ELEC5618: Semester 1, 2021

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Units ELEC5618 Semester 1 2021 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

ELEC5618: Software Quality Engineering

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit will cover software quality planning, validation and verification methods and techniques, risk analysis, software review techniques, software standards and software process improvement and software reliability. Students who successfully complete this unit will understand the fundamental concepts of software quality engineering and be able to define software quality requirements, assess the quality of a software design, explain specific methods of building software quality, understand software reliability models and metrics, develop a software quality plan, understand quality assurance and control activities and techniques, understand various testing techniques including being able to verify and test a unit of code and comprehend ISO standards, SPICE, CMM and CMMI.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Writing programs with multiple functions or methods in multiple files; design of complex data structures and combination in non trivial algorithms; use of an integrated development environment; software version control systems.
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Dong Yuan, dong.yuan@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Sadiq Sani, sadiq.sani@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Nan Yang, n.yang@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Weiyu Ju, weiyu.ju@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Record+)	Final exam It is an online and close book exam.	50%	Formal exam period	1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Weekly quiz Answer the quiz question before the lecture from week 2 to week 11.	10%	Multiple weeks	one week for each quiz
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 1 project report 1	20%	Week 06	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 2 project report 2	20%	Week 13	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Course description and scenario	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 02	Software quality in a company	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 03	Software quality planning, assurance and control	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 04	Software requirement specification and use cases	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 05	Verification vs. validation	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 06	Software testing	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 07	The software test plan	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 08	Tools for testing	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 09	SQE in agile environments	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 10	Practical case study 1	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 11	Design a weekly agile cycle	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 12	Practical case study 2	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 13	Course revision	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. write reports to communicate and argue the importance of test strategy, procedures and activities in software development, using clear and concise language at a level appropriate with the expected aptitude of the stakeholders
LO2. work together to design and implement a test strategy and write up the results
LO3. demonstrate an understanding of QA processes with respect to software development as part of professional practice and the adherence to standards
LO4. develop QA tasks by using a clearly defined approach in addressing all of the quality factors and risks that may impede or otherwise affect the resulting software development
LO5. use QA procedures to improve the development quality and efficiency of specific engineering projects, drawing on the concepts and principles developed and presented throughout the course
LO6. demonstrate an understanding of the nature of risk in general terms, to the extent of the material presented
LO7. recognise the benefits of QA procedures in design, implementation and operation of software systems at a professional standard in line with professional practice to the extent of the material presented
LO8. demonstrate an understanding of the review process of software development using tools and techniques presented
LO9. use simple models to describe and analyse the benefit of performing/not performing various testing and review tasks.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

A new lecture from EIE00 will delivery this course in this year. Lecture contents will be updated.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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