Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
Code COMP110
Coordinator Dr U Hustadt
Computer Science
U.Hustadt@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 4 FHEQ Whole Session 7.5

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

  • To develop the communication and employability skills of students.

  • To provide students with an economic, histo ric, organisational, research, and social perspective on computing.

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

    		•

    Learning Outcomes

    effectively retrieve information including via use of library and web sources, evaluate information retrieved from such sources, and synthesise information from such sources;
    effectively use general IT facilities including organising their filstore, taking advantage of access control and security features of operating systems;

    effectively use relevant software packages and appreciate different types of software;
    effectively communicate in writing and orally, including the presentation of coherent and persuasive intellectual accounts/arguments in the form of presentation and in the form of appropriately referenced and formatted reports;
    recognise and employ sound reasoning and argumentation techniques as part of conducting basic research;

    manage their own learning and have an awareness of the importance of lifelong learning and the roles of computing professionals;

    identify, describe and discuss economic, historic, organisational, research, and social aspects of computing as a discipline and computing in practice;

    identify and appraise professional, ethical, legal and social isssues related to the work of a professional within the IT industry with particular regard to the BCS Codes of Conduct and Practice.

    Syllabus
    1 
    • Directory structures, organising your file store, access control and security, types of software eg systems, applications (3 lab practicals and guided self study.
    • Software packages: Use of reference managers, word processors, typesetting programs and their interaction (5 lab practicals and guided self study).
    • Overview of Computing as a discipline and Computing in practice: Economic, historic, organisational, research, and social aspects of Computing (6 lectures).
    • Reasoning and critical thinking skills: Abduction, induction, deduction, argumentation and their use in a Computing context (5 lectures).
    • Employability skills: Understanding the skills that graduate recruiters look for from Computer Science graduates, managing one''s own learning, lifelong learning, time management, project management, working in groups and as individual, study sk ills (2 seminars.
    • Information retrieval: effective use of search engines, bibliographic databases, library catalogues; evaluating information sources (1 lectures).
    • Communication skills: writing reports / documenation (good practice, use of English, referencing and citation), giving presentations (good techniques), other forms of communication (7 lectures.
    • Legal, ethical, social and professional (LSEP) issues including data protection and standards (4 lectures).

    Teaching and Learning Strategies

    Lecture -

    Tutorial -

    Laboratory Work -

    Workshop -


    Teaching Schedule
      Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
    Study Hours 23

    		   8

    		 9

    		   2

    		 42
    Timetable (if known)              
    Private Study 33
    TOTAL HOURS 75

    Assessment
    EXAM Duration Timing
    (Semester)    		 % of
    final
    mark    		 Resit/resubmission
    opportunity    		 Penalty for late
    submission    		 Notes
                 
    CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
    (Semester)    		 % of
    final
    mark    		 Resit/resubmission
    opportunity    		 Penalty for late
    submission    		 Notes
    Coursework  10 hours expected  1  25  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Report - The Internet of Things 
    Coursework  5 hours expected  1 and 2  25  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Various - Employability Skills 
    Practical Assessment  8 hours expected  2  25  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Presentation - Educating Software Engineering Professionals 
    Coursework  10 hours expected  2  25  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Report - Misusing Computers versus Exceeding Terms and Conditions Notes (applying to all assessments) 4 (sets of) assessment tasks: Two reports relating to economic, ethical, historic, legal, organisational, professional, research, and social aspects and issues of computing, but each report covering a separate subset of these; one assessment consisting of various task relating to relating to employability skills; and a presentation again relating to professional issues of computing. Students are required to make a reasonable attempt for each assignment in order to pass the module. The work is not marked anonymously. Resit-arrangements: Each re-sit assessment task will be different from the original assessment, except in the case of a skills-based assessment task, but the type of assessment will be the same; the deadline for the submission of work for each re-sit assessment task will be set by the module co-ordinator and will be part of the description of the assessment task; the deadline will typically fall within the re-sit period; the description of a re-sit assessment task will be provided at least four weeks before the deadline for the submission of work for the the task. 

    Recommended Texts
    Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
    Explanation of Reading List: