- 202501-CMSC435-0101-SOFTWARE ENGINEERING (James Purtilo) - Instructor Report

202501-CMSC435-0101-SOFTWARE ENGINEERING (James Purtilo) - Instructor Report - Spring 2025

Project Title: University of Maryland Course Experiences Spring 2025

Number of Students Invited: 40
Number of Evaluations Submitted: 10
Response Rate: 25%

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: Spring 2025
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	0	0%
Agree	3	1	10%
Strongly Agree	4	9	90%

Table for [QTitle]-1. The content covered in the course was directly related to the course goals and objectives.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	10
Mean	3.9
Standard Deviation	0.3

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	0	0%
Agree	3	2	20%
Strongly Agree	4	8	80%

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	10
Mean	3.8
Standard Deviation	0.4

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	1	10%
Disagree	1	1	10%
Neutral	2	2	20%
Agree	3	1	10%
Strongly Agree	4	5	50%

Table for [QTitle]-3. The required texts (e.g., books, course packs, online resources) helped me learn course material.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	10
Mean	2.8
Standard Deviation	1.5

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	0	0%
Strongly Agree	4	10	100%

Table for [QTitle]-4. This course pushed and expanded my ability to think deeply about the subject.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	10
Mean	4.0
Standard Deviation	0.0

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	0	0%
Strongly Agree	4	10	100%

Table for [QTitle]-5. I believe the content of this course was a valuable part of my education.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	10
Mean	4.0
Standard Deviation	0.0

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	0	0%
Strongly Agree	4	10	100%

Table for [QTitle]-6. I believe I learned a lot from this course.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	10
Mean	4.0
Standard Deviation	0.0

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	1	10%
9 up to 12 hours	1	10%
12 up to 15 hours	3	30%
15 hours or more	5	50%

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	10

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

Table for [QTitle].
Options	Count	Percentage
Required for program/major/minor/certificate, or as a prerequisite	6	60%
Elective for program/major/minor/certificate	4	40%
To satisfy an undergraduate General Education requirement	0	0%
In preparation for research, employment, or future program/degree	6	60%
Personal interest in content	6	60%
Other/It doesn't	0	0%

The counts above are based on a total of 10 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

Being assigned a capstone project that has actual application as well as being given the opportunity to participate in the capstone expo. The importance of documentation and testing while researching was drilled into us and its true!

Jim was the most response teacher I have ever had. He generally responded within 3–10minutes of all emails. He has a great wealth of knowledge and insight, and guided me to the illuminating details of growth, rather than telling them to me. The course gave me the opportunity to see what its like to work in a team of software engineers to develop software: and all the obstacles, B.S., and good work that can occur. As I have never had an internship, this was my first experience working with others to develop code. It was eye opening, and allowed me to prepare for the future when I am on a team with other: by providing me with the knowledge of how to handle specific situations which are likely to arise. The class helped me learn the correct and incorrect ways to produce software, and the process for success. It helped me learn to be a better leader: and guide my teammates to produce. Peer reviews were good, they allowed me to see how my teammates viewed me: and make the necessary changes.

The fact that we worked in groups and met with real life clients where there was a motivation to doing what you are doing. I really liked the professor's energy to the class, how he gets you to think, and definitely prepare you for the real word for employment. The fact that the professor responds to emails very fast, shows how much he cares about each and every student.

Dr. Purtilo was available for meetings all the time, which really helped when we were confused about the rubric for an assignment. He helped guide our team well. I liked the project I worked on (Pest Data) and I liked working with my team.

The freedom given to work with a client, set my own schedule, and plan for the project provided valuable experience in software development that, to my knowledge, is not replicated in any other course found at UMD. The instructor's constant availability and enthusiasm when it came to my asking questions and looking for feedback, is better than any other professor I have had here at UMD. I the team and project I was placed in contributed to my positive experience in the course. I am grateful to the instructors choice when it came to that.

Strengthen our communication, critical thinking skills to think like an engineer with any problem. Dr. Purtilo is the most available professor who cares for his students beyond the normal standards. He is a huge source of knowledge with a big heart willing to teach. He believed in all of us to work better, smarter, to succeed in our education, our career, and in life.

The course is designed in a way that benefits students. During the midpoint of the semester, I was confident enough to talk about this class during a career fair. The professor clearly guided the teams on what they needed in order to be successful in their project. He gave us a very real world experience of what building software in the industry is like, and a someone who had just come from an internship, I could see how everything covered in class tied to what I witnessed at the job site.

