- 202408-CMSC435-0101-SOFTWARE ENGINEERING (James Purtilo) - Instructor Report

202408-CMSC435-0101-SOFTWARE ENGINEERING (James Purtilo) - Instructor Report - Fall 2024

Project Title: University of Maryland Course Experiences Fall 2024

Number of Students Invited: 34
Number of Evaluations Submitted: 9
Response Rate: 26%

Report Comments This report presents feedback received from students for the course SOFTWARE ENGINEERING and for the Instructor James Purtilo in that course. Course means are calculated from all responses by all students in the unit (i.e., course section/lecture) on that item and exclude N/A (not applicable) responses.

Indication is provided below for the Report Group if there is one affiliated with this course section, otherwise it is blank. The Report Group will be the lead section of a grouped course (i.e. multi-section lecture) and/or the primary of cross-listed courses. Subsections are found in the Instructor Subgroup Report.

Semester: Fall 2024
College: CMNS-College of Computer, Math & Natural Sciences
Department: CMNS-Computer Science
Course #: CMSC435
Section #: 0101
Course Title: SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
Report Group:

Instructor: James Purtilo

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University-Wide Course Items Applied to All Section Instructors
N/A responses have been excluded from the following calculations.

Campus Wide Course Questions

1. The content covered in the course was directly related to the course goals and objectives.

Graphs illustrating the information in the accessible table that should immediately follow it.

Table for [QTitle]-1. The content covered in the course was directly related to the course goals and objectives..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	1	11%
Agree	3	2	22%
Strongly Agree	4	6	67%

Table for [QTitle]-1. The content covered in the course was directly related to the course goals and objectives.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.6
Standard Deviation	0.7

2. The assessments (e.g., tests, quizzes, papers) were directly related to what was covered/practiced in the course.

Table for [QTitle]-2. The assessments (e.g., tests, quizzes, papers) were directly related to what was covered/practiced in the course..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	1	11%
Agree	3	3	33%
Strongly Agree	4	5	56%

Table for [QTitle]-2. The assessments (e.g., tests, quizzes, papers) were directly related to what was covered/practiced in the course.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.4
Standard Deviation	0.7

3. The required texts (e.g., books, course packs, online resources) helped me learn course material.

Table for [QTitle]-3. The required texts (e.g., books, course packs, online resources) helped me learn course material..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	1	13%
Neutral	2	2	25%
Agree	3	2	25%
Strongly Agree	4	3	38%

Table for [QTitle]-3. The required texts (e.g., books, course packs, online resources) helped me learn course material.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	8
Mean	2.9
Standard Deviation	1.1

4. This course pushed and expanded my ability to think deeply about the subject.

Table for [QTitle]-4. This course pushed and expanded my ability to think deeply about the subject..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	0	0%
Agree	3	1	11%
Strongly Agree	4	8	89%

Table for [QTitle]-4. This course pushed and expanded my ability to think deeply about the subject.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.9
Standard Deviation	0.3

5. I believe the content of this course was a valuable part of my education.

Table for [QTitle]-5. I believe the content of this course was a valuable part of my education..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	0	0%
Agree	3	1	11%
Strongly Agree	4	8	89%

Table for [QTitle]-5. I believe the content of this course was a valuable part of my education.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.9
Standard Deviation	0.3

6. I believe I learned a lot from this course.

Table for [QTitle]-6. I believe I learned a lot from this course..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	0	0%
Agree	3	1	11%
Strongly Agree	4	8	89%

Table for [QTitle]-6. I believe I learned a lot from this course.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.9
Standard Deviation	0.3

On average, how many hours each week did you spend on this course (e.g., attending class, doing homework, studying, completing assignments)?

Table for [QTitle]-On average, how many hours each week did you spend on this course (e.g., attending class, doing homework, studying, completing assignments)?.
Options	Count	Percentage
Less than 3 hours	0	0%
3 up to 6 hours	0	0%
6 up to 9 hours	0	0%
9 up to 12 hours	3	33%
12 up to 15 hours	4	44%
15 hours or more	2	22%

Table for [QTitle]-On average, how many hours each week did you spend on this course (e.g., attending class, doing homework, studying, completing assignments)?-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9

How did this course fit into your academic plan and/or educational goals?

Table for [QTitle].
Options	Count
Required for program/major/minor/certificate, or as a prerequisite	4
Elective for program/major/minor/certificate	5
To satisfy an undergraduate General Education requirement	0
In preparation for research, employment, or future program/degree	5
Personal interest in content	7
Other/It doesn't	0

The counts above are based on a total of 9 responses to the survey.

Comment Items Applied to All Section Instructors

What about the course and/or instruction most enhanced your learning?

Table for [QTitle].

Comments

I think this team project that we worked on might be the single most useful thing that will help me most in industry and impact the rest of my career as a software engineer.

collaboration

This course was one of the hardest, yet most rewarding course I have ever or will ever take. It was very time demanding and dependent on the ultimate project that you were placed in. I was required of a totally different professional standard to what I have been placed in before, where I had to truly assess what it meant to do work professionally and up to the standard that it required.

It truly taught 'Software Engineering' rather than simple 'Software Development'. This is the difference between simply solving a problem you were given, verses being able to assess a business problem and devising a plan to solve it, focusing on how it will give value to the client. I am now a much better software engineer than I could have ever been without this class. It was invaluable.

Despite the times I often struggled in this class, I can definitely already see the value that I've gotten out of taking it. CMSC435 is like no other class in the department in away that I've learned actual skills and real–world applications to the field of software engineering that I'll be able to use for years to come in my career.

