Syllabus • ITEC 493 Selected Topics in Software Testing • Spring 2012
intro |
sections |
text |
topics |
goals |
homework |
quizzes |
exams |
responsibilities |
assessment |
attendance |
courtesy |
honor code |
disabilities |
changes |
emergency |
schedule
Instructor: Don Braffitt
Office: 015
Davis
E-mail:
dbraffitt@radford.edu
Phone: 540.831.5072
Office: Mon/Wed/Fri Noon-1pm, Mon 3-4pm, Tue 11am-Noon, and by appointment
Lunch: Usually Mon/Wed/Fri 11-11:30am Dalton Dining Hall
Instructor home page:
http://www.radford.edu/dbraffitt/
Syllabus:
http://www.radford.edu/~dbraffitt/itec493/2012/spring/
Desire2Learn (D2L):
https://learn.radford.edu/d2l/lp/homepage/home.d2l?ou=20806
Radford University, Department of Information Technology
ITEC 493. Selected Topics in Software Testing. (3)
Three hours lecture; three credit hours
ITEC 493 Selected Topics in Software Testing introduces
students to software testing within the broader context of software
quality assurance. Students will gain knowledge of the concepts in
software testing while applying those concepts to the creation and use
of components of a test system including writing a test plan, developing
the tests, and analyzing the test results.
This course may not be used to satisfy an ITEC major or an ITEC minor
requirement including technical electives. This course may be used for a
general elective or a B.S. elective.
Prerequisites: ITEC 120 (grade of C or higher) and ITEC 110 (grade of C or higher).
Course Sections
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- ITEC 493-01
- Lecture: 212 Davis Mon/Wed/Fri 9-9:50am
- Exams: 212 Davis Wed 15-Feb 9-9:50am (Exam 1), Wed 28-Mar 9-9:50am (Exam 2), Tue 01-May 12:30-2:30pm (Final Exam)
Text, Online Materials, ITEC Tutors/PIs, labs, LARC, other links
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Topics
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The course focus includes the following topics:
- Software testing concepts
- Building the test environment (e.g. automated testing, GUI testing, test harnesses)
- Managing the test project, and testing across the software development lifecycle
- Test planning and types of testing (e.g., unit, integration, system,
functionality, routine/method coverage, code path coverage, performance,
black box versus white box)
- Developing the tests, executing the test plan, and reporting and
analyzing the test results
- User acceptance testing
- Testing software developed by outside organizations
- Testing software controls and the adequacy of security procedures
- Testing new technologies
- Tool support for testing (e.g., BlueJ/JUnit, CodingBat)
- Testing case studies (both successes and failures)
- Testing certifications and exams
Goals and Objectives
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Students successfully completing ITEC 493 Selected Topics in Software
Testing will be able to do the following:
- Describe and use concepts in software testing
- Write a test plan for an existing software system
- Develop and run the tests according to a test plan
- Report the testing results as specified in a test plan
- Modify a software system to insert defects, and rerun the tests and
report the testing results as specified a the test plan
Homework and Quizzes
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Homework will be completed using Java in two primary environments (BlueJ/JUnit and
CodingBat) and submitted via D2L. Quizzes
will be completed via D2L. Students are expected to submit their own
work for all homework and quizzes by the due date.
Homework and quiz submissions are due Fridays at 8pm.
There will be a total of 9 homework assignments due Fridays at 8pm as
detailed in the schedule below. Each homework grade counts 2% of the
final grade. There will be a total of 12 quizzes, one a week on non-exam
weeks. Each quiz grade counts 2% of the final grade. Thus the homework
and quizzes given throughout the course will be worth 42% of the final
grade. Homework and quizzes will also help prepare students for exams.
Exams will be completed via D2L in 212 Davis. Students are expected to
submit their own work for all exams. There will be two 50 minute
in-class exams during the semester in addition to a 120 minute in-class
comprehensive final exam during final exam week. Exams will be worth 45%
of the final grade. Exams are closed-book and closed-notes except for
one 8.5x11 inch sheet of paper on which each student may include typed,
handwritten, or photocopied notes (front and back).
