Transcript Students Develop Real-World Web and Pervasive Computing

The Agile Approach
to the DPS Dissertation Process
Chuck Tappert and Ron Frank
DPS Research Seminar 2
Agile Approach to Dissertation Process
Methodologies and Tools
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Agile Methodology
Team and Cohort Groups
Socratic Method
Dissertation Notebook
Writing Emphasis
Writing Tools
Agile DPS Dissertation Process
Agile Methodology
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Similar to agile software development
Uses XP method of small releases and
fast turnarounds (~2-week iterations)
Makes incremental advances in the
dissertation work
Agile DPS Dissertation Process
Team and Cohort Groups
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DPS class teams
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Cohort year group contributes frequently
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Teamwork enhances learning
Creates an “active learning process”
The norm for employees in most organizations
Through their extensive knowledge and experience
Make suggestions in the research seminar meetings
Help find relevant literature/related material
The power of the community is strong!
Agile DPS Dissertation Process
Socratic Method
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Clarification through confrontational dialogue
Students must vigorously defend their position
Works best if students adequately prepare for
research seminar sessions
Wikipedia definition: “… asking a series of
questions surrounding a central issue, and
answering questions of the others involved.
Generally this involves the defense of one point
of view against another and is oppositional.”
Agile DPS Dissertation Process
Dissertation Notebook
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Maintain a dissertation notebook
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As a repository of ideas, thoughts, and data
Only place that you write, diagram, or doodle
about your dissertation
(see Dr. Ron Frank’s presentation slides for
more information about the notebook)
Agile DPS Dissertation Process
Writing Emphasis
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Expressing your ideas in writing gives you a
good grasp on them
The written form of your ideas is amenable to
iterative refinement
Allows you to communicate your ideas to your
advisor and discuss them point by point
We recommend writing a conference/journal
paper summarizing your ideas/work
Agile DPS Dissertation Process
Writing Tools
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Microsoft Word
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Microsoft PowerPoint for presentations
Endnote
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Formatting, spell checking, and other
benefits of a word processor
Bibliography management software
Always spell check documents/slides
We teach the Strunk and White style of
writing clearly and succinctly
Agile DPS Dissertation Process
Research Seminars 1 and 2
(fall and spring year 1)
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Learn about research and dissertation process
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What research is and how to do it
Conduct literature search/analyze research papers
Faculty members present their research
Traditional versus agile dissertation process
Select a suitable research area
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Best to choose an area where you have knowledge
and expertise – makes completion possible in 3 years
(saves several years over traditional method)
Agile DPS Dissertation Process
Research Seminars 3, 4, 5
(summer year 1, fall-spring year 2)
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Choose/analyze a paper: essence, methodology, etc.
Select a suitable research area and problem
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Review the related literature
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Independent work by the student
Refined through research seminar interactions
Write the idea paper
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Independent work by the student
Present/discuss/refine in research seminars – Socratic method
Choose advisor and committee
Interact with advisor
Revise through the agile evolutionary process of
presentations/discussions in research seminars
Begin the research
Agile DPS Dissertation Process
Dissertation Work
(summer year 2, fall-spring year 3)
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Select a suitable research approach/plan
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Conduct the research
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Idea paper grows to include approach/plan
Interact with advisor using XP methodology
Idea paper grows into dissertation
Present status at Saturday sessions
Committee meetings
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Preliminary committee meeting (if necessary)
Defense
Agile DPS Dissertation Process
DPS Dissertation Completion Rate
Class
Number
Completed
Expected
Next 6 mo
Making
Progress
Permanent
ABD
2002
15 of 20
2 of 20
1 of 20
2 of 20
2003
6 of 17
4 of 17
6 of 17
1 of 17
2004
11 of 16
1 of 16
3 of 16
1 of 16
2005
11 of 18
0 of 18
5 of 18
2 of 18
2006
6 of 16
2 of 16
8 of 16
0 of 16
2007
8 of 16
2 of 16
5 of 16
1 of 16
2008
5 of 15
3 of 15
7 of 15
0 of 15
Totals
62 of 118
14 of 118
35 of 118
7 of 118
Total%
52%
12%
30%
6%
Agile DPS Dissertation Process
DPS Dissertation Completion
Percent Dissertation Completion by Year
60
Percent Completed
50
40
30
20
10
0
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
Years
Agile DPS Dissertation Process
6.0
7.0
DPS vs. Traditional Completion
Percent Dissertation Completion by Year
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60
Percent Completed
CIS, Council of Graduate Schools
50
DPS + 2 Years
DPS
40
30
20
10
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Year
Agile DPS Dissertation Process
8
9
10
Conclusion
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DPS completion rate – 62 of 118 = 52%
Average years to completion = 3.2 years
Agile DPS dissertation process works!
Agile DPS Dissertation Process