2010 Capstone Symposium

What do these things have in common?

• an autonomous hexakopter
• an online guitar tutor
• computer games that help Aboriginal youth explore careers
• a wireless guitar amplifier
• an autonomous aquarium submarine

These are some of the projects being designed and created by graduating technology students at Camosun College. These and other team projects will be on display at the semi-annual Capstone Symposium on Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 10am-3pm at the Comfort Hotel, 3020 Blanshard Street, Victoria.

“Over the past two years, our students have acquired technical skills that industry really needs,” says Ken Hartman, computing science instructor. “The Capstone project matches up student teams with clients from the community, to invent, create, or improve something the client wants. By working with a real client with real expectations, the students are able to develop their communication, team-building and time-management skills – the soft skills that can make a difference to a person’s employability.”

The Capstone Symposium is organized by the graduating students to showcase their final projects. Each student team will give a 15-minute presentation to explain what their project is about, why it is needed and how they chose to tackle it.

“It’s definitely the biggest team project I’ve ever done,” says Computer Systems Technology student Donny Groulx. “In most companies, there would be different groups of people - business analysts, project managers, programmers, graphic designers - who would work on different steps of the project. But we’re doing the whole thing from start to finish.”

At 10:30 am, students and guests will hear from keynote speaker Dr. Rolf Lueck, president and CEO of Rockland Scientific International, a local company that specializes in high-accuracy instrumentation for oceanographic research. Dr. Lueck will share his insights on the technology of modern oceanic measurement systems.

The public is welcome to attend the symposium. There is no charge for admission, although guests are asked to pre-register online. A networking lunch will be provided.
Project and symposium details are posted online at www.camosun.ca/capstone.

Symposium agenda follows.

Camosun College Capstone Symposium
10am-3pm, Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Comfort Hotel, 3020 Blanshard Street, Victoria

Capstone Symposium Agenda
10:00 am     Doors open / Student teams available at display tables
10:30 am     Guest Speaker: Dr. Rolf Lueck
11:00 am     Break
11:15 am     Student presentations: Base Solutions, Hexacopter, Team WireDen
12 noon       Lunch / Student teams available at display tables
1:00 pm       Student presentations: Electric Trio, 4G Fusion, Hurricane
1:45 pm       Break
2:00 pm       Student presentations: A-Z Beemach, Submarine, Ancestor
3:00 pm       Doors close. Thank you for joining us today!