Student Responsibilities
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Students are responsible for the information that is included in the
assigned readings, lectures, discussions, homework, quizzes, and
any additional information discussed in class or posted in D2L. Students
are encouraged to take advantage of the instructor's office hours, the
ITEC tutor hours, and the online supplementary materials provided by the
textbook publisher and the textbook authors. The best preparation for
exams is to complete readings, homework, and quizzes, and to
participate in class and via D2L by asking questions and participating
in discussions.
Excused absences are granted in cases of emergency, illness, religious
holiday, or RU-sponsored travel or other RU-related activities (i.e.
internship and job interviews) that may cause a student to miss a class
provided the student notifies the instructor via email prior to the
absence. Students should notify the instructor 48 hours prior to missing
an exam to make alternate arrangements for a makeup exam. All required
class work must be submitted via D2L by the due date whether or not a
student has an excused absence for a particular class.
Assessment
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The assessment will be weighted as follows:
- 18% Homework (2% each for 9 homework programming assignments)
- 24% Quizzes (2% each for 12 weekly quizzes)
- 13% Participation (1% for each week of classes except for the last week of class which is extra credit)
- 15% Exam 1 (Wed 15-Feb 2-2:50pm)
- 15% Exam 2 (Wed 28-Mar 2-2:50pm)
- 15% Final Exam (Tue 01-May 12:30-2:30pm)
All three exams will include some material drawn from the material
discussed in class, some of which will be beyond the specific textbook
material.
The assessment will be according to the following scale:
- A = 90% to 100%
- B = 80% to 89%
- C = 70% to 79%
- D = 60% to 69%
- F = 59% and below
During the semester, grades will be provided to students via D2L.
Attendance and Participation
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Class attendance is required for students to receive full class
participation credit. Absences (excused or otherwise) do not relieve
students from the responsibility for subject matter missed or homework,
quizzes, or online class participation work to be completed. If the
university cancels class for any reason such as inclement weather, the
assigned work for the week is still due as specified in the syllabus and
D2L.
The 13% participation portion of the student grade is based primarily on
effort and is weighted 1% each week
(except for the last week which is extra credit) based primarily on
- Class attendance and participation during lecture sessions
- Reading of assigned text materials and other selected course information in D2L
Class attendance for class sessions and other weekly class participation
work will be recorded via a D2L assessment which each student
completes each week. Attendance for any class session is defined as
student presence and participation for at least 90% of a class.
Final weekly class participation submissions are due Fridays at 8pm.
Class Courtesy Policy
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Please set cell phones, pagers, and notebook computers to silent during
class. Students are encouraged to bring computers to all ITEC 493 classes.
Computers should primarily be used for work relevant to ITEC 493
during ITEC 493 classes. Please refrain from any activities while in
class that would be disruptive to the class.
Honor Code
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In accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a
commitment to support and uphold the Honor Code without compromise or
exception. Violations of this academic integrity will not be tolerated.
Refer to your Student Handbook for details. Each of these classes will
be conducted in strict observance of the Honor Code. All work you submit
for a grade must be your own work including
- Homework assignments
- Quizzes and exams
Students With Disabilities
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A student seeking classroom accommodations under the Americans
with Disabilities Act is required to register with the Disability
Resource Office (DRO). The DRO is located on the first floor of Tyler
Hall, phone number 540.831.6350. To receive academic
accommodations for this class, a student should obtain the proper DRO
forms and meet with the instructor at the beginning of the semester.
Changes to Course Syllabus or Class Schedule
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All changes to either the course syllabus or the class schedule will be
posted in D2L and usually announced in class. Students are responsible for any
announced changes even if absent or tardy when the announcements are
made. Sometimes changes will be posted in D2L prior to a class
announcement (e.g., schedule adjustments if the university closes due to
inclement weather or an emergency).
In Case of Emergency
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In the event of a university-wide emergency, course requirements,
classes, deadlines, and grading policies and procedures are subject to
change. Potential changes that could occur include alternative delivery
methods, alternative methods of interaction with the instructor,
accessing class materials and/or classmates, a revised attendance
policy, and a revised semester calendar and/or grading schedule. In the
event of a university-wide emergency, please refer to the course materials in D2L.
Schedule
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