COM6023 - Project

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:

This module is the capstone of the programme. Students will be expected to utilise the full range of academic skills acquired across the programme, from researching their subject area to communicating concepts and results in written and verbal form. This module introduces the concept of Professional Learning Through Work and approaches to scoping out and agreeing projects. Through regular engagement with an employer mentor either on-site or off-site, they will demonstrate the ability to contextualise and apply their subject knowledge in the workplace; through engagement with tutors, peers and industry connections they will practise building strategic relationships which can help them progress toward their goals. Students will be encouraged to develop professional skills including managing time on projects, guidance and advice on negotiating project outcomes, along with computing subject contextualisation and reflective practice.

Examples of topics to be the focus of group seminars include:

- Creating and sustaining strategic relationships
- Time management strategies
- Research and academic skills
- Presentation skills

Learning and Teaching Information:

Group seminars
Hours: 20
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Independent supervisions
Hours: 10

Workplace hours
Hours: 80

Guided independent study
Hours: 190

Further details relating to assessment
Project proposal: This is a report that enables the student to detail and confirm the project they are undertaking, reflect on their research hypothesis, project objectives, verification and validation methods and intended outcomes, set in context of relevant literature/sector best practice.

Artefact and Viva: The ‘artefact’ is the software or technical product the student has developed in response to the brief that was negotiated between themselves and an academic supervisor. The artefact should be sufficiently technical and complex to satisfy the Level 6 requirements. The viva presents an opportunity for the student to demo and defend their artefact before their academic supervisor and a second marker.

Written report: This is a more substantial report demonstrating the student has acquired the depth of knowledge and academic rigour expected at Level 6. Their report should provide the wider context of the problem they are seeking to address (e.g. What is the wider social/political issue? Why is it important that businesses act to address it?) The report may follow a typical 'academic' structure. For example:

- Introduction (500 words)
- Literature review (750 words)
- Methodologies (750 words)
- Results (250 words)
- Discussion (500 words)
- Conclusion (250 words).

Workplace Hours: Students are expected to spend a minimum of 80 hours in the workplace working with their industry mentor whether on-site or off-site to support their project and a skills-development pathway. Students can spend the hours in learning a new programming language; using LinkedIn or O’Reilly Learning to complete professionally relevant training; completing professional certifications such as Google or Azure cloud qualifications to support the development of their project. The pattern of these hours depends on the project in which students may work the hours intensively over a number of weeks or undertake a small number of hours over a number of weeks. Normally, the earliest students would begin their workplace hours would be October and be expected to complete the hours by the end of March of their final year. Workplace hours to be pass/fail; where the skills pathway is chosen, students would be expected to complete and evidence the training and associated outputs.

In relation to the work-placement, a tripartite sign-off form will be required. This form will include the details of the project outline by the student, will be verified by the employer and signed off by the study supervisor. This should also include an agreed pattern of working hours. The employer will also be asked to submit 3 appraisal forms (end Semester 1, mid-Feb Semester 2 and end Semester 2).

In this module, formative assessment will be used to support the skills that contribute to the assessment. Formative assessment includes student-led seminars, mock viva, skills audit and specific research tasks. Formative feedback will be an ongoing process within class sessions.

Full details are available in the Module Handbook.

Assessment components 2 and 3 must be passed in line with PSRB requirements. Assessment component 4 must be passed in line with University regulations.

Assessment:

001 Project outline; 750 word equivalent; mid- semester 1 20%
002 Artefact & Viva; 3,000 words equiv + 10 min demo; end of semester 2 40%
003 Written report; 3,000 words; end of semester 2 40%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Lesley May
Level - 6
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6YL

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