The Coded Path

Over the past year, I’ve taken various courses as part of my journey toward obtaining my Master’s degree, and these courses have greatly influenced my final project, Task Alchemist. In this blog post, I will discuss the significant roles played by each class in shaping the project, the challenges I encountered, and my thoughts on the curriculum’s strengths and areas for improvement.

Research Approaches in Computer Science

Contribution: This course laid the groundwork for understanding various research methodologies and their application in computer science. The skills I gained here were necessary for developing and structuring the research approach for Task Alchemist later on.

Challenges: The class was intense because I had to read and analyze many research papers about Ad Tech ethics while working on my paper. It was initially challenging to apply various research methods to a practical project.

Curriculum Feedback: The course was thorough and enlightening, providing the foundation for research-based development practices.

Advanced Software Engineering

Contribution: This class provided advanced knowledge in software design and development practices, which was essential for Task Alchemist’s architecture. It focused on best practices in coding, testing, and project management.

Challenges: Balancing theoretical knowledge with practical application was challenging.

Curriculum Feedback: The material was high-quality, but including more real-world scenarios would be beneficial.

Data Science

Contribution: The data science course was vital in learning how to handle and analyze large datasets, which is crucial for the AI components in Task Alchemist. Techniques learned here were directly applied to optimize task scheduling.

Challenges: Balancing theoretical knowledge with practical application was challenging. Creating detailed milestones and working extensively on design documents required significant effort.

Curriculum Feedback: The instruction was engaging, and even with my professional experience, I learned quite a bit about software design and best practices. My instructor was fair and personable and took the time to make sure we understood the material. However, I wish more practice was involved in sequencing and UML diagramming.

Data Visualization and Extended Reality

Contribution: This class helped me understand the significance of effectively presenting data, a crucial aspect of Task Alchemist’s user interface. The skills acquired here ensured that the data visualizations were functional and visually appealing.

Challenges: Integrating extended reality concepts into a traditional data visualization framework took a lot of work.

Curriculum Feedback: More examples of extended reality applications in mainstream projects would be helpful.

Advanced Artificial Intelligence

Contribution: This course was essential in developing the AI algorithms that power Task Alchemist. It covered advanced topics in AI that are directly applied to enhancing task prioritization and scheduling.

Challenges: The depth and breadth of AI topics were overwhelming at times.

Curriculum Feedback: The material quality was excellent, but more interactive sessions could help solidify complex concepts.

Machine Learning

Contribution: Machine learning techniques were essential for training the models used in Task Alchemist. This course provided the theoretical and practical knowledge to implement these techniques effectively.

Challenges: Mastering and implementing advanced machine learning algorithms required significant effort. Finding suitable datasets for specific tasks was also challenging at times.

Curriculum Feedback: The course met expectations, and I particularly enjoyed the course format.

Human-Computer Interaction

Contribution: This course provided insights into designing user-centric applications. The principles learned were applied to make Task Alchemist intuitive and user-friendly.

Challenges: Balancing user needs with technical constraints was challenging.

Curriculum Feedback: The course provided valuable insights, and combining class discussions with practical applications enhanced the learning experience.

Human-Computer Interaction App Development

Contribution: In this class, I gained practical experience in developing HCI applications. It built on the foundational knowledge from the Human-Computer Interaction class and directly contributed to building the front end of Task Alchemist. I developed an application that visualizes data and creates an interactive experience using gamification principles to incentivize advertisement engagement.

Challenges: Ensuring seamless integration between the user interface and backend functionality was challenging. Balancing aesthetic design with usability and technical constraints required careful consideration and iterative testing.

Curriculum Feedback: The course content was excellent and significantly made my final project more engaging.

Software Project – Research, Planning, and Design

Contribution: This was Task Alchemist’s inception phase. It provided a structured approach to project planning and design.

Challenges: Defining the project scope and objectives was challenging.

Curriculum Feedback: The course was well-structured, but more guidance on project scoping would be helpful.

Software Project – Development I & II

Contribution: I dedicated my time to developing Task Alchemist during these courses. Regular check-ins with my advisor were crucial in receiving valuable guidance and feedback, which helped refine the project’s scope and implementation. This collaboration ensured that the project aligned with my goals and academic standards.

Challenges: Effectively managing time and resources presented a significant challenge. It required careful planning and prioritization to balance multiple development tasks and incorporate ongoing feedback.

Curriculum Feedback: The courses were practical and well-structured; however, incorporating regular peer reviews could enhance the learning experience by providing diverse perspectives and additional feedback, ensuring continuous progress, and fostering a collaborative learning environment.

Software Project – Deployment and Professional Presentation

Contribution: This final course focused on refining professional presentation skills and deployment strategies for Task Alchemist. It established a solid framework to ensure the project was polished and prepared for public presentation.

Challenges: The main challenges were ensuring the project was deployment-ready and presenting it professionally. It was important to work with my advisor to see this through, complete my last two milestones, finalize my thesis, and prepare to present to the capstone committee.

Curriculum Feedback: The course was incredibly valuable. Working closely with my advisor was essential, but having more opportunities for peer feedback on presentations would further enhance readiness and confidence.

Overall Reflections

Timely and Meaningful Feedback: Throughout the program, I consistently received timely and insightful feedback that played a crucial role in enhancing my learning experience and advancing the development of my projects.

Quality of Material and Instruction: The courses were carefully structured, offering in-depth insights and a thorough understanding of each subject.

Suggestions for Improvement

1. More Real-World Examples: Integrating more real-world case studies and examples across all courses could enhance practical understanding.
2. Interactive Sessions: Increasing the number of interactive and hands-on sessions, especially in complex subjects like AI and machine learning, would be beneficial.
3. Collaborative Projects: Encouraging more teamwork and collaborative projects could help develop essential soft skills.

Conclusion

The educational program provided an in-depth and strong foundation in computer science and software engineering, encompassing various subjects and offering practical exposure to multiple technologies. The theoretical understanding and hands-on proficiency I have acquired will significantly enhance my performance in upcoming endeavors and professional paths.