boe
neural networks Dr. Gary D. Boetticher Software Metrics
software economics

Return to the home page of Dr. Boetticher
University of Houston Clear Lake - About the University
School of Science and Computer Engineering - Info about SCE
Research Areas - Info about Dr. Boetticher's research
Dr. Boetticher's publications
Courses taught by Dr. Boetticher
Dr. Boetticher's professional experiences

 

 

SWEN 5232 -- Software Construction
Updated September 13, 2017

 

Office and Address

Delta 171 Phone 281.283.3805
email: boetticher@uhcl.edu
I expect to respond within 1 day. Usually, I respond within 6 hours.

Secretary: Ms. Caroline Johnson, Delta 161 281.283.3860

Face-to-Face Class Hours (2 Sections)

Thursday 4:00 - 6:50, Delta 140

Office Hours

Wed 1 - 4, Thurs 1 - 4, or by appointment. If the suite door is locked, then call my extension (last 4 digits) using the phone in the hallway.  Students who have an appointment will have priority over those students who don't.

Teaching Assistants

Shail Panchal
Email: shailpanchal2005@gmail.com

Hours: Wednesday 7 - 10, Thursday 12 - 4 PM

 

 

 

 

 

Blackboard link

Required Textbook

Martin Fowler, UML Distilled: A Brief Guide to the Standard Object Modeling Language, 3rd Edition,

Recommended Textbooks

Steve McConnell, Code Complete, 2nd Edition, Microsoft Press, November 2009

 

Course Description

Study of Modern Software Development design methods, analysis methods and implementation techniques including. The course will also involve the study of UML and Java Eclipse or .Net and C-sharp programming. The traditional graduate student load is 3 courses. Be prepared to commit 15 to 20 hours per week to this course! When taught during the summer, be prepared to commit 30 to 40 hours per week during the summer.

Course Goals

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

  • Use various UML diagrams to design software.

  • Apply refactoring to software code.

Prerequisites

Data structures is required for this class. A programming class in c# or Java would be helpful. We will be working with Java Eclipse during the course. You may want to go to YouTube and look for Java Tutorials. You may want to review Object-Oriented Programming prior to the beginning of the course.

Methodology

Face-to-face lecture supplemented with lecture and interactive problem solving. (Fall and Spring)

For the online course all instruction is online BUT expect limited mandatory Face to Face sessions, such as orientation, exams, or presentations. (Summer)

Appraisal

 Assignments:  15% of the total
 Quizzes (Blackboard, In class): 

  5% of the total

 Midterm: 40% of the total
 Final (Comprehensive): 40% of the total
 Cell phone/texting (-3 per infraction) (Face-to-face class) ???
 Absent/late (-2 for each time after first) (Face-to-face class) ???

Assignments should be graded within 2 weeks. Exams should be graded within 1 week.

Grades will be based solely on criteria listed above. No other factors will be considered. Below are some of factors that will not be considered:

  • Expected a higher grade
  • Good course participation
  • Good improvement during the semester
  • Have put in extra effort
  • Need to avoid probation
  • Financial needs
  • Loss of scholarship
  • Loss of job opportunity
  • Loss of practical training opportunity
  • Need to graduate
  • Company relocation
  • Immigration status needs
  • Family needs
  • Sickness during the semester

Grading Scale

93+ = A; 90 = A-; 87+ = B+; 83+ = B; 80+ = B-; 77+ = C+;
73+ = C; 70 = C-; 67+ = D+; 63+ = D; 60+ = D-; 0+ = F

My motto:

Foster disciplined, altruistic passion.

Schedule

Aug 31 Introduction to Software Construction, Overview of UML

 

  ****************************************************************

  ***   All course materials are located on the Google Drive   ***

  ****************************************************************

 

FOR THIS WEEK (IF NOT SOONER)  

·   Read:  WK00 Notes - Online Orientation Software Construction

            Blue Color = Available on Google Drive

 

·   Quiz:  Complete Quiz 00 - Syllabus Quiz. This is due by 4 PM on 9/14/2017.

               You may take the syllabus quiz multiple times. However, you cannot proceed to other quizzes

                until you get a perfect score on the syllabus quiz. All other quizzes may be taken only one time.

 

·   Read:  WK01 Notes - Introduction to Software Construction and Overview of UML

·   Read:  WK01 Papers - How UML Diagrams are Used

·   Read:  Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the UML Distilled book

·   Quiz:  Complete Quiz 01 - General Introduction Quiz. This is due by 4 PM on 9/14/2017.

