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Session: 2022/23
Last modified: 21/07/2022 16:22:49
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Title of Module: Computing Honours Project |
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Code: COMP10034 |
SCQF Level: 10
(Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework) |
Credit Points: 40 |
ECTS: 20
(European Credit Transfer Scheme) |
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| School: | School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences |
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| Module Co-ordinator: | Mark
Stansfield |
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| Summary of Module |
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The project provides an opportunity for the student to develop their skills in managing an individual investigative or development project within their chosen specialism. The first task for students taking this module is to produce a specification for their project which states the objectives of the work and which indicates some broad criteria against which the success of the project will be assessed. This specification, which is reviewed by the supervisor and the relevant honours project coordinator, serves as the basis for the subsequent work.
Towards the end of term 1, students write an interim report on their progress. This allows an opportunity for feedback to the student on the work. The student gives a presentation in the first half of term 2 on the project work which provides an opportunity to demonstrate skills in presenting technical information to an informed audience, and is a further opportunity for to provide feedback to the student. The final written report for the project is intended to be an evaluative and reflective account of the work done.
A range of graduate attributes will be developed through students undertaking in-depth ethically minded automomous research aimed at sourcing, reviewing and presenting current knowledge and concepts through developing critical thinking aimed at addressing through primary research a clearly recognised problem relating to the research area. The students will develop their skill in effective communication by means of communicating their work through a formal presentation and detailed Hons Project final report.
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| Module Delivery Method |
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| Face-To-Face | Blended | Fully Online | HybridC | HybridO | Work-based Learning |
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Face-To-Face
Term used to describe the traditional classroom environment where the students and the lecturer meet synchronously in the same room for the whole provision.
Blended
A mode of delivery of a module or a programme that involves online and face-to-face delivery of learning, teaching and assessment activities, student support and feedback. A programme may be considered “blended” if it includes a combination of face-to-face, online and blended modules. If an online programme has any compulsory face-to-face and campus elements it must be described as blended with clearly articulated delivery information to manage student expectations
Fully Online
Instruction that is solely delivered by web-based or internet-based technologies. This term is used to describe the previously used terms distance learning and e learning.
HybridC
Online with mandatory face-to-face learning on Campus
HybridO
Online with optional face-to-face learning on Campus
Work-based Learning
Learning activities where the main location for the learning experience is in the workplace.
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| Term(s) for Module Delivery |
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(Provided viable student numbers permit).
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| Term 1 | | Term 2 | | Term 3 | |
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| Learning Outcomes: (maximum of 5 statements) |
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On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:
L1.
Produce and obtain agreement to a project specification describing the work that will be done in investigating a chosen topic relevant to their degree programme;
L2.
Write a detailed and critical review of the literature relevant to the topic area and the approaches or technologies available to address the chosen problem and including any underlying theoretical or other assumptions and concepts;
L3.
Demonstrate an ability to critically select and apply appropriate research and/or development techniques in producing a solution to a practical problem in the selected Computing subject area;
L4.
Critically and reflectively plan and execute an computing project to develop an artefact that is fit for purpose in addressing the chosen problem;
L5.
Demonstrate the ability to write a detailed, well argued and coherent report of a sustained independent work of high quality that fulfils an agreed specification, and to present the work orally to an informed audience. |
| Employability Skills and Personal Development Planning (PDP) Skills |
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| SCQF Headings |
During completion of this module, there will be an opportunity to achieve
core skills in:
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| Knowledge and Understanding (K and U) |
SCQF Level 10.
Show comprehensive knowledge and familiarity with essential and advanced materials, techniques and tools in one or more computing specialisms including some at the forefront of the discipline |
| Practice: Applied Knowledge and Understanding |
SCQF Level 10.
Execute a defined project involving research, development or investigation and identify and implement relevant outcomes of a professional nature |
| Generic Cognitive skills |
SCQF Level 10.
Undertake critical analysis, evaluation and/or synthesis of ideas, concepts, information and issues |
| Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills |
SCQF Level 10.
Make a formal presentation about a specialised topic to an informed audience
Produce a written report which accurately and reliably summarises the project work using the full range of principal concepts and approaches in the subject area that are relevant to the project. |
| Autonomy, Accountability and Working with others |
SCQF Level 10.
Exercise autonomy and initiative in undertaking a significant piece of independent work |
| Pre-requisites: |
Before undertaking this module the student should have
undertaken the following:
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Module Code:
| Module Title:
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| Other: | Successful completion of level 9 of the programme of study |
| Co-requisites | Module Code:
| Module Title:
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* Indicates that module descriptor is not published.
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| Learning and Teaching |
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The module begins with a short series of lectures and seminars on research in computing, on evaluating sources of information, on performing a literature review, and on writing academic papers in computing. These are intended to help the student in researching their projects and in producing their reports.
