| Unit name | Group Project in Scientific Computing |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SCIF30004 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Hanna |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
120 credit points at level I (intermediate) in either Chemistry with Scientific Computing or Physics with Scientific Computing. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
. |
| School/department | School of Physics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Description: Groups of around eight students, drawn from a mixed background, will work on a scientific computing project to solve a problem specified either by an academic or an industrial partner. As a group, they will produce a piece of application software, with emphasis on scientific rigour, user interface (specification of parameters) and presentation of outputs, and will also generate a twenty minute presentation describing the software. Individually, the students will produce an initial literature survey and scoping document to cover their part of the project, and a final report detailing their contributions to the whole project. The reports should be technical documents, of length of no more than 2000 words each. The emphasis of the unit is on collective work and study combined with problem-based learning, and the assessment criteria reflect this.
Aims:
By the end of this unit students will be able to:
Each group is expected to appoint an organiser, who takes overall responsibility for the coordination of the work, and who may have one or more deputies with specific responsibilities (e.g. the preparation of the presentation). The group will receive initial training in professional engagement with external stakeholders and project planning, and are assisted in their work by an academic, who proposes the software problem, and gives guidance in identifying resources and methods, producing well-written reports, user-friendly software and a clear presentation. The role of the supervisor is to facilitate the group’s work and provide scientific, technical and stylistic input; they are not involved in proof-reading or review of the assessed materials, or in assigning work within the group. The group define their own frequency and means of meeting, but are expected to meet weekly, collectively or via a representative, with their academic supervisor.
The assessments for this unit are as follows: Initial report (literature review and scoping document, 2000 words, ILO’s 3 &4): 20%, individually assessed
•Application code, or other project output (ILO 1): 30%, jointly assessed
•Final report (2000 words, ILO 1 &4): 20%, individually assessed
•Group presentation (20 minutes, ILO 5): 15%, jointly assessed
•Contribution to group (ILO’s 1 &2): 5%, peer assessed Contribution to project (ILO’s 1 &2): 10%, individually assessed, based on e-portfolio
Written reports, presentation and software are assessed by the group academic supervisor and an assessor. Each student is also required to provide evidence of their individual contribution in the form of an e-portfolio, documenting the resources used and the development undertaken with a brief commentary.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SCIF30004).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