 

FOR THIS WEEK (IF NOT SOONER)

·   Read:  WK02 Notes - Class Diagrams

·   Read:  http://www.objectmentor.com/resources/articles/umlClassDiagrams.pdf

·   Read:  http://www.cs.uakron.edu/~collard/cs680S12/UMLClassDiagramTutorial.pdf

·   Read:  http://www.uml.org/HTB_Articulate_Class_Models_OMG.pdf

·   Quiz:  Complete Quiz 02 - Class Diagrams Quiz. This is due by 4 PM on 9/14/2017.

 

Sep 07 UML - Class Diagrams

 

Assign Assignment 1 - UML Class Diagrams

Point value: 100 points

Due date:  Thursday, 9/21/2017 at 4 PM.

  

FOR THIS WEEK (IF NOT SOONER)

·   An exercise sheet will be distributed at the beginning of class on 9/14

Sep 14 Class Diagram Exercise

FOR NEXT WEEK (IF NOT SOONER)  

·   Review Eclipse Tutorials: 

·   Quiz:  Complete Quiz 03 - Eclipse Tutorials Quiz. This is due by 4 PM on 9/21/2017.

Sep 21 Java review, Eclipse Overview (Bring laptops to class)

Assignment 1 is due at the beginning of class

 

Assign Assignment 2 - Java Eclipse and using a debugger

Point value: 100 points

Due date:  Thursday, 10/5/2017 at 4 PM.

Sep 28 Using a debugger (Bring laptops to class)

FOR NEXT WEEK (IF NOT SOONER)  

·   Read:  Unit 06 Notes - Use Case Diagrams and Activity Diagrams

·   Read:  http://www.sparxsystems.com.au/downloads/whitepapers/UML_Tutorial_Part_2_Introduction.pdf

            (Pages 1 to  15)

·   Quiz:  Complete Quiz 04 - Use Cases Quiz. This is due by 4 PM on 10/5/2017.

·   Read:  Chapter 9 (Use Cases) and chapter 11 (Activity Diagrams) in the UML Distilled book

·   Read:  Drawing Activity Diagrams

·   Read:  From Activity Diagrams to Class Diagrams

·   Quiz:  Complete Quiz 05 - Activity Diagrams Quiz. This is due by 4 PM on 10/5/2017.

Oct 05UML - Use-Case Diagram,  Activity Diagrams

Assignment 2 is due at the beginning of class

 

Assign Assignment 3 - Use Case and Activity Diagrams

Point value: 100 points

Due date:  Sunday, 10/15/2017 at 5 PM via email. Send your assignment to boetticher@uhcl.edu

Oct 12Use case diagram exercises and activity diagram exercises  (Bring laptops to class)

FOR NEXT WEEK (IF NOT SOONER)  

·   Submit Midterm questions by Wednesday, October 18th, 10 PM. This is optional.

                Use the template found on the Google Drive

                Strip out any identifying information (Your name, Student ID number)

                Specify whether you want me to post your questions on the Google Drive.

·   Study!

Oct 15 Assignment 3 is due at the 5 PM via email. EMail your assignment to boetticher@uhcl.edu

Oct 19Midterm

FOR NEXT WEEK (IF NOT SOONER)  

·   Read:  Unit 05 Notes - Sequence Diagrams

·   Read:  Chapter 4 (Sequence Diagrams) in the UML Distilled book

·   Read:  http://www.cs.uakron.edu/~collard/cs680S12/notes/UMLSequence.html

·   Read:  http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/library/3101.html

·   Read:  http://www.sparxsystems.com/resources/uml2_tutorial/uml2_sequencediagram.html

·   Quiz:  Complete Quiz 06 - Sequence Diagrams Quiz. This is due by 4 PM on 10/26/2017.

Oct 26UML - Sequence Diagrams

Assign Assignment 4 - Sequence Diagrams

Point value: 100 points

Due date:  Thursday, 11/9/2017 at 4 PM.