After agreeing on a project brief with a supervisor, students will be expected to manage the project to a successful completion. Students will schedule and minute regular management meetings with their supervisor. Management meetings will also be a forum for feedback and discussion of performance in assessments during the period of the project. Students will have the opportunity to develop presentational skills in seminars in both trimesters.
The project work itself is a significant piece of individual work (where there is group work, the responsibilities of the individual will have been stated in the project specification) and is intended to enable students to demonstrate their ability to apply the analytical and practical skills they have learned during their programme of study in the production of a solution that meets a real need. The project provides an opportunity for students to be innovative and creative in how they address the problem they have chosen, to demonstrate their ability to manage their time and resources effectively, to critically reflect on the work that they have done, and to evaluate the fitness for purpose of what they have produced. The marking scheme agreed in the project specification will include some assessment of the extent to which the project objectives were achieved and the quality of what the student has produced.
The module is aligned to the core design principles of the Curriculum Framework which are (i) Student-centred; (ii) Flexible and Hybrid; (iii) Simple and Coherent; (iv) Authentic; (v) Inclusive; (vi) Sustainable.
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Learning Activities
During completion of this module, the learning activities undertaken to
achieve the module learning outcomes are stated below:
| Student Learning Hours
(Normally totalling 200 hours):
(Note: Learning hours include both contact hours and hours spent on other learning activities) |
| Lecture/Core Content Delivery | 8 |
| Independent Study | 390 |
| Personal Development Plan | 2 |
| 400
Hours Total
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**Indicative Resources: (eg. Core text, journals, internet
access)
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The following materials form essential underpinning for the module content
and ultimately for the learning outcomes:
Project Guidelines for the programme on which the student is enrolled.
Familiarity with an appropriate convention for the citation of literature, such as provided by: UWS Library - www.uws.ac.uk/Library and MyUWSLibrary on Moodle - http://moodle.uws.ac.uk
Pears, Richard & Shields, Graham (2008) Cite them right: The essential guide to referencing and plagiarism. Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Pear Tree Books.
Background reading will vary from one project and programme to another but the following are useful general texts:
McMIllan, K. and Weyers, J. (2011) How to Write Dissertations and Project Reports. Pearson
Cresswell, J.W. (2014) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th Edition). Sage.
Bell, J.(2010) Doing Your Research Project. Open University Press.
Greetham, B. (2009) How to Write Your Undergraduate Dissertation. Palgrave Study Skills.
Oates, B. (2012) Researching Information Systems and Computing. Sage.
Machi, L. A. and McEvoy, B. T. (2009) The Literature Review: Six Steps to Success. Sage.
Computing resources required will depend on the nature of the project work and the programme of study. These are documented in the relevant project handbook.
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(**N.B. Although reading lists should include current publications,
students are advised (particularly for material marked with an asterisk*) to
wait until the start of session for confirmation of the most up-to-date
material)
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| Engagement Requirements |
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In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time. Please refer to the Academic Engagement Procedure at the following link: Academic engagement procedure
Where a module has Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body requirements these will be listed here:
Students will demonstrate their engagement for this module by making scheduled coursework submissions and by attending formal meetings with project supervisors and maintaining a record of these. |
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Supplemental Information
| Programme Board | Computing |
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| Assessment Results (Pass/Fail) |
No
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| Subject Panel | Business & Applied Computing |
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| Moderator | Duncan Thomson |
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| External Examiner | T Gaber |
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| Accreditation Details | This module is accredited by BCS and Skillset as part of a number of specified programmes. |
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| Version Number | 2.11 |
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| Assessment: (also refer to Assessment Outcomes Grids below) |
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| Interim Assignments (30%) |
| Final Hons Project Report (70%) |
(N.B. (i) Assessment Outcomes Grids for the module
(one for each component) can be found below which clearly demonstrate how the learning outcomes of the module
will be assessed.
(ii) An indicative schedule listing approximate times
within the academic calendar when assessment is likely to feature will be
provided within the Student Handbook.)
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Assessment Outcome Grids (Footnote A.)
Footnotes
A. Referred to within Assessment Section above
B. Identified in the Learning Outcome Section above
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Note(s):
- More than one assessment method can be used to assess individual learning outcomes.
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Schools are responsible for determining student contact hours. Please refer to University Policy on contact hours (extract contained within section 10 of the Module Descriptor guidance note).
This will normally be variable across Schools, dependent on Programmes &/or Professional requirements.
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| Equality and Diversity |
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In order for the student to complete this module, it will be necessary to perform a body of research work. Since the research work is selected by the student (subject to approval by the supervisors), there are no specific mandatory forms of work beyond the preparation of a dissertation (written in English) and the module is suitable for all students. For students with additional support requirements, adjustments in relation to teaching and assessments will be made as appropriate with advice from the Disability Support Coordinator.
UWS Equality and Diversity Policy |
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(N.B. Every effort
will be made by the University to accommodate any equality and diversity issues
brought to the attention of the School)
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