The emphasis on the design process and how writing software is not just writing good; but, more about maintaining a team, communicating with a client, being able to make robust design decisions so that they are resilient to change when a client makes a change (which happened a lot for the XAI team with BoardLoader) or when a certain implementation of a feature does not work and needs to be changed. The application of these ideas with a Capstone project really opened my eyes about the relevance of these topics in actually developing a product (which is what we get the CS degree for....). Furthermore, the hands off approach when dealing with clients where we as students have to interface with them really enhanced my communication skills which is something that I've generally lacked along with building confidence of sharing my ideas regarding a particular implementation more openly.

The course was genuinely project based learning which implies that I had to put in my own effort to learn and communicate efficiently.

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

Table for [QTitle].

Comments

Since the course is a capstone, I found myself spending way more time on it than any other 3 credit course.

Team Building exercises on the Rope Course.
Class trips out of the classroom, for team building exercise: first hand experience failing as a team to learn the lessons (lectured in class). I think experiencing these important lessons will help the students engrain them, rather than have them enter one ear and come out the other. I think having the ability to vote or choose teammates and projects could be a plus: but I know this could create an imbalanced team/ class, and might make certain projects fail. Overall, I think this was a very good course, even though I had the worst possible group of teammates. Adding in person team challenges, to see how teams work together under pressure and against other teams. Out of the classroom, with engaging challenges.

To be quite frank, nothing at the moment. I really appreciate your work and time you put in the class professor!

While the scrimmage was important to get familiar with the workflow of the course, I think shortening it by one week would work better. I also think the slides should be posted on the class blog so we can review it after class.

I think a method for holding scrimmage team members accountable would be beneficial. My only gripe with the course was a poor experience with a teammate during scrimmages.

There wasn't a lot of time to get to know other classmates other than the ones in your team. It would be nice to have more class–wide activities where students from different teams can go around and evaluate each other's work/way of working

I think the class went above and beyond my expectation.

More focus on management and why project tasking was assigned the way it was is something I would like at the end of the semester. If not possible, I would prefer another course which would teach the methodology behind management especially in the software realm and the effectiveness of such practices (if such metrics exist).

I don't think much can be improved as everything is project based learning and everything is built off of your own effort. There is some busy work that can be dropped to ensure that students are solely focused on software engineering as a whole as a discipline.

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	1	10%
Strongly Agree	4	9	90%

Table for [QTitle]-1. The instructor provided constructive feedback on my work that helped me to learn.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	10
Mean	3.9
Standard Deviation	0.3

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	1	10%
Strongly Agree	4	9	90%

Table for [QTitle]-2. The instructor provided feedback in the course in time to apply it.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	10
Mean	3.9
Standard Deviation	0.3

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	0	0%
Agree	3	1	10%
Strongly Agree	4	9	90%

Table for [QTitle]-3. The instructor clearly communicated grading criteria for my work throughout the course.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	10
Mean	3.9
Standard Deviation	0.3

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	1	10%
Strongly Agree	4	9	90%

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	10
Mean	3.9
Standard Deviation	0.3

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	1	10%
Agree	3	1	10%
Strongly Agree	4	8	80%

Table for [QTitle]-5. The instructor helped me understand new content by connecting it to things I already knew.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	10
Mean	3.7
Standard Deviation	0.7

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	1	10%
Agree	3	1	10%
Strongly Agree	4	8	80%

Table for [QTitle]-6. The instructor created an inclusive environment where everyone belonged.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	10
Mean	3.7
Standard Deviation	0.7

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	2	20%
Strongly Agree	4	8	80%

Table for [QTitle]-7. The instructor demonstrated confidence in everyone's potential to succeed in the course.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	10
Mean	3.8
Standard Deviation	0.4

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	1	10%
Neutral	2	0	0%
Agree	3	0	0%
Strongly Agree	4	9	90%

Table for [QTitle]-8. I felt like the instructor cared about my learning in the course.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	10
Mean	3.7
Standard Deviation	0.9

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	1	10%
Agree	3	0	0%
Strongly Agree	4	9	90%

Table for [QTitle]-9. I would recommend this instructor to other students for this course.-Statistics.
Statistics	Value
Response Count	10
Mean	3.8
Standard Deviation	0.6

End of Report