 

Nov 02 – Sequence diagram exercises  (Bring laptops to class)

 

FOR NEXT WEEK (IF NOT SOONER)  

·   Read:  Unit 06 Notes - Other Diagrams

·   Read:  Chapter 10 (State Machine Diagrams), Chapter 7 (Package Diagrams), and

            Chapter 12 (Communication Diagrams) in the UML Distilled book

·   Read:  http://www.developer.com/design/article.php/2238131/State-Diagram-in-UML.htm

·   Read:  http://www.cs.uu.nl/docs/vakken/b1ois/werkcollege/state.pdf

·   Read:  http://msufyian.webs.com/STATE%20DIAGRAM.pdf

·   Read:  http://www.uml-diagrams.org/package-diagrams.html

·   Read:  http://advanceduml.wordpress.com/the-unified-modeling-language/package-diagrams/

·   Read:  http://www.uml-diagrams.org/communication-diagrams.html

·   Read:  http://www.sparxsystems.com/resources/uml2_tutorial/uml2_communicationdiagram.html

·   Watch: http://vimeo.com/47526031

·   Quiz:  Complete Quiz 07 - Other UML Diagrams Quiz. This is due by 4 PM on 11/9/2017.

 

Nov 09UML - Other Diagrams

 

Assignment 4 is due at the beginning of class

 

Assign Assignment 5 - Finite State Machines

Point value: 100 points

Due date:  Thursday, 11/30/2017 at 4 PM.

 

******** November 13 – Last day to withdraw ********

 

Nov 16Other diagram exercises  (Bring laptops to class)

 

FOR NEXT WEEK (IF NOT SOONER)  

·   Read:  Unit 09 Notes - Code Smells, Refactoring

·   Quiz:  Complete Quiz 08 - Code Smells, Refactoring. This is due by 4 PM on 11/30/2017.

Nov 30 Code smells, Refactoring, and Refactoring in Eclipse

Assignment 5 is due at the beginning of class

 

Assign Assignment 6 - Refactoring and Code Smells

Point value: 100 points

Due date:  Sunday, 12/10/2017 at 5 PM via email to boetticher@uhcl.edu

Dec 07Refactoring Exercises  (Bring laptops to class)

FOR NEXT WEEK (IF NOT SOONER)  

·   Submit Final questions by Wednesday, 12/13/1017, 10 PM. This is optional.

                Use the template found on the Google Drive

                Strip out any identifying information (Your name, Student ID number)

                Specify whether you want me to post your questions on the Google Drive.

·   Study!

 

Dec 10 Assignment 6 is due at the 5 PM via email. EMail your assignment to boetticher@uhcl.edu

 

Dec 14Final Exam

 

Other Policies

Homework, Projects, Research Paper

 

Please note: In your previous academic institution it may have been acceptable to exchange homework assignments, quizzes, or projects. For this class you are expect not to share homework assignments, quizzes, projects, and exams.

Also, after you have completed the course you are expected not to share any course materials with any future students.

  • Homework and projects are due exactly at the prescribed time (usually the beginning of class). As soon as a homework or project is collected, then all others are considered 1 day late (even if it only 3 minutes). In the event you might be running late, you might want to email the assignment. Also, when preparing your assignment, be mindful of possible backlogs at the printer, jammed printer, printer out of toner, etc.

  • Late homework/projects are accepted with a penalty of 10% deduction per 24-hour period after the due date. No late project will be accepted one week after the due date. The last homework/project cannot be late.

  • There will be no extra-credit homework or projects in this course.

  • All homework and projects must be typed not hand-written.

  • VERY IMPORTANT! In certain classes students are encouraged to work in groups. For this class you are expected to work on all homework and projects individually for most assignments. Students may not discuss, use, email, show, give, buy, sell, borrow, trade, steal, download from the Internet, etc. in whole or part, any of the homework or projects in any manner not prescribed by the instructor. This condition applies even after you complete this course! Penalty for cheating will be extremely severe and will result at least a one letter grade reduction in your final grade. It could result in an F for this course. There may be some group assignments for this class. If there is inappropriate sharing among two or more groups, then all students will be considered guilty. Choose your partner very carefully!

  • Handing in an assignment for another student is considered cheating. Penalty for cheating will be extremely severe and may result in an F for this course.

  • VERY IMPORTANT! Failing to report to the instructor any incident in which a student witnesses an alleged violation of the Academic Honesty Code is considered a violation of the academic honesty code. Please see me to discuss any incidents.

  • VERY IMPORTANT! Purchasing, or otherwise acquiring and submitting as one's own work any research paper or any other writing assignment prepared by others constitutes cheating. Penalty for cheating will be extremely severe and may result in an F for this course.

  • Standard academic honesty procedure will be followed. See the following link for additional information. Here is another good article about plagiarism.

Tests, Quizzes

 

 There may be 2 sections of this course: a Pure Web-based and a face-to-face.

