Module COMP4013: ADVANCED PROJECT

Department: Computer Science

COMP4013: ADVANCED PROJECT

Prerequisites

• 40 credits of Level 3 Computer Science modules

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Level 4 project modules in any other Department.

Aims

• To allow students to conduct, via individual initiative, a substantial piece of research into an unfamiliar area of Computing Science.
• To allow students to propose, develop and critically evaluate their work.
• To allow students to evaluate and select the most appropriate research methods and skills relevant for conducting their project.
• To provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate originality in their application of the knowledge they have gained throughout their degree, along with the ability to identify appropriate gaps in their knowledge and conduct independent learning to address these gaps.
• To critically analyse background literature within their chosen domain in order to set their work in context.
• To enhance students skills in writing up and presenting work in a scholarly fashion.

Content

• Students are expected to choose a project from a list offered by potential supervisors, or to propose their own project and find a suitable supervisor.
• 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.
• For example they may be practically or theoretically based. Many projects will consist of a combination of these.
• All projects are open-ended and contain considerably more work than can be achieved in the available time. Students therefore need to evaluate the problem domain and propose the elements of the greater problem they will address.
• Project work starts at the beginning of the 4th year.
• One of the main outcomes of the project is a significant academic-quality report.
• Successful completion requires good organisation, communication skills and management.
• Management is the responsibility of the student, in regular consultation with the supervisor.

Learning Outcomes

• On completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of one or more areas of Computer Science leading to research results.
• A deep understanding of the state of the art in the student's chosen area of specialisation demonstrated through critical analysis of relevant literature identified by the student.
• An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the student's chosen area of specialisation.
• Appreciable skills of research methods required in conducting a successful research based project.

• To be able to propose and carry out comprehensive research appropriate to a project.
• To be able to demonstrate effective project planning, including the ability to evaluate their own project planning skills.
• The ability to evaluate a number of research methods, selecting the most appropriate for the work at hand.
• To be able to assimilate, critically evaluate and analyse information.
• To identify appropriate related research material along with the skills to critique this work in the context of their own project.
• To be able to formulate effective solutions to a problem, making effective use of time and resources available.
• To be able to create solutions to their problem.
• To be able to manage personal learning.
• The ability to reflect and critique their own work against their own aims and objectives.
• To be able to critically evaluate own learning, progress and quality of solution objectively.
• To be able to prepare and deliver technical writing at a high level of quality.
• To be able to present properly referenced documents, with citations, references and bibliographies.
• To be able to exercise critical self-evaluation.
• To be able to present and interpret results effectively and relate these to the aims and objectives of their work.

• Capacity for independent self-learning.
• The effective communication of general and specialised Computer Science concepts (written, verbal, presentational, ...)
• Effective use of IT resources.
• Time and resource management.
• Advanced problem solving skills.
• The ability to propose, conduct and critically evaluate a piece of research within the wider context of their subject area.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• A series of lectures presents the advances skills required in conducting a high-quality project.
• Students will receive regular process meetings with their supervisor giving formative feedback on the suitability of the implementation and scientific report.
• The research conducted and the implementation developed will be written up in the form of the scientific report along with presentations of their work in the form of posters.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

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