Courses/Computer Science/CPSC 203/CPSC 203 Template/Assignments
Contents
Assignments
Who Are We Survey
The data for Assignments 1 and 2 are created each semester via students filling out the following survey form: Media: WhoAreWeSurvey 20070704.doc
This data is updated each semester. Typically, for each course section within a semester, 30 random students are selected and their data is put into an Excel spreadsheet (See Assignment1-class-survey.xls below). Information that identifies individual students is not included in the spreadsheet. What is Surveyed are students Website interests, the Technology they are familiar with; and some simple demographic information.
Assignment 1: Spreadsheet
Deadline: Monday Oct 27 10:00 P.M.
Assignment 1 is to create a dashboard in Excel that summarizes the complex statistical data collected from students on their top five websites, their familiarity with various computer programs and operating systems, and finally listing up to three languages that they are fluent in. The goal is to visualize all the information in the spreadsheet in a meaningful way that extracts knowledge about what each component says about the students and technology in general.
Use the template spreadsheet Assignment1-class-survey.xls you can download it by clicking on this link: Media: Assignment1-class-survey.xls
Assignment details are in the following document: Media:Assignment1 CPSC203Fa2008 20080921.doc
Here is the example survey form: Media: WhoAreWeSurvey 20070704.doc
Fill in the following tabs: Introduction, Model, Data Dictionary.
- The model tab must include a rationale for the calculated fields you create, summary statistics, and dashboard design.
- The Data Tab: New calculated fields and new summary statistics calculations. For top marks you must create a new calculated field using either an “If” or a “Lookup” function. Make sure it is clear what is “Raw Data”, what are “Calculated Variables” and what are “Summary Calculations”.
- The Dashboard tab: 3 charts you have designed to summarize the data with appropriate titles, legends, and annotations. Include on the Dashboard tab a section where in a few sentences you interpret each chart. Make your information dashboard as clear, concise, and informative as possible, using good visual design principles.
Objectives
1. To practice good spreadsheet design principles as given in the class lectures. 2. To introduce you to a realistic data analysis exercise using spreadsheets 3. To allow you to design an information dashboard summarizing a large number of fields into a few informative charts.
Steps
1. Use the template spreadsheet: ClassSurveySample_20080206.xls 2. Fill in the following tabs: Introduction, Model, Data Dictionary. The model tab must include a rationale for the calculated fields you create, summary statistics, and dashboard design. 3. Add to the Data Tab: new calculated fields and new summary statistics calculations. For top marks you must create a new calculated field using either an “If” or a “Lookup” function. Make sure it is clear what is “Raw Data”, what are “Calculated Variables” and what are “Summary Calculations”. 4. Add to the Dashboard tab: 3 charts you have designed to summarize the data with appropriate titles, legends, and annotations. Include on the Dashboard tab a section where in a few sentences you interpret each chart. Make your information dashboard as clear, concise, and informative as possible, using good visual design principles. Make one of your comparisons between data from this class and classes from previous sessions: Summer Session 2007 and Fall Session 2007.
Resources
- Information Dashboard Design by Stephen Few
- Visual Display of Qualitative Information by Edward Tufte
- The elements of Graphing Data by William Cleveland
Marking Guidelines
Grading: 100 Points
- Introduction, Model and Data Dictionary Tabs – 30 points
- Design and Clarity of the Data and Dashboard tabs – 30 points
- Accuracy of all calculations – 20 points
- Originality – 10 points
- Comprehensiveness – 10 points.
- Note – by “comprehensiveness” what is meant is designing the dashboard so it reflects as much of the raw data as possible in a few clear and informative charts.
Marking Sheet for Assignment 1 Excel: Media:Asst1-markingsheet.xls
Submission
Name the assignment file: Assign1_LastName_FirstName_StudentID.xls. You may use Excel, Open Office Spreadsheet, or Google Spreadsheet & Docs – but must submit an .xls file (so TA's can open it!). Submit via Blackboard.
Original Work
All the work you submit must be original, and developed by you. If in doubt, check the U of C's honesty policy: http://www.ucalgary.ca/honesty/ and check with your TA. Also be aware of U of C's definitions of Plagiarism/Cheating/Other Academic Misconduct and the penalties and procedures associated with incidents of Plagiarism/Cheating/Other Academic Misconduct: http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/2007/how/How_LB.htm
Assignment 2: Database
Deadline: Monday Nov 24 10:00 P.M.