Please note the differences below

  • There are no make-up tests except in verified medical emergencies and with immediate notification.

Face-to-face: Rescheduling a final exam in order to catch a plane flight in order to go back home without a significant reasons and corresponding documentation is unacceptable.

Make up exams are harder and different from the original exams.

 

Pure Web-based: Will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Make up exams are harder and different from the original exams.

  • There are no make-up quizzes. Allow plenty of additional time in the event that Blackboard crashes.

  • You are responsible for all the readings assigned throughout the semester.

  • Students are to work on test and quizzes individually.  Students may not discuss, show, give, sell, borrow, trade, share, etc. their tests or quizzes. Penalty on cheating will be extremely severe. Standard academic honesty procedure will be followed.

  • VERY IMPORTANT! Providing answers for any assigned work or examination when not specifically authorized by the instructor to do so. Or, informing any person or persons of the contents of any examination prior to the time the examination is given is considered cheating. Penalty for cheating will be extremely severe and may result in an F for this course.

  • VERY IMPORTANT! Failing to report to the instructor any incident in which a student witnesses an alleged violation of the Academic Honesty Code is considered a violation of the academic honesty code. Please see me to discuss any incidents.

Miscellaneous

  • Any person with a disability who requires a special accommodation should inform me and contact the Disability services office or call 281 283 2627 as soon as possible.

  • Incomplete grades or administrative withdrawals occur only under extremely rare situations.

  • You need to bring a hard copy of the notes to class. Laptops will be permitted only during software demos such as Eclipse.

  • The ringing, beeping, buzzing of cell phones, watches, and/or pagers during class time is extremely rude and disruptive to your fellow students and to the class flow.

    Also, sending and/or receiving text messages during class is extremely rude and disruptive. Please turn off all cell phones, watches, and pagers prior to the start of class.

    If I see (even if the cell phone is off) or hear a cell phone during class, or see a student texting during class,   then 3 points will be deducted for each infraction from your final course average.

  • Attendance Policy:

Face-to-face: Students enrolled in the face-to-face section are expected to attend all lectures. A student is allowed to miss one class without penalty. Each addition absence will result in 2-point reduction of your final grade. Any student not present during class roll will be considered absent. This applies even if a student arrives one minute after class roll. Sometimes I take roll a second time after the break, so make sure you get back to class on time.

 

Pure Web-based: You do not need to attend any lectures on campus. Also, you do not need to show up in  person to take the exams. However, you may attend any/all of the face-to-face lectures and/or exams. However, it is my experience that those students who do attend class on a regular basis do better on tests than those that don't. If you will be off-campus during the exams, please make the necessary arrangements with me as soon as possible.

  • Class Preparation Policy. To strongly encourage you to be a student "driven to learn," I am implementing the following "class preparation policy" in all face-to-face sections. You start with 2 bonus points added to your final grade. You will lose 1 point during class if I ask a review question that you are unable to answer. Review questions are different from opinion questions or open-ended questions. To make sure you are prepared, review all course notes at least 5 times prior to coming to class. It is possible to capture a point from another student's ignorance.

  • I am willing to provide letters of recommendation/references only if you have attained an 'A' in one of my classes, or two 'A-' in two of my classes.

  • I highly recommend that you seek out your advisor and complete you Candidate Plan of Study (CPS) as soon as possible. I am normally not available for advising during the summer months.

  • Pay very careful attention to your email correspondence. It reflects on your communication skills. Below is an actual email I received  from a student. How many errors can you find?

Dear boeticher,

Is there any chance of regrading my final grade. As i'am very nervous in exam i couldn't be able to attempt properly. you know how attentive in class and can u please grade me considering my class participation also or do i have a chance of re exam because c grade draws my gpa low which results in loosing my scholorship, Please consider my request.

Thanks and Regards

Some Student

Common problems:

   *   bcoz instead of because

   *   r instead of are

   *   u instead of you

   *   lowecase i instead of I

   *   starting a sentence with a lowercase letter

   *   doubt instead of question

  • I immediately discard anonymous emails.

Return to Top


HomeUHCLSCE



2700 Bay Area Boulevard
Delta Building. Office 171
Houston, Texas 77058
Voice: 281-283-3805
Fax: 281-283-3869
boetticher@uhcl.edu


© 2013-2017 Boetticher:  Software Construction Course, All Rights Reserved.

Undergrad courses taught by Dr. Boetticher
Graduate courses taught by Dr. Boetticher

Locations of visitors to this page