innovation. Each of you should have a 15-30 second overview of the innovation prepared for when someone walks up to observe your poster.
As your team is developing the poster, ask yourself: (1) whether the poster conveys the innovation at an interesting level of detail, and (2) whether you are comfortable with the outcome for a public forum.
Example posters will be shown in class to demonstrate the use of color, images, and organization. It is not necessary to follow any of these formats exactly, but a clear well organized poster is essential. There should not be so much text that an observer would need to stand and read it like a paper.
Acknowledgements
The midterm and final projects for CS 101 are based on the Performance Tasks for Computer Science Principles. Some of the above requirements were adapted from the Course and Exam Description and Directions for Students documents on the College Board's website.