Software Engineering Workshop Training Course

Description

Workshop requirements
In addition to the approved practical work in industry, students must also successfully complete an approved Workshop Training Course or Health and Safety Training Course during the First Professional Year. You enrol in the course as SENG199, which is a zero-credit course that is required for all Software Engineering students, usually taken during the first professional year.

For Software Engineering we have developed the following plan for the “Workshop” component, in consultation with the advisory board and other engineering departments.

The software engineering workshop requirements consist of 12 hours (which will be run as two 6-hour days during lecture breaks).

Students must attend the workshop sessions and demonstrate a suitable level of competence in the areas covered. Students with qualifications in particular topics may apply for exemption from those parts of the workshops.

The following topics will be covered in the workshop sessions; the times given are approximate:
• Pain free computing (workstation setup): ergonomics, health and safety
• Basic Linux tools: basic commands, shell scripting
• Installing and configuring an OS (e.g. Linux): Includes setting it up as a secure server (security, licencing, viruses, firewall, policies, updating)
• Simple computer maintenance: upgrading a disk, adding memory, diagnosing simple faults, building a computer from components
• Touch typing: this increases productivity, and is a valuable communication skill. It will be introduced in the workshop, but students need to learn touch typing can use online tutors outside of the workshop (e.g. http://www.freetypinggame.net/free-typing-lesson.asp, http://www.sense-lang.org/typing/tutor/keyboarding.php).
Passing this requirement will be based on a proficiency test that can be taken either at the workshop sessions or in arranged sessions. A speed of 40 words per minute with accurate typing is expected; you can test your speed using systems such as http://www.typingtest.com/index.html and http://10fastfingers.com/typing-test/english. The speed of 40 words per minute is just over the threshold that requires skilled typing.


To enrol in the April or July sessions, please complete the form here.

As preparation, you should check your typing speed, and work on getting it fast enough to comfortably pass the test.

Workshops are limited to 24 people. You will receive email confirmation of your place in the workshop. If you need to cancel your booking, you should notify Alex Forster (alex.forster@canterbury.ac.nz) at least one week in advance of the workshop.