Assignment 2 you will be using existing database tables and queries for “Website Data” as a guide, create an analysis of the “Language Data”. Additionally, create a data entry form for table LanguageRankings and a simple report based on your final Language data summarization query. For full marks, you have to go beyond imitating the existing query patterns, and add some new analysis: Either compare the language data by classes Or compare some other data in this database to the language data.
Assignment Details are in the following document: Media:F08_Assignment2_20081026.doc
The template database you need to modify is here: Media:Assignment2.mdb
Resources
Background information regarding this assignment is available in this document Media:F08 Assignment2Background Information.doc
Query Information regarding this assignment is available in this document Media:F08 Assignment2QueryReview.doc
Objectives
1. To practice organizing spreadsheet data into a relational database and thus reinforce the principles of relational database design. 2. To introduce you to a realistic data analysis exercise using database queries 3. To introduce the idea of building up an analysis via sequential queries. Each query does one step of the required data organization or analysis at a time.
Steps
1. Use the template database: Assignment2.mdb
2. Using the existing queries (which organize and analyse the “Website Data”) as your guide, develop a matching series of queries to organize and analyze the “Language” data.
3. Set Primary Keys in all tables (after data is loaded)
4. Create a Data Entry form for LanguageRankings”
5. Create a simple report based on your final query summarizing the “Language” data.
Marking Guidelines
Grading: 100 Points
- Queries – 60 points (10 points for queries that incorporate new analysis)
- Table “LanguageRankings” properly loaded – 6 points
- All tables with proper primary keys. – 4 points
- Simple Data Entry form based on “LanguageRankings” – 10 points
- Simple Report based on your final data summarization query for the Language data – 10 points
- Data Entry and Report Design – 10 points.
Marking Sheet for Assignment 2 Database: Media:Asst2-markingsheet.xls
Submission
Name the assignment file: Assign2_LastName_FirstName_StudentID.mdb. Submit via Blackboard.
Original Work
All the work you submit must be original, and developed by you. If in doubt, check the U of C's honesty policy: http://www.ucalgary.ca/honesty/ and check with your TA. Also be aware of U of C's definitions of Plagiarism/Cheating/Other Academic Misconduct and the penalties and procedures associated with incidents of Plagiarism/Cheating/Other Academic Misconduct: http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/2007/how/How_LB.htm
Term Project
Various Deadline: Friday Dec 5 at 10:00 P.M.
Working in teams of 3-5 people you will pick a “Technology” and an “Issue” which may be business oriented, political, cultural, scientific, or artistic. You will develop a Website about this topical issue in the UofC Wiki, and give a group presentation in lecture class at the end of semester. You can look at term projects from past semesters to gain ideas as to what projects have gone on before. You SHOULD NOT repeat a theme from a past project, without your TA's explicit approval. All the material you develop must be original, rather than sampled from past projects. If in doubt, check the U of C's honesty policy: http://www.ucalgary.ca/honesty/ and check with your TA.
Landmarks
The dates by which you should have things done
- To Be Announced : Teams and Title.
- To Be Announced : Initial Project Statement
- To Be Announced : Information Review (at least 10 web/library references per team member).
- To Be Announced : Argument (an outline of the logic of your argument)
- To Be Announced : Web PresentationMarch 31st : Oral Presentation
- To Be Announced (approximately): In Class Presentation Session (last several classes – a schedule will be set)
Marking Guidelines
- Initial Problem Statement: 20
- Information Review: 20
- Argument: 20
- Web Presentation: 20
- Oral Presentation: 20
TOTAL: 100
Marking Sheet for Term Project: Media:Term-project-markingsheet.xls
Original Work
All the work your group submits must be original, and developed by the group. If in doubt, check the U of C's honesty policy: http://www.ucalgary.ca/honesty/ and check with your TA. Also be aware of U of C's definitions of Plagiarism/Cheating/Other Academic Misconduct and the penalties and procedures associated with incidents of Plagiarism/Cheating/Other Academic Misconduct: http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/2007/how/How_LB.htm
Citation
Be particularly careful to cite sources, whether they be publications or web-sites. Source citation guidelines for Wikipedia are at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources/example_style
Past Examples
Examples from previous semesters can be found at:
Topics that have been repeatedly covered in past semesters are discouraged. If any past topics are cited, be sure to follow proper source citation procedures (see above).
