Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2013-2014 (archived)
Module COMP4013: ADVANCED PROJECT
Department: Computer Science
COMP4013: ADVANCED PROJECT
| Type | Open | Level | 4 | Credits | 60 | Availability | Not available in 2013/14 | Module Cap | None. | Location | Durham |
|---|
Prerequisites
- Theoretical Computer Science III OR Software, Systems and Applications III OR Computing Methodologies III
Corequisites
Excluded Combination of Modules
Aims
- To allow students to conduct a substantial piece of academic work via individual initiative, and to write up and present it in a scholarly fashion.
- To further the students' analytical skills and their abilities in oral and written communication, possibly as a preparation for a PhD project.
- To enhance and draw together knowledge, skills and techniques learnt in the previous three years.
- To provide students with the facility to undertake original research or development.
Content
- Projects are inevitably and deliberately very varied in the topic they address and in the type of approach required; the common factor is that they are research-led.
- All projects allow opportunity for initiative by the student, and are open-ended in that they offer scope for considerably more work than can be achieved in the available time.
- Management of the project is the responsibility of the student; however, the student should seek, and take advantage of, the advice of his or her appointed supervisor in this task.
- One of the main outcomes of the project is a significant scientific report that satisfies the standards of a publishable academic paper.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
- On completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of one area of Computer Science leading to research results.
Subject-specific Skills:
- On completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate:
- an ability to perform a comprehensive research project on a specific research topic within Computer Science
- an ability to critically interpret results in Computer Science
- an ability to evaluate results in Computer Science
- an ability to write a scientific report demonstrating novel results within Computer Science, ideally leading to publication in an international scientific journal.
Key Skills:
- On completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate:
- good oral skills in communicating and presenting the project
- good research skills such as independent learning skills and appropriate use of library and web sources.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Students receive regular progress updates via their supervisor meetings which also give feedback on the suitability of the implementation and scientific report.
- The research conducted will be written up in the form of a scientific report.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total/Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| supervisor meetings | 22 | 1/2 hour | 11 | ||
| independent work | 589 | ||||
| total | 600 |
Summative Assessment
| Component: Coursework | Component Weighting: 100% | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Presentation skills | 10% | No | |
| Oral skills and poster | 10% | No | |
| Project management | 5% | No | |
| Dissertation | 75% | No | |
Formative Assessment:
Feedback on progress is given during weekly meetings with supervisors. This includes review of drafts of written work.
■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University