4^th semester elective : Specialization

This paper describes the specializations at the Datamatician Education at Roskilde Business School in the autumn 2007.

These education guidelines is an Appendix to "Education and Examination Guidelines for the International Datamatician Course as defined by Roskilde Computer Science College - Commencement 1 September"

The individual elective specialization follows the 2 introduction modules:

• "Web Server Programming with Java"
• "Mobile Programming in Java"

Subjects

The elective specialization is an individual work in a self chosen subject. The subject should fit in with (one of) the two introduction modules. In any case the subject should be approved by the teacher (Peter Levinsky or Allan Helboe).

The idea is; you pick a subject and go into deep into this by reading literature from books, from the internet, making comparisons, get practical experience or something like that.

Look here for examples: Appendix A

Schedule for the work all the way to the delivery

	Week 35-41	Think of possible subjects and note any ideas for a synopsis.
	Week 46	Monday: Introduction and first work
	Week 47	Wednesday 21st November : All students MUST hand in their question for the subject before 2:00 PM (sent by email to both peterl_ATT_rhs.dk and allanhn_ATT_rhs.dk). Use this form (SynopsisQuestionAutumn2007.doc) Individual work Individual coaching of the subject.
	Week 48	Individual work Individual coaching of the subject.
	Week 49	Individual work Individual coaching of the subject. Wednesday 5th december : Presentation of your work (synopsis) until now in class - comments and feedback from classmates and teachers. Give a presentation using PowerPoint slides, the blackboard or demonstration of your own choice.
	Week 50	Individual work Individual coaching of the subject. Friday 14th december : Hand in your synopsis before 1.00 PM in 3 copies (see before exam)
	Week 51	Revision of curriculum in each of the 4 elective modules in normal class.

Guidelines in writing Synopsis

By Karen Tambo

There are no strict rules how a synopsis are written. This guidelines are intended as a help for your synopsis, which is the base for your exam. A synopsis is a summarize of the purpose and substance of your subject. This is your survey of the contents for the exam, and it should work as your basis for the exam work. It can be compared a little with a project description. A synopsis should be regarded as a working paper. It can be modified on the way, if you have found out after studying the literature or your work in general, that the main emphasis should be another angle or view of the question, you have worked out in the start of the working period. Content Subject What is the topic? Why is it relevant to you? Question It is important that you make it clear (before you prepare the synopsis) what you will talk about and which questions you will answer at the exam. The exam topic must have a clear purpose: A problem - expressed as a question. Background / Thesis A short description of your hypothesis and a motivation. Method Describe how you want to work with your subject. Which literature, software, etc. you are going to use. A synopsis should be regarded as a working paper. It can be modified as work progresses.

Scope

The synopsis should be 10-15 pages so keep your language simple and straight forward.

Hand in of synopsis

Your synopsis must contain a front page having:

• Your Question
• Name and 'cpr' number
• The title of your courses i.e. "Elective Specialization 4^th semester Roskilde Business School"

and the text and your literature used in the work.

The Exam

The time schedule for the exam will be in January 2008, the exact day and time will be announced in December 2007

Examination Curriculum

1. Curriculum from the subject

Preparation- and examination period

1. Preparation period: Minimum 7 days.
2. Examination period: 30 minutes including evaluation and marking.

External examiner and examiner

1. External examiner: External examiner from another college, a university or the business community.
2. Examiner: The teacher of the subject (Peter Levinsky or Allan Helboe).

Before the exam

1. After the module period:
   1. The student defines an examination question within the frames of the subject. This question is delivered in 3 written copies.
   2. The examiner acknowledges the question as an examination question. 
   3. The student prepares a synopsis [10-15 pages] (using supplementary literature) for the defense of the examination question.
   4. The synopsis is delivered in 3 written copies to the college (2 bounded and 1 as paper in a cover).
2. Education and Examination Guidelines, Subject and Project Descriptions, Examination Description,  Exam Question in introduction modules.
   Examination Curriculum as well as examination schedule are sent to the external examiner.
3. The completed examination question and the synopsis are sent to external examiner and examiner at least 7 days before the examination day.

Permitted resources

1. All resources are permitted.

Course of the exam

1. The student answers the examination question.
2. The student will draw a question in one of the introduction modules
3. The oral presentation is evaluated by the external examiner and examiner on the 12-scale (this mark is not made public).
4. The student is given one single mark, based on the synopsis (app. weighting 25%) the oral presentation (app. weighting 50%) and the question (app. weighting 25%).
5. If the student leaves the impression of not being familiar with the content of the synopsis, the marking may be based on a mark of -03 or 00 for the synopsis.

Evaluation
In the student's presentation of the question, values are placed upon

1. That the question is answered satisfactorily.
2. That the student can give examples from, and relate theory to, the subject.
3. That the student demonstrates independent skills to define and study a problem domain, to delimit the domain and present the domain within a given limited time period.

Plagiarism

Copying other people's work without proper reference is not allowed and may lead to exclusion from the exam.

However, you are allowed to quote other people's work if you clearly show what was quoted (and what is your own work) and give a proper reference to quoted work:

• from a book: Authors, title, publisher, year of publication. Page numbers
• from a web page: Authors, title, URL

Appendix A: Examples of Synopsis Titles