SDA-2 Product Engineering and Professional Practice
SDA-2 Product Engineering and Professional Practice
- Course description
- Course CodeSDA-2
- Level of Study5.1
- Program of StudySoftware Development with AI
- Credits10
- Study Plan CoordinatorMonde Sineke
This course introduces students to product development and professional practices involved in software development: deciding what is worth building, and how the work is planned and delivered. Students learn how software creates value for users, businesses and society, when AI adds value to a product and when it does not, and what it takes for people to actually start using a new solution. The course covers requirements gathering, user stories, stakeholder analysis and user-centred design, together with the software development lifecycle and agile methods for planning and prioritising work. Students also gain insight into the regulations, standards and agreements that apply to software products, such as universal design, regulation of AI and terms of use, and the ethical principles behind the responsible use of AI.
Through collaborative work on a realistic problem, students turn the needs of users and stakeholders into requirements, plan and prioritise the work using agile methods, and document and present a solution to both technical and non-technical audiences.
The candidate...
- has insight into regulations, standards and agreements that apply to software products, such as data protection, universal design, regulation of AI and terms of use
- has knowledge of how software is developed in industry, including the development lifecycle, agile practices and the roles in a multidisciplinary team
- understands how software creates value for users, businesses and society, and when AI adds value to a product and when it does not
- has knowledge of factors influencing the adoption of software and AI solutions within organisations, including user adoption, change management and evaluation of expected benefits
The candidate...
- can assess a user or business problem, identify the needs behind it, and determine what a software solution should do, expressed as requirements and user stories
The candidate...
- understands the ethical principles that apply in software development, and how they affect decisions about products and features
- can plan software work based on the needs of selected users and stakeholders, using user-centred design methods
- can build relations with team members and with users and other external stakeholders, and document and communicate proposed software solutions to technical and non-technical audiences
Students use a combination of written content, videos and practical learning activities designed to help them achieve the course learning outcomes.
Industry Relevance
Course content, learning activities and tools reflect industry standards and are developed in collaboration with industry partners and experts from the field.
Practical Work
The course includes regular practical activities where students apply their knowledge and practise relevant skills.
Collaboration
Collaboration is facilitated through the LMS and Teams, and students are encouraged to work together for peer support and shared learning.
Guidance
Teachers are available for guidance at scheduled times. Students are encouraged to share work in progress and use feedback from teachers and fellow students to develop their work further.
Coursework Requirements
This course has 1 coursework requirement, graded Approved / Not Approved.
| Form of assessment | Grading scale | Grouping | Duration of assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
Course Assignment | Pass / Fail | Group | 1 Week(s) |