52685 Working with Data and Code

Assessment Item 2: Code Prototype Project (60%)

Working individually, you will advance your code project idea to complete an original code prototype. You will work both inside and outside class to develop your project. You will submit a project prototype that demonstrates your code literacy. Your code project submission will include a 3-minute explainer video, a 1000-word written personal reflection, and a Git repository with the completed prototype. In the voice-narrated explainer video, you will first provide an overview of the project, and then focus on core aspects of the prototype and explain the operation of your code. In the written reflection, you will reflect on your personal learning experience throughout the project, referencing relevant key concepts and technical terms introduced during the semester to demonstrate how the code project has developed your code and data literacy. In the Git repository you will include all required  source code and project dependencies (e.g. code libraries, media files etc.) and include sufficient documentation to navigate and run the code prototype.

Length:                             3-minute  explainer  video,  1000-word  personal  critical  reflection,

Git repository.

Due Date:                           Final Assessment Period.

Submission Format:           Video presentation, document, repository link

Subject Objectives:            a, b, c, d and e

CILOS:                                 1.1, 2.1, 2.2  & 6.2

You are to now advance your code project idea into an original working code prototype. The prototype must include a substantial original code contribution plus code comments to clearly demonstrate important code elements (e.g. variables, lists, functions, classes) and their operation (more details on the requirements for code originality are listed under ‘Notes on Your Original Code Contribution’ below). Also, be mindful, elements not directly generated by code (e.g. sprites, game sounds), are not regarded as you “building though code” and similarly do not contribute to your code literacy.  As a result, what may appear to   be a complex multiplayer game (but with minimal original code) may score significantly lower that a completely original text-based game running on an CLI (Command Line Interface) where a significant amount of original code was included in the prototype. In sum, the complexity of output is not necessarily an indicator of code engagement nor understanding or code literacy. Rather, it is your exploration, engagement with code and developing code literacy that its important, the prototype is the means (the vehicle if you will) that takes you on that journey.

In a 3-minute voice narrated explainer video, you will briefly introduce your project to provide context and then deeply explain your code and how it operates to implement the core features/functionality within your prototype (see ‘Explainer Video’ section for more).

You will also submit a 1000-word written reflection that demonstrates your code literacy and draws from your ‘Project Journal’, plus integrates the concepts and literature introduced during coursework  — lectures, readings, viewings, listenings, playings, code conundrums, tutorials and so on — in addition to any supplemental research you have conducted during the development of your project). More is available in the ‘Written Reflection’ section.

You will also submit your project via a publicly available GitHub repository that will include all source code, libraries, assets (e.g. graphics, video, audio etc.) together with a README.md  document. (Visit ‘Git Repository’ for more).

The inclusion of work from other code authors (e.g. from tutorials, guides, code libraries) is allowed, however as per traditional written publications (e.g. websites, books, research papers), these must be clearly acknowledged within the code comments in addition to the written personal reflection whenever they are referenced.  In sum, your original code contribution, along with that of other authors/contributors must be clear within your code. Failure to clearly identify and acknowledge the source of the code within your prototype will be regarded as plagiarism.

In addition, while Ethical Use of Generative AI is allowed in this subject, it comes with clear requirements, including providing both the prompt and resulting output as well as the use of APA referencing.  Failure to adhere to these Gen AI rules and considerations may have implications regarding academic integrity.  It is recommended that you read and understand the rules for both the proper acknowledgement of the work(s) of others and the appropriate use of Gen AI.  It is also recommended that you include relevant details in your project journal for ease of recording and later retrieval when it comes to writing your reflective piece.

We also recommend saving early and often so that you have multiple versions (including the last working version of your prototype).

Your 3*-minute voice-narrated explainer video is where you:

•    provide a brief overview of your project prototype;

where you provide the viewer with some context of your project by way of an introduction, including video of it in operation (estimated 20-30s)

•   demonstrate core features and/or functionality of your prototype;

where you demonstrate and highlight features and/or functions that you consider the most important, offer the most innovation, novelty or creativity you’ve built through your code

•   then explain your underlying code you have written to implement those features   and/or functionality; this is where you show and walkthrough the code that you have written and explain, in detail, its operation with respect to your chosen features and/or functionality (i.e. how the code gives rise to those features/functions).

*±10% (i.e. minimum of 180s – 18s ≈ 160s = 2min 40s, maximum of 180s + 18s ≈ 200s = 3min 20s)

Note that, as an explainer video it is crucial that you explain how the code you have written works and implements the core functionality, and this helps demonstrate your code literacy.  Be mindful that this is the core objective of this aspect of the task so significant time will be spent explaining the working of your code behind core features/functionality.  Demonstrating the operation of your prototype and its core features and/or functionality, without explaining the underlying code offers little insight into your code literacy and will deeply affect your criteria score.

In sum your video covers:

•    briefly what you have built:

the overview is there only to offer context of what it is that you have built, then …

•   what it does:

you demonstrate select core features/functions simply to illustrate what your project does,

•   explain in depth how these functions/features work via your code:

and your code is explained in depth showing how the functionality emerges

The video is also judged on its overall quality and clarity as is typically of video presentations and this is also detailed ion the A2 Rubric.

