Module overview

This is a 40 credits module delivered across two semesters. It is delivered face to face and weekly attendance to classes is expected from all students.

Firstly, you will be invited to choose a project topic of interest along with a supervisor, who you will work with for the duration of the module. You will start off by preparing a project proposal that will need to be discussed and approved by your project supervisor. After approval, you will begin a detailed literature review of your chosen field and topic. You will then select and follow a suitable development methodology leading to an implementation which you will evaluate before finally presenting the artefact to the school.

The module provides an opportunity for you to develop the skills necessary to carry out an individual project, write a report about it, and discuss your work in a form of oral discussion to the school. It will enable you to identify appropriate research and/or development exercise that addresses an academic issue. It will allow you to identify an in-depth investigation of a topic of particular interest to you in the field of computing and information systems. The investigation includes a literature survey of the topic, selection of appropriate software and/or systems and the identification of the methodology that would be used in the project itself.

Project Topic

A list of project topics is shared with all students. The list provides a wide range of topics offered by academic staff from various disciplines such as Computer Science, AI, Cyber Security and Information Systems. The list is to help you to choose the right topic and preferred supervisor.

Alternatively, you can choose any topic from the field of Computing, subject to the supervisor’s agreement.

Project Supervisor

All assessment work will be marked and assessed by your Project Supervisor together with a panel of academics from the Computing subject area. You will have weekly group meetings with your supervisor and keep on track with your progress. You will be required to keep a logbook to record your weekly progress; the logbook will be allocated marks which will contribute to the overall mark for the module.

However, please note that, apart from assessing your work, the role of a project supervisor is to give guidance and monitor your progress to ensure that you are following the right procedures. It is your responsibility to manage the project and set up a feasible project plan from the beginning.

Project Supervisor Form

To confirm your Project topic, you will be submitting the Project Supervisor Form on-line on blackboard by 14th October 2024 (week 2, semester 1).

Project Lectures

Project lectures will be delivered to give you general guidelines. These will be delivered by various academics every week.

Preparing for your Assessment

A key part of your learning will be preparation for your summative assessment, i.e. project proposal at the end of semester 1 and project report and poster presentation/oral discussion at the end of semester 2.

You will be provided formative feedback on a weekly basis during your group tutorials with your supervisor, and this will help you, to better understand what is required of you when you submit your summative assessment. Weekly progress for semester 1 and 2 will be recorded in logbooks for semester 1 and 2 and this will contribute to the overall marks for the module.

Summative Assessments

Summative Assessment 1

Submitting, feedback & grades online using Blackboard

Main objectives of the Assessment

You need to write a project proposal to demonstrate your understanding of your chosen project topic:

• Provide researched literature review around your project topic
• Identify gaps in the current of state of art
• Formulate research question(s)
• Develop project aims and objectives
• Illustrate your project journey with a project plan

Progress Report form 1 - Weekly progress of your project journey recorded in a form (S1)

Ethics Form – Once you agree the proposal with your supervisor, you will complete this form, have it signed by your supervisor and submit it on-line on blackboard by 16th December 2024 (week 12, semester 1).

Marking criteria for Assessment 1

Summative Assessment 2

Submitting, feedback & grades online using Blackboard

Main objectives of the Assessment

You will produce a project report in the format described in the Project Report Template which will be available as a separate document on Blackboard for your perusal.

Project Report

The report will need to be well-structured with an appropriate academic writing style and include planned sequence of sections:

• Contents list
• Abstract
• Introduction to the project
• In-depth evidence of literature review
• Research methodology
• Discussions and analysis of results
• Conclusions drawn up

Progress Report Form 2: Weekly progress of your project journey recorded in a form (S2)

Marking criteria for Assessment 2

Summative Assessment 3

Submitting, feedback & grades online using Blackboard

Main objectives of the Assessment

You will produce a project poster using the given Project Poster Template which will be available as a separate document on Blackboard for your perusal. The poster will need to be well- structured to illustrate clarity of information and effective use of design (text and graphics).

For the oral discussion, you will be given 5 mins to run your software as well as show and discuss relevant sections of your code. You may choose to prepare a short video clip beforehand and use it to discuss your artefact.

This will take place in the presence of your supervisor as well as other members of staff. They will ask you about your project and assess your work. You must ensure your attendance is logged as otherwise you may be recorded as absent and receive no marks.

Marking criteria for Assessment 3

List of Learning Outcomes that are to be assessed

Learning materials

The reading list for this module is available on Blackboard in the module area and online by searching readinglists. This shows real-time availability of books in the library and provides direct links to digital items, recommended by your lecturer.

Remember to log into Blackboard daily to receive all the latest news and support available at your module information sites!

Subject guides are also available to help you find relevant information for assignments, with contact details of the Subject Librarian for your School.

Maintaining Academic Honesty and Integrity

Academic Integrity means avoiding plagiarism and cheating and owning your own work, the use of essay mills and AI content is also considered academic misconduct. This is when you submit a piece of work which is not completely your own, but which you are presenting as your own without acknowledging the author or properly referencing the original source. All your work must demonstrate Academic Integrity; it must be an honest and fair submission, complying with all the requirements of the assessment. Failure to meet these standards of behaviour and practice is academic misconduct, which can result in penalties being applied under the Academic Offences Regulations. You can get support with your academic writing by speaking to our Study support team.

Meeting Deadlines

You should always try your best to submit your work on time. If your circumstances mean that you are not able to submit on time or are unable to attend an in-person assessment like an exam or in- class test, then you can request Exceptional circumstances for the assessment. An extension allows you to submit coursework up to 10 calendar days late without penalty, (calendar days include all weekends and bank holidays where the University is open). Without an extension, the maximum mark you will be able to get for that work will be the pass mark. Mitigation allows you a further attempt without penalty if you fail an assessment or do not submit.

You can apply for an extension or mitigation by self-certifying that you have exceptional circumstances which affected your ability to undertake the assessment. Self-certifying means that evidence does not have to be provided, although the University reserves the right to request evidence. All self-certified requests must be made before the deadline and detail the exceptional circumstances that have prevented you from submitting by the original submission deadline. You can only self-certify three assessments per academic year. If you have used all your self- certification opportunities, or requested mitigation after the deadline, you will need to provide evidence of your exceptional circumstances for your request to be granted.