Introduction to ICS 691: Software Engineering for the Smart Grid

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Seminar: Software Engineering

for the Smart Grid

Philip JohnsonInformation and Computer Sciences

University of Hawaiijohnson@hawaii.edu

http://ics691f12.wordpress.com

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Part 1: Introduction to the class

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What is a seminar? Graduate seminars are different from normal courses.

Instructor responsibility is to gather and organize research materials in the subject area.

Participant responsibility is to read materials, reflect upon them, present material and lead discussions.

Seminars are not:•Sage on a stage•Spoonfed material

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What is the Smart Grid? "A smart grid is an electrical grid that:• uses information and communications technology to •gather and act on information, •(such as information about the behaviors of suppliers and consumers) •in an automated fashion •to improve the efficiency, reliability, economics, and sustainability of the production and distribution of electricity." (Wikipedia)

This creates many opportunities for software engineering.

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Learning Objectives Learn how to read research publications:• Identify the research contribution• Understand how it fits with other research • Identify problems and opportunities

Learn to lead seminar presentations• How to prepare• How to present• How to facilitate discussion during the seminar

Learn about Smart Grid software research•What is the state of the art• How you can contribute through a course project

Learn how to stay engaged and attentive during class• Don't fall asleep• Don't be distracted

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Structure of the seminar Each class (Fridays, 9 – 11:40) has two parts:

Part 1: Research Presentation (~75 minutes)•Typically, one of you will provide an overview of the week's research topic, then lead a discussion.

Part 2: Project status updates (~75 minutes)•Typically, half the class provides a report on their progress on their project. (You must report on progress every two weeks).

There will be exceptions

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Grades are based on: Seminar attendance: •I will track attendance.

Seminar preparation:•Presentation leader will create "quicky quiz"

Seminar engagement:•No multi-tasking (Facebook, email, texting)

Project status reports•Evidence of steady progress.

Project final report•Quality of final project.

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Topic Areas Overview Architecture Open Source Modeling Smart Homes

Agent-based systems Privacy Security Visualization Software Processes & Practices

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Part II:Engagement

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Seminar engagement A learning objective for this seminar is the ability to "stay engaged" during the meetings.

Your grade is also partially based upon engagement during the seminar.

Discussion topic:•How do we create a seminar environment that supports and encourages "engagement"?

Break into groups of two, come up with recommendations to present to class.

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My engagement Ideas Quicky Quizzes:•Incentive to read material beforehand for both presenter and attendees.

No facebook/emails/texting during class•How do we enforce that?

Group work:•More interesting to break into small groups.•How small does the "group" have to be?

Other ideas?

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Part III:How to give good seminar

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General Process Review all papers in topic area via Mendeley•Optionally do additional searching on web

Decide which papers the class should read•Should be around 20 pages of reading (2-3 pubs)•Should be "interesting" papers, somewhat related• If you find a paper better than the ones in Mendeley, feel free to assign it instead.

Develop a 15 – 20 minute ppt presentation•Send to Philip on Thursday before class.

Develop your approach to "engagement"•Quicky quiz, small group work, etc.

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Seminar Development Hints What is the research question? What is the hypothesis? What are the weaknesses in the research? Do not read the slides! Slides should not be all text: include relevant graphics. Discussion questions should not be yes/no. You can ask questions even if you don't know the answer. You can create demos, show youtube videos (if relevant) Go around room, ask everyone to state one thing they found interesting about reading, etc. You can post questions in advance to the mailing list if you want students to prepare in advance. Be creative. Be interesting.

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Part IV:The Project

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The Course Project Should involve software engineering Should involve the smart grid.

Typical approach:•Find an open source software package related to the smart grid.•Design an application or enhancement using that package that involves some additional coding. •Write up your results.

But other approaches can be OK. Check with me.

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Part V:What to do next

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Week 1 Assignment1. Go through the course website. 2. Join the Google Discussion Group.3. Download Mendeley, join the Mendeley group.4. Download the big box of papers, attach to Mendeley.5. Make a tentative choice for project.6. Sign up for a seminar topic to present. (Once all topics are taken, you can double up with someone else).