COMPUTER LABORATORY - 2024/5
Module code: ENG0018
Module Overview
The emphasis of this module is on the development of digital capabilities, academic skills and problem-solving skills. The module will facilitate the development of competency in working with software commonly used to support calculations, analysis and presentation. Microsoft Excel will be used for spreadsheet-based calculations and experimental data analysis. MATLAB will be used as a platform for developing elementary programming skills and applying various processes to novel problem-solving scenarios. The breadth and depth of digital capabilities will be further enhanced by working with HTML and CSS within the GitHub environment to develop a webpage, hosting content for the conference project. The conference project provides students with an opportunity to carry out guided research and prepare a presentation on one of many discipline-specific topic choices. Students will develop a wide range of writing, referencing and other important academic skills.
Module provider
Sustainability, Civil & Env Engineering
Module Leader
RAHMAN Alifah (Mech Eng Sci)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 3
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Workshop Hours: 9
Independent Learning Hours: 50
Lecture Hours: 5
Seminar Hours: 10
Laboratory Hours: 20
Practical/Performance Hours: 1
Guided Learning: 50
Captured Content: 5
Module Availability
Semester 1
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
N/A
Module content
Indicative content includes:
- Excel: data analysis, calculations, functions and plot customisation.
- MATLAB: basic operations and programming fundamentals applied in novel contexts.
- Conference Project: guided research and preparation of a mini conference style paper. Design and deliver a presentation.
- HTML/CSS: develop a webpage for hosting content related to the conference project, through the GitHub environment.
- Academic skills development: research, referencing, writing and presentation.
- Digital knowledge: The internet, IOT, AI
Assessment pattern
Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
---|---|---|
Coursework | COMPUTING 1 - EXCEL DATA ANALYSIS AND APPLICATIONS | 20 |
Coursework | COMPUTING 2 - MATLAB APPLICATIONS | 30 |
Coursework | CONFERENCE PROJECT (PEER REVIEW & FEEDBACK) | 10 |
Coursework | CONFERENCE PROJECT (CONFERENCE PAPER) | 20 |
Oral exam or presentation | CONFERENCE PROJECT (PRESENTATION) | 15 |
Online Scheduled Summative Class Test | COMPUTING 3 - INTERNET TECHNOLOGY (30 mins) | 5 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their progress on the full range of learning outcomes applying their skills and knowledge in a variety of authentic contexts.
The summative assessment for this module consists of:
COMPUTING 1 – Excel data analysis & application (20%); [LO 1] Students will use learning from lectures and computing labs to perform calculations, analyse data and prepare a customised chart using Microsoft Excel
COMPUTING 2 – MATLAB application (30%); [LO 2] Students will apply MATLAB operations and programming concepts to solve a set of problems by creating simple mathematical models and preparing graphical representations.
CONFERENCE PROJECT 1 – Peer review & feedback (10%) [LO 3, 4, 5] Students will self-evaluate, obtain peer review and create an action plan for their conference project demonstrating their progress with researching and preparing their written article and use of HTML/CSS to develop a webpage in the GitHub environment.
CONFERENCE PROJECT 2 – Conference paper (20%) [LO 3, 4, 5] Students will share their article on a topic of their choice demonstrating their use of HTML/CSS and website fordevelopment of academic skills in researching information, accessing and assessing the validity of different sources of information, referencing, and academic writing.
CONFERENCE PROJECT 3 – Presentation (15%) [LO 3, 4, 5] Students will share a summary of their conference paper through visual aids and an oral presentation in a supportive environment allowing students to demonstrate and develop their oral communication skills. Students will share feedback with each other thus developing peer-to-peer support.
COMPUTING 3 - INTERNET TECHNOLOGY (5%) [LO 5] Students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of basic concepts related to the internet, IOT, and AI.
Formative assessment
Weekly lab worksheets to assess Excel/MATLAB/HTML progress. Embedded questions in Excel e-book. Verbal feedback given in weekly workshop sessions for the conference project.
Feedback
Written feedback as well as detailed individual and cohort contextual quantitative feedback on the Excel and MATLAB assessments. Feedback can be applied to future work on presenting and modelling data in module ENG0014 and in undergraduate programmes.
Assessed peer review and feedback exercise included in the conference project. This exercise exemplifies the process of seeking and using feedback on written assignments in a timely manner ahead of submitting final work for assessment, as such it has wide relevance to future studies, projects and work.
Written feedback as well as detailed individual quantitative feedback on the conference paper (including web page formatting/use of HTML.) This feedback will be linked to future assignments such as the lab report for ENG0014 (semester two) and more broadly to academic writing (e.g. how to write an abstract) that is relevant to undergraduate programmes and beyond.
Written and verbal feedback as well as detailed individual quantitative feedback on the presentation. Giving oral presentations is a key skill that is applicable in multiple settings. Feedback can be applied to future group presentations as part of module ENG0014, as well as in presentations for undergraduate programmes and in future work environments.
Written (automated) feedback on Internet technology test.
