A group about 2-7 students should solve a project task, whose aim is that before a certain date produce a prototype that satisfies a given specification. It is the students' assignment to plan and carry out the work, i.e. a project plan should be written and be followed. In the project plan, the subprojects that the project consists of are specified, in which order the subprojects should be carried out, when they should be managed, and who or which in the group that should carry out the work.
There are several possible solutions to the project tasks. The students will therefore during the time of the project encounter many practical problems that require engineering decisions. The participants learn thereby to acquire the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge that is required to solve a project task.
- The course is completed with an oral presentation and a demonstration of the prototype or a presentation of achieved results. During the time of the project, written documentation should be produced. The requirements of the oral and written reporting are similar to the requirements that are set on a degree project.
- Each student will focus on one or several of the tasks of programming (or other implementation work), project management, algorithm development, and gathering of expertise.
- The students should write a "reflective diary" during the work, where they document proof for their learning. Such proofs can e.g. be performance plots with explanations or reports for the use of methods/tools and detailed descriptions of technical problems that have arisen during the work.