Teaching Architecture, Design and Patterns in Skopje

Nevena Ackovskanevena@ii.edu.mk

Institute of InformaticsFNSM, UKIM, Skopje, Macedonia

The team Course specifics

◦ The timing◦ The group

Structure and topics Results

Overview

The team Course specifics

◦ The timing◦ The group

Structure and topics Results

Overview

Nevena Ackovska◦ Lectures

Magdalena Kostoska◦ Exercises◦ Valuable team member

12 students

The team of ADP in Skopje

The team Course specifics

◦ The timing◦ The group

Structure and topics Results

Overview

The course started late March

Students asked for delay in sending projects◦ Wanted to finish with projects of other, earlier

started subjects

Expected to end 25th September

Specific situations - Timing

12 students◦ 5 working in Software Industry – manager level

Know it all◦ 5 working in Software Industry – developers

Do it all◦ 1 unemployed (non IT background)◦ 1 abroad

Specific situations – The group

1 didn’t know programming (!!!)◦ Most probably will drop the course

None studied design and software patterns in Undergraduate studies◦ Specific generation, last of it’s kind

Most good in organization of software projects ◦ As leaders or team members◦ How good are they on their own???

Most of the student have good knowledge of specific programming language◦ Some students were more familiar with C# and .NET platform,

rather then Java

Students’ specifics

The team Course specifics

◦ The timing◦ The group

Structure and topics Results

Overview

Weekend type ◦ Most of the students work

Lectures mostly inherited ◦ Thanks to prof. Jurca, Budimac …

Java and C# based exercises, homework and projects◦ Magdalena Kostoska takes care

Expert from the IT Industry◦ Listen to ex students

The structure of the course

Introduction to Software Architecture (SA) Analogy with Classical Architecture The Deliverables of SA Elements of SA Analysis and Evaluation of SA Architecture, processes, and organization Model Driven Architecture Design patterns

Suggested lectures - Inherited

Followed the suggested lectures

Students ask to have greater intro in Patterns and Design in general◦ 2 intro lections on this

Added 1 expert lecture◦ Seminar on Software Processes and Structure◦ Whole day event

Lectures

Java and C# based coding of bigger software problems◦ Design and Patterns usage: given specific task

and choice to use Java or C# 3 projects submitted

◦ Refactoring: two bigger software project are given in two programming languages: Java and C#, student choose one of the two offered projects 4 projects submitted

Projects

Read, write, execute◦ Deep analysis of one architectural description

languages◦ Explore and write about one refactoring tool◦ Articles in ADP – read and present

Homework

Presence – something to discuss with 1 student abroad◦ Most of the students present during the weekends

Homework – 30% Projects – 40 % Final – 30%

◦ Changed for another project Nobody likes theory

Grading

The team Course specifics

◦ The timing◦ The group

Structure and topics Results

Overview

4 students already have points to pass

8 haven’t completed the tasks yet◦ They have time till 25th of September

Tasks completions

11 students should pass

1 student can’t pass◦ Math's student◦ Never has programmed before◦ Not willing to learn any programming language

Expectations

We want students from different backgrounds◦ But they have to be prepared to learn

Should we allow students that don’t want to learn programming on software master studies?◦ Should take care upon admission

Something to think about

Students really liked the invited guest◦ Real implementation ◦ Real software processes◦ Structure evolves

They can see that through implementation in IT industry

1 student switched jobs◦ Now works for our IT expert

Students realize that in order to go forward, one must know at least the current technology◦ Good to be great in a specific technology, but one has to

be aware of the evolution

Unexpected good results

Next generation in Skopje will be different◦ They will know basic of patterns and design◦ Many courses in Software engineering

Software engineering Analysis of software requirements Software design and architecture Software Development Software Projects Management Software Quality and Testing

◦ Should change the course structure to more advanced

The future

The dynamics so far …◦ … So good!

Even with such a diverse group

Keep the good practice◦ Invited talks are great for the students

So far so good

The suggested lectures worked well, but we added extra lessons◦ Next year change the lectures◦ Welcome suggestions

The students should be prepared to work◦ Homework◦ Exercises◦ Coding

Keep it colorful◦ Teacher – student routine gets better with invited guests

Conclusions

Questions?