Class focuses on practical experience and Boeing

Erica Jewell
Daily Staff

One UW class offers a crash course in industry.

Computer science and engineering students are taking part in an experimental class, gaining real-world industry experience.

The experimental version of computer science and engineering 403 is a two-quarter class in which a student team works on a project for Boeing. Professor Nancy Leveson planned the class with Boeing and teaches it.

"There are several reasons for trying this new approach," Leveson said. "The first is that one quarter is too short for a realistic project, so students cannot learn enough about software engineering due to class sessions being devoted to discussing and organizing the project.

"In the regular 403 class, the group projects are also usually learning experiences about how hard it is to work in a group, but not enough is learned about how to work effectively together.

"By having one group headed by the instructor, disasters can be avoided and more experience can be provided in the correct way to work together."

The class focused on creating a plan to upgrade a Boeing project-management software tool. Each student in the class was assigned a specific role.

A few of the roles included: principal architect, program manager and designers. Although students were assigned one role, they participated in each phase of the project.

In each phase the team submitted written reports to Boeing managers.

Kay Williams serves as the Research and Technology technical skills management manager at Boeing.

"We're thrilled with the work these students are doing. We already have adopted one of their suggestions ahead of time," Williams stated in a press release.

Students will give their final presentation and plan on June 5 to Boeing's vice president of Research and Technology, Phil Lemoine.

Senior computer science major Michael Berg led the team of students. Berg recognized the unique opportunities the class provided.

"We learned a lot about how to report to a manager, which is really important to a company like Boeing," he said. "There is a gap between technical preparation and industry; the class bridges that gap."

Berg said Boeing also gained from its association with the class.

"They get some additional human resources and some fresh ideas," he said.

Berg said Boeing asked the students in the class to submit their résumés and said they would have first-priority status.