Aims and Fit of Module

1. To provide students with the key skills required of a computing professional.


  

2. To develop the students’ communication and employability skills.


  

3. To provide students with an economic, historic, organisational, research and social perspective of computing.


  

4. To introduce students to concepts of professional ethics as well as social and legal aspects of computing.


  

5. To provide students with a broad overview of emergent topics and current issues related to Computer Science.

Learning outcomes

A. Describe and discuss economic, historic, organisational, research and social aspects of Computer Science and the IT industry;

B. Appraise professional, ethical, legal and social issues related to the work of a professional within the IT industry using the BCS codes of conduct and practice;

C. Have an awareness of employability skills and the role of computing professionals;

D. Exercise communications in writing and orally;

E. Effectively use general IT facilities including organising their file store, taking advantage of access control and security features of operating systems;

F. Appreciate the concepts of information system development and emerging topics in computer science.

Method of teaching and learning

Lectures: Students will be expected to attend weekly formal lectures which will introduce them to the concepts and methods covered in the module


  

Tutorials/Practicals: Supporting tutorials and/or computer lab practicals are held each week for students to work under staff guidance on problems designed to reinforce understanding of the lecture materials.


  

Private study: In a typical week students will be expected to devote 6 to 7 hours of unsupervised time to private study. Private study time is to be used for background reading and the completion of assessments.


  

Assessments: Four continuous assessment tasks will be used to test the extent to which students have achieved the learning outcomes of the module. The first assessment will be to prepare a short essay. The second assessment will focus on career development skills. The third assessment will involve lab-based technical work. The final assessment will be a formal essay to test knowledge of the course material.