As part of your project, you are expected to implement and regularly contribute to a project journal.  It is important to first note that the ‘ Project Journal’ itself is not assessed.

However, it will become a critical source of information when writing your ‘Written Reflection’ which is assessed.  More on the project journal follows below.

You are required to keep a project journal during the progress of your A2 project prototype. There you are to keep notes such as personal reflections and insights, feelings (surprises   and frustrations), code snippets, screenshots, ideas, feedback such as from peers, links to  resources, and so on. Code, visual information (such as screenshots and so on) of prototypes is strongly encouraged as these can offer rich examples that can demonstrate deep understanding of code concepts and insights that emerged during prototype development.

We recommend creating a file in Miro (http://miro.com) that will allow you to include a wide variety of sources.  The journal will become the main repository for keeping track of your    evolving project and evolving code literacy.   The project journal will become an important  source of information to draw from when coming to write your written reflection.

We also strongly recommend that you regularly add to your journal and, as a bare minimum, that you will contribute at least once per week.

Again, as mentioned previously, the project journal itself is not assessed, however you are expected to draw examples from the journal in your reflective piece.

Visit the ‘Project Journal’ page on Canvas for more details and tips on your project journal.

Your submission will include a 1000*-word personal written reflection that demonstrates    how the code prototype had developed your code literacy.  This reflective piece draws on your personal experience, knowledge and insights that have captured during your project journaling, and seamlessly incorporates and synthesises key concepts and literature introduced during coursework (lectures。, tutorials, readings and so on) together with any sources independently found during your own research when building your prototype

* Usual limits apply 1000*±10%; minimum of 900 words, maximum of 1100 words 。Note that video lectures typically include a list of references.

A framework — “What? So What? Now What?” — which provides prompts to assist with developing your skills in critical reflection and has been made available on Canvas.

Written reflections are judged on the level of criticality, demonstrated insight and integration of key concepts, relevant technical terms, the literature and personal experience Additionally, a rubric has been included to both demonstrate and assist you with understanding the quality and depth of any written given reflection.  You are expected to reference all relevant sources (including any code libraries, tutorials etc. used during the creation of the project, alongside academic and industry sources) using APA Style.

Visit ‘Reflective Writing’on Canvas for more details and tips on reflective writing, the recommended “What? So What? Now What?” framework and includes a rubric that details the evaluation of the depth and quality of reflective writing.

The Git Repository is where you include all the required source code, plus prototype assets and any other dependencies in a shared online location.  Your repository must include a README.md with details of your project, as well as how to navigate your project files and run your code to execute your project. It is also expected that you will clearly comment your code.

Tutorial time has been allocated to provide you with the necessary instruction to create

your GitHub account, create the required read.me and be able to upload your project. You will also find all the relevant details on the ‘Git Repository’ Canvas page.

1. Explainer Video

You 3-minute explainer video must use narrated video demonstrations of your prototype in

action, together with explaining your code.  This must be submitted in a video format.  You

are strongly recommended to practice your presentation to ensure that you cover all key

requirements for the video task.  The presentation should be professionally delivered and

demonstrate your skills in verbal, written and visual communication. If any links are

included, ensure they follow the requirements for linked content as described in A Note when using Linked Content.

Video recording and editing

You will submit your video recording as a video file (.mp4). You can record your video via

QuickTime screen recording, Zoom recording, MS Teams recording, or other similar formats. You are welcome to edit your video (i.e., it does not need to be from a single take). It is

recommended that you trim your presentation to ensure it begins and ends where you want it.  You must also appropriately compress your video using transcoding software.  It is

strongly recommended that you use HandBrake (https://handbrake.fr) which is available for free on MacOS, Windows/PC and Linux platforms. Ensure that you use HandBrake and

select Fast 720p30 (good) or Fast 1080p30 (best)  to transcode your video file for upload.

Naming Convention

Please ensure you save your video file using the provided naming convention.

LastName_FirstName_StudentNumber    TutorialNumber_ProjectName

(e.g.) Babbage_Charles_12345678_T09_DifferenceEngine.mp4

2. Written Reflection

Your 1000-word written reflection is to be submitted as a PDF document.  It is expected to be written in first-person and presented within a cohesive narrative flow. (Note the “What? So

What? Now What?” framework is to provide prompts only and is not intended as a formal   structure for your work). We encourage the use of in-context relevant visual examples to    support your written reflection and demonstrate your understanding. Additional materials    may be included in an appendix at the end of the document.  The documents must include references in APA format.

3. Git Repository

The Git repository is the online space where you must upload and make your entire finally

project prototype accessible.  This includes source code, libraries, assets (e.g. graphics,

sounds etc.), together with the README.md document. You are also encouraged to

include previous versions of the prototype (clearly labelled in separate folders) where the

final version may encounter issues or if they are beneficial to include. If any links are

included, ensure they follow the requirements for linked content as described in A Note      when using Linked Content. If you decide to use linked projects, we would also encourage

you to both upload and link your project to ensure it can be accessed and graded.