Agile Development

This intensive, hands-on course is the prerequisite for all advanced database courses in BCIT Computing programs. COMP 1630 is equivalent to the Full-time CST and CIT Diploma database courses and provides an introduction to relational database design concepts and industry standards. Students learn the tools and processes for data modeling in Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) in a Windows PC lab environment. They also focus on the Structured Query Language, SQL to define and manipulate data. Topics include functional dependencies, normalization, database design methodologies, entity relationship modeling and the use of UML as a diagramming notation. Advanced topics include: an introduction to SQL, DDL- data definition language and DML- data manipulation language, views, security, transaction management, triggers and stored procedures. Current trends in database such as replication, object-relational DBMS, data warehousing, OLAP- online analytical processing and database uses web technology are discussed. Students in COMP 1630 are required to attend one face to face meeting each week, participate in group work, and an online component, plus complete reading and assignments outside of class. Upon successful completion, participants will be able to design and implement a database application and be prepared to move on to higher level database courses including: Data Warehouse, Data Quality, MySQL, MS Business Intelligence, MS SQL Server and Oracle.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 1002 or equivalent knowledge of a Windows PC and file management.

​Business Analysis and Systems Design is the study of concepts, processes and tools that professionals use to plan and develop computer information systems to industry standards. COMP 2831 continues the established Systems Analysis tradition and provides the foundation for all BCIT Computing development credentials. Students learn how to ask implicit questions, to create and document communication plans and to make better decisions prior to creating an information system. Beginning with an introduction to the SDLC, Software Development Life Cycle, students work in teams to initiate the system process, analyze problems, discover requirements and create a logical design. Topics include: techniques used in the discovery of business requirements, traditional approaches to data and process modelling. There is an overview of Object Oriented Modelling techniques using the Unified Modelling Language (UML) as well as an introduction to Project Management. Agile frameworks including XP, Extreme Programming, and SCRUM are also introduced. Students learn to work in groups to provide detailed written materials and make presentations of their designs. By the end of this course, successful participants will be able to use industry standard tools and methods to analyze, design, and implement information systems. This course is deemed equivalent to the full-time diploma courses COMP1712 and ACIT2831 Students who complete COMP 2831 will be prepared to move on to COMP 2833 Agile Software Development with Scrum and the Agile Development Associate Certificate.
Prerequisite(s): ​COMP 1516 or COMP 1630; Note: Computer Systems Certificate, CSC students must also complete COMM 1103 or COMM 1106 prior to COMP 2831.

​This hands-on course follows on from COMP 2831 and begins with an in-depth overview of the goals of Agile, followed by hands-on Scrum implementations. Students learn to implement primary agile methods and the scrum framework. Topics include: Scrum, Extreme Programming, Lean/Kanban, Dynamic Systems Development Method, and Feature-Driven Development. COMP 2833 assumes that all participants have very strong English communication skills. In class exercises cover agile practices including self-directed teams, writing of user stories, agile estimating with relative sizing, co-location, metric reporting and test driven development. Participants discover how to implement Scrum and how to scale large multiple team projects, measuring progress at both a micro and macro level to go through release planning. Working in groups all students are required to participate in an actual project consisting of building a real product from initiation to a team implementation. Students will practice Scrum Planning Sessions, Sprint Planning Meetings, daily Scrum Meetings, Sprint Reviews, Backlog Grooming Sessions, and Sprint Retrospectives. Each student will experience the roles of Scrum Master, Scrum Product Owner, and "The Scrum Team" both in class face to face and online with a dispersed agile team. COMP 2833 students will be prepared to move on to the follow on COMP 2836 Agile Business Analysis and Project Leadership in the Agile Development Associate Certificate and the CST/PTS Diploma. Upon successful completion participants will be able to form agile teams that complete projects in less time and under budget compared to traditional methods.
Prerequisite(s): ​COMP 2831; Note: Computer Systems Certificate, CSC students must also complete COMM 2216 or (COMM 2002/2003) prior to COMP 2833.

This hands-on course replaces COMP 2834 and COMP 2835 and follows on from COMP 2833 – Agile Methods and the Scrum Framework in the Agile Associate Certificate. Starting with hands-on exercises and simulations, students learn to use integrated case studies for Agile Business Systems Analysis. The Scrum and Kanban frameworks in Agile are further examined and practiced. Participants then apply Agile Project Leadership styles through role-play in actual teams. The dynamics of a self-directed team from the forming and then to the continued coaching of that team are examined. Students will facilitate and prepare a Project Business Case and a Project Statement of Work (Project Charter) using an Agile Project “Liftoff” process. There is a focus on the process of decomposing User Story Epics into “slices” of functionality for each short development iteration. Developing user stories using the "just enough" approach is introduced. User Stories are mapped to an overall plan for the project using the "inspect and adapt" approach. Students practice delivering business value to clients with production ready concepts early and throughout the project. Continuous collaboration with the product owner and the self-directed Agile Project Leaders team is reinforced. Participants learn to embrace the continual flow of changing requirements as well as how to scale the agile techniques to apply Scrum to large-scale and geographically distributed projects. Upon successful completion of COMP 2836 students will be able to use Agile Analysis methods and Agile Project Leadership techniques to solve business problems and to work within the boundaries of traditional organizations.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 2833 Agile Methods and the Scrum Framework must be completed prior to starting COMP 2836.

​This hands-on course is aimed at BCIT Computing students who want to develop and implement an IT project plan. Students focus on Project Management best practices and decisions which apply across the IT sector including software development, building web sites and data analytics systems. COMP 1288 begins with a definition of Project Management fundamentals and terminology. Topics include: stakeholders, scope, deliverables, phases, milestones, deadlines, scheduling, estimates and budgets. Labs and exercises are designed to create project plans that identify and manage risk and take into account quality measures. There is a basic introduction to Microsoft Project software. Participants apply strategies to communicate project progress to stakeholders to keep IT projects on time and on budget. COMP 1288 is an elective in the Applied Computer Information Systems, ACIS and Agile Development Associate Certificates, it is required for the CST/PTS Diploma. Upon successful completion students will have an introduction to project management concepts and be able to conduct a post project evaluation.
Prerequisite(s): COMP 1002

Acquiring effective communication and presentation skills will help advance your career and bring positive attention to your projects and ideas. In this course, you will review sample speeches, perform audience and purpose analysis for your own project, rehearse effective public speaking techniques, and deliver your final presentation to a wider audience. Students can present on a school project from one of their technical courses, an entrepreneurial idea, or a current work project.
Prerequisite(s): A post-secondary Communication or English course or equivalent.