COM4043 - Computing Skills and Employability

Objectives:

Assessment tasks are designed to enable students to demonstrate the Learning and Employability outcomes for the relevant level of study. Level Learning Outcomes are embedded in the assessment task(s) at that level. This enables a more integrated view of overall student performance at each level.

Content:

During both semesters, students will be encouraged to audit and reflect on their computing skills and career plans. They will reflect on how the acquired computing skills in the first assessment are applied to their employability and work placement experience. For example, they will reflect on their technical skills in programming, mathematical proficiency and use of software development tools. At the end of the module, they will engage in a Professional Challenge Project or work placement. As a preparation, students will go through several academic skills workshops to acquire essential technical and soft skills including understanding mathematical models to solve problems, version control, paying attention to details, clear and precise communication, presentation skills and CV clinics.

Semester 1 core topics may include:

• Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
• Version management software (e.g Git)
• Virtual machines (Docker & Azure)
• Linux shell
• Mathematical proficiency in linear algebra, probability, statistics, and computations
• Logic gates and logic circuits

Semester 2 core topics may include:

• Implications and opportunities around the moral, ethical, legal, social, and environmental use of technology
• Professional and career aspirations
• Preparation for the Professional Challenge Project or work placement


The acquired skills from the academic workshops coupled with the technical skills in the first semester will help the students to prepare thoroughly for other core modules and for the work placement. In terms of the Professional Challenge, students will be exposed to challenges and problems around them and the world at large. They will be giving the opportunity to use their creative, innovative, and critical minds to provide a road map and solution towards solving these problems.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Workshops
Hours: 48
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Professional Challenge Project / Work Placement launch programme
Hours: 12
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Professional Challenge Project / Work Placement
Hours: 20 (minimum)
Intended Group Size: 1

Guided independent study
Hours: 220

Further details relating to assessment
Skills Audit: The skills audit component will assess the understanding and application of basic computer technical skills like the use of software development tools, basic computer mathematics in the field of probability and statistics and ethics in the use of computer technology. The student will submit a 2,000-word report or its equivalent on their chosen topic of interest. For example, if a student decides to work on version control as their Skill Audit assignment, then a background and introduction to version control are expected with technical and practical use of GIT where evidence of GIT processes is presented and should be cited in the report. As a form of formative assessment, the students will be submitting weekly directed activities on computer-based skills.

Professional Challenge Project: This module will culminate in a two-week Professional Challenge Project or a two-week work placement. Students will have the chance to opt for which path they want to take during the module. Guidance regarding the options will be included in the Module Handbook and supported by briefings at the beginning of Semester 2.

A pass in the Professional Challenge Project will be achieved through participation in key tasks throughout the project. A pass in the work placement will include input from the employer. During the Professional Challenge Project or Placement, students will complete a Reflective Statement outlining their learning from the project /placement in a form of portfolio.

Portfolio: The portfolio will include a 4000-word Reflective Statement or equivalent outlining students’ learning from the professional challenge project / placement and other modules across the year. Students are asked to investigate the implications and opportunities around the legal, ethical, social, and environmental use of technology on the designed solutions to the professional challenges/placement. This will include a presentation and a reflection on learning.

Formative assessment will be used to support the skills that contribute to the assessment. Formative assessment may include coding labs, design and modelling tasks, case study presentations, short quizzes, or specific research tasks. Formative feedback will be an ongoing process within class sessions.

Full details are available in the Module Handbook.

For students studying at Leeds Trinity campus, there are variations to the Taught Programme Academic Regulations, as required by the accrediting body, and these variations are contained within Additional Regulations.

Assessment:

001 Skills audit; 2,000-word equivalent; end of semester 1 40%
002 Professional challenge project or work placement; 20 hours min; end semester 2 (Professional development block) %
003 Portfolio; 4,000 words; end semester 2 (Professional development block) 60%
200 Skills audit; 1,500-word equivalent; end of semester 1 30%
201 Professional challenge project or work placement; 20 hours min; end semester 2 (Professional development block) %
202 Portfolio; 3,000 words; end semester 2 (Professional development block) 70%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Yashar Baradaranshokouhi
Level - 4
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4YL

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