The overall format of the class and the dynamic the professor maintained with the groups and students allowed us to succeed or fail in certain areas that forced us to learn valuable lessons in key SE concepts

His personality, always helping us and being there for us.

The work we did and the work environment encouraged by the professor was the closest resemblance to a professional work environment, even more so than my internship. I feel extremely prepared to succeed in the field of Software Engineering after having taken the course.

What about the course and/or instruction can be improved the next time it is offered?

Table for [QTitle].

Comments

At the start of the semester I wasn't too familiar with how the course was being run (which is my fault since I didn't read the email) but it caused me to lose quite a few points at the start which I wish I could fix. But I guess just give a verbal warning that major points will be lost at the start if you don't get on track immediately.

Less scrimmage time

Writing the documents required of the projects was quite hard and took some time away from the important development to be done, mostly I would say, the final documents. They were definitely valuable, but their size and rigor could be shortened.

There was also some ambiguity in some of the grading requirements or standards that affected the grading. Though, I should have possibly just went to clarify these things. Less ambiguity could truly help students give the standard that was required.

Some deadlines were kind of arbitrary, such as the weekly advice aspect being due at 5pm on Friday. This time can come fast on a busy Friday, when it could have been due at 8 or 12PM and still give the same value.

I'm not sure, i think the course is very purposely structured and has been refined thoroughly over the years. The only thing that comes to mind is that sometimes it felt like we would learn certain concepts such as design after the points of the project where the knowledge would be used. I understand though that this is probably due to the need to crunch a lot of concepts into this one class

could have assignments better organized instead of having everything in thee blog.

More involved lectures. Students may take more out of lectures if there are involved activities instead of just the professor talking for 75min. I feel like most of the learning I did was through trial and error, which is often the most effective form of learning, but that trial and error could have been in an isolated activity during lectures instead of failing on our project

University-Wide Instructor James Purtilo Items
N/A responses have been excluded from the following calculations.

Campus Wide Instructor Questions

1. The instructor provided constructive feedback on my work that helped me to learn.

Table for [QTitle]-1. The instructor provided constructive feedback on my work that helped me to learn..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	0	0%
Agree	3	2	22%
Strongly Agree	4	7	78%

Table for [QTitle]-1. The instructor provided constructive feedback on my work that helped me to learn.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.8
Standard Deviation	0.4

2. The instructor provided feedback in the course in time to apply it.

Table for [QTitle]-2. The instructor provided feedback in the course in time to apply it..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	0	0%
Agree	3	2	22%
Strongly Agree	4	7	78%

Table for [QTitle]-2. The instructor provided feedback in the course in time to apply it.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.8
Standard Deviation	0.4

3. The instructor clearly communicated grading criteria for my work throughout the course.

Table for [QTitle]-3. The instructor clearly communicated grading criteria for my work throughout the course..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	3	33%
Agree	3	2	22%
Strongly Agree	4	4	44%

Table for [QTitle]-3. The instructor clearly communicated grading criteria for my work throughout the course.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.1
Standard Deviation	0.9

4. The instructor clearly communicated the purpose, instructions, and deadlines for my graded work throughout the course.

Table for [QTitle]-4. The instructor clearly communicated the purpose, instructions, and deadlines for my graded work throughout the course..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	0	0%
Agree	3	2	22%
Strongly Agree	4	7	78%

Table for [QTitle]-4. The instructor clearly communicated the purpose, instructions, and deadlines for my graded work throughout the course.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.8
Standard Deviation	0.4

5. The instructor helped me understand new content by connecting it to things I already knew.

Table for [QTitle]-5. The instructor helped me understand new content by connecting it to things I already knew..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	0	0%
Agree	3	2	22%
Strongly Agree	4	7	78%

Table for [QTitle]-5. The instructor helped me understand new content by connecting it to things I already knew.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.8
Standard Deviation	0.4

6. The instructor created an inclusive environment where everyone belonged.

Table for [QTitle]-6. The instructor created an inclusive environment where everyone belonged..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	0	0%
Agree	3	2	22%
Strongly Agree	4	7	78%

Table for [QTitle]-6. The instructor created an inclusive environment where everyone belonged.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.8
Standard Deviation	0.4

7. The instructor demonstrated confidence in everyone's potential to succeed in the course.

Table for [QTitle]-7. The instructor demonstrated confidence in everyone's potential to succeed in the course..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	0	0%
Agree	3	1	11%
Strongly Agree	4	8	89%

Table for [QTitle]-7. The instructor demonstrated confidence in everyone's potential to succeed in the course.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.9
Standard Deviation	0.3

8. I felt like the instructor cared about my learning in the course.

Table for [QTitle]-8. I felt like the instructor cared about my learning in the course..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	0	0%
Agree	3	1	11%
Strongly Agree	4	8	89%

Table for [QTitle]-8. I felt like the instructor cared about my learning in the course.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.9
Standard Deviation	0.3

Campus Wide Instructor Questions (continued)

9. I would recommend this instructor to other students for this course.

Table for [QTitle]-9. I would recommend this instructor to other students for this course..
Options	Score	Count	Percentage
Strongly Disagree	0	0	0%
Disagree	1	0	0%
Neutral	2	0	0%
Agree	3	1	11%
Strongly Agree	4	8	89%

Table for [QTitle]-9. I would recommend this instructor to other students for this course.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	9
Mean	3.9
Standard Deviation	0.3

End of Report