This seminar provides an introduction to software engineering for the smart grid. It will be conducted as a graduate seminar with students leading discussions and presenting on research papers. The seminar topics will focus on areas related to smart grid software research. Assessments will include seminar preparation, presentation, and engagement as well as biweekly progress reports on an individual smart grid software project.

1. Seminar:
Software Engineering
for the Smart Grid
Philip Johnson
Information and Computer Sciences
University of Hawaii
johnson@hawaii.edu
http://ics691f12.wordpress.com
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2. Part 1:
Introduction to the class
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3. 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
(3) • Spoonfed material

4. 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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5. 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
(5) • Don't be distracted

6. 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).
(6) There will be exceptions

7. 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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8. Topic Areas
Overview Agent-based systems
Architecture Privacy
Open Source Security
Modeling Visualization
Smart Homes Software Processes
& Practices
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9. Part II:
Engagement
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10. 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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11. 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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12. Part III:
How to give good seminar
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13. 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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14. 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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15. Part IV:
The Project
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16. 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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17. Part V:
What to do next
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18. Week 1 Assignment
1. 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).
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