Module aims
- Provide basic introduction to the use of Excel and MATLAB to support laboratory work and engineering calculations
- Introduce students to presentation design and delivery that make effective use of popular digital technologies
- Develop student research skills through the use of information and communication technologies and reference management systems
- Develop critical thinking and problem solving skills in mathematical and computational processes
- Introduce students to HTML and web page development through the GitHub environment
Learning outcomes
Attributes Developed | ||
001 | Perform calculations, analyse data and prepare a customised chart using Microsoft Excel. | KCPT |
002 | Apply MATLAB operations and programming concepts to solve novel problems, create simple mathematical models and prepare graphical representations. | KCPT |
003 | Develop academic skills necessary for preparing a conference style paper and a presentation in the context of a mini Foundation Conference Project | KCPT |
004 | Use digital tools for effective research, information access and referencing to support the preparation of the paper and presentation for the conference project. | KCPT |
005 | Utilise HTML/CSS to develop and host a web page in the GitHub environment. | KCPT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to use practical computer laboratory sessions to develop a basic understanding of Excel and MATLAB. The conference project involves researching and writing a paper and presentation design and delivery. The topic area relates to the students' area of interest and intended undergraduate progression route.
The learning and teaching methods include:
- Computing lectures - for students to gain basic knowledge and background information
- Computer laboratories – tuition to consolidate students’ understanding of basic knowledge and to develop practical skills
- Conference project workshop sessions to support students through the stages of researching and preparing a written article and an oral presentation
- Conference presentation sessions – peer to peer observation and feedback
- Guided support sessions for students to access online materials and resources to deepen their understanding and enhance their practical skills
- Independent learning for students to self-evaluate their work and develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills in mathematical and computational processes
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENG0018
Other information
Surrey’s Foundation Year programmes are committed to developing students with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to particularly develop knowledge and skills in the following:
Resourcefulness and resilience: Students are exposed to challenging and authentic data processing, programming and research scenarios in this module, which invariably lead to setbacks and frustration. They are encouraged to reflect, fault-find, and to question their strategy if the outcome of a problem-solving process is not as expected. Students learn how to seek verification of their output through independent research or peer collaboration and how to respond constructively to formal and informal feedback. Additionally, time management with regards to coursework deadlines in this module, developing successful approaches to problem-solving for mathematical and computational tasks, and developing research skills through finding and reviewing suitable sources of information for the written conference project article are all developed in this module and contribute to strengthening student resourcefulness and resilience.
Digital capabilities: Students develop skills and confidence in using a variety of software tools, and they are encouraged as well as supported in organising and setting up their own social network groups. Digital knowledge and understanding are key components of this module. Excel, MATLAB, website design and development via a GitHub webpage, as well as discussion of the internet, IOT, and AI will be undertaken by the students as a foundation for developing their digital capabilities further during their undergraduate programmes. The students become conversant with working within the university VLE (SurreyLearn) through dedicated training sessions which are reinforced with embedded activities in this module. All students learn to use tools such as the similarity checker Turnitin. Debating the use of generative AI tools is now a learning objective within the Computer Laboratory module. Further applications that students need to develop competency in for producing academic output include using MS Office tools such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Through exploring this diverse range of digital tools, students also develop skills in mathematical and computational processes, as well as a range of research skills, and learn to create engaging presentations to effectively convey key concepts and information in a clear, concise, accessible, and visually appealing manner.
Employability: Skills in programming and digital capabilities are highly sought after by employers. Students learn to use industry standard software packages such as MS Office suite and MATLAB, and are introduced to programming. They are also introduced to web page design using HTML and JavaScript. Furthermore, the coursework assignments in this module develop problem-solving, independent working, research, presentation and communication skills – these are skills that are valued by employers in all sectors.
Sustainability: When students join the Foundation Year programme they often have a very mechanical approach to problem solving, accepting facts and applying them without question and without consideration of the implication for society or for the environment. Through the introduction of more complex and connected scenarios, such as within independent research projects, the students begin to appreciate that there are often many ways of approaching the same problem and the solutions have differing impacts on society and the environment. The Conference project coursework assignment allows students to choose their own topic for investigation and to share via a website-based written article and an oral presentation; the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals and associated materials will be introduced as part of the “ideas generation phase” for this assignment.
Global and cultural capabilities: The student cohort has a diverse spectrum of social and cultural backgrounds. Students are encouraged to work together, particularly in lab and tutorial sessions where they gain exposure to different points of view, approaches and experiences. On a practical level students encounter scenarios where for instance they have to change the usage of familiar language, such as the use of reserved words in MATLAB. The programming language was constructed using “American English” so simple commands using the word “colour” will not work and students have to use the word “color” instead. This can be a source of frustration but provides a useful exemplar of how different cultural points of view, in this case the choice of spellings for reserved words, forces us to adjust our way of working. When students are researching for their conference project they may also learn, for example, that engineers work to different standards in different countries and that design codes and health and safety regulations may evolve as a function of location. For instance, Civil Engineering students often carry out research projects related to structural design. The structural design codes and building regulations in Japan consider the impact of earthquakes, which is not a major consideration when building new homes in the UK. Many other scenarios with these differences in international standards arise and form a basis of discussion in the research projects.
Programmes this module appears in
Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
---|---|---|---|
Mathematics with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Financial Mathematics with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Mathematics and Physics with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Physics with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Physics with Astronomy with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Computer and Internet Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Electronic Engineering with Computer Systems With Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Electronic Engineering with Nanotechnology With Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Biomedical Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Astronautics and Space Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Aerospace Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Civil Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Computer Science with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Physics with Quantum Computing with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Mathematics with Data Science with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2024/5 academic year.