Dr David Sutton

Undergraduate computing courses inevitably include a high degree of regeneration in order to keep abreast of this rapidly changing field. Introductory programming modules in particular need to adapt to changing trends and languages. Until recently, the focus of debate within the Oxford Brookes University curriculum has therefore been on the course content, but since 2012 there has been a major change in the method of delivery through the introduction of a new apprenticeship model. This paper seeks to reflect on this, and other recent changes which have led to improved student engagement and results. The data is limited however, and so the results presented here are not conclusive.

A knowledge based system (KBS) has been created in order to provide decision support to the Triple Assessment Process used to diagnose breast cancer. The KBS is implemented using the PROforma knowledge representation language, the user interface is provided by Java Server Pages, Java Servlets, Javascript, and Cascading Style Sheets. In this paper, we describe and analyse the KBS using the CommonKADS methodology. In order to perform this analysis we examine the business processes, personnel, knowledge assets, and other resources used in triple assessment and describe how these would have to change in order to accommodate the use of KBS. We analyse the feasibility of the KBS along three axes: business feasibility, technical feasibility, and project feasibility. We also describe the knowledge that the KBS is required to represent and the reasoning that it is required to perform, as well as the overall design of the system. The analysis reveals that, while it could bring improvements the triple assessment process, the routine use of the KBS would require integration with an Electronic Patient Record System. It also identifies key strengths and weaknesses in PROforma and in the CommonKADS methodology.