Project Video & Discussion

Assessment Structure

This assessment consists of two parts. First, a 10 minute video of your software in use (including a short introduction). Second, a 10 minute discussion with both markers, also known as the Q&A. Therefore you need to prepare a few slides, plan and record your video, and be prepared to answer questions. Take note of any verbal feedback, as we often give advice that you can incorporate into the dissertation.

Statement of Ethical Compliance

On the title page of your video slides you should state the data and participant categories for your project (a letter and a digit) with a sentence to confirm that you followed our ethical guidance. You can go into more detail about participant activities and data sources if they form a central part of the project, but the focus of the video should be on demonstrating your software and development tools. You will be asked about project ethics during the discussion.

Video Introduction

Begin by giving a general overview of your project, the motivation behind it, the things you hoped to achieve, and any major conclusions. Show how your original objectives and design influenced the final software product. This should only last a couple of minutes so you won't need lots of slides. If the project didn't go to plan, you should explain what happened. Remember that a lot of this will also be included in your dissertation, so pick out the highlights and things you really want to emphasise to the markers. Keep it short so you have more time to demo the software.

Video Screen Recording

Spend the rest of the time showing your software in use. Try to cover a variety of possible interactions with the software, including different types of user if applicable (such as admin and ordinary users). You should also show your development environment, including source code. If there is a particular piece of code that you're proud of, this is the time to talk about it. However, please bear in mind that the entire video should be no longer than 10 minutes. Use the time wisely to convey what your project is about and how it all works. We do not need to see explanations for every source file, since this just wastes time. Put yourself in the position of a user and demonstrate what the software does.

Discussion and Questions

Your supervisor will liaise with you to find out when you're free in the week following the deadline. The discussion will involve both markers (supervisor and second marker), so you might have to miss a lab or tutorial session to make scheduling easier. It will probably take place in person, in a staff office or meeting room, but it can happen over Teams or Zoom if everyone agrees in advance. Expect an informal chat, not an inquisition. There is no need to dress up for the meeting.

The discussion will last for around 10 minutes. It's a chance for the markers to clarify any points they are unsure about after watching the video. It also allows you to promote your project and get valuable advice for the dissertation. Make sure you cover everything you want to discuss, since this is the only opportunity to speak to both markers at the same time.

Recording Your Video

Remember that your video should include a short introduction, but if you spend too much time on this you won't have enough time to demonstrate your software. You can make separate recordings and edit them together, or you can just move from your slides to your software within the same recording. You should submit only one video. If you record your demo in multiple parts, you should edit them into one video file.

Your video must be narrated in your own voice. Your presentation skills and English language proficiency are part of the assessment, so please don't use text-to-speech software to generate your narration.

 Mac
If you are using a Mac, the easiest way to record your screen is to use Quicktime Player, which should already be installed. From its File menu select New Screen Recording and follow the prompts. You can use iMovie to edit your video and arrange multiple scenes.

 Windows /  Linux /  Mac
If you are using Windows or Linux, the best approach is to download OBS (Open Broadcaster Software). This is also available for Mac if you don't want to use Quicktime. To edit your video and combine multiple scenes, use the Photos app in Windows. There are many video editing packages available for Linux.

 Open Broadcaster Software
 Simple OBS Tutorial (Scroll Down)
 OBS Master Class (YouTube Playlist)
 Windows 10 Video Editing
 Best Free Video Editors for Linux

After creating your video, you should submit it via Canvas. It's fairly easy but it can take some time to be processed, so please plan ahead.