The module aims to integrate the production of academic knowledge within a student’s field of study and skills of digital presentation for non-academic audiences.

It seeks to foster skills in independent research, communication and digital fluency, thus contributing to employability and the development of aptitudes transferable to broader personal, professional and public contexts.

(LO1) Students will show the capacity to undertake independent research into a selected topic, identifying an area for investigation and developing arguments towards a reasoned conclusion.

(LO2) Students will show the ability to present their research as a piece of systematic academic writing.

(LO3) Students will show the ability to present their research on a digital platform as if to a specified non-academic target audience.

(LO4) Students will show the ability to present material effectively in a way appropriate to the selected digital medium.

(LO5) Students will show an awareness of copyright and accessibility issues in the production of material for public dissemination.

(LO6) Students will show the capacity to engage in critical self-reflection.

(S1) Students will develop their digital fluency skills, both through competency in information retrieval and through the effective digital presentation of work.

(S2) Students will develop their skills in thinking critically, analysing problems and analysing and assessing arguments.

(S3) Students will enhance their ability to marshal arguments and present them in writing and via a selected digital platform.

(S4) Students will develop their ability to work independently.

(S5) Students will enhance their digital lifelong learning skills for continuing personal and professional development.

(S6) Students will develop skills in effective communication in a way sensitive to specified target audiences.

(S7) Students will develop their skills in presentation of independently researched material.

(S8) Students will develop skills in peer-to-peer assessment and feedback.

(S9) Students will develop skills of personal reflection in relation to work undertaken and challenges faced.

Students will be allocated to a supervisor on the basis of a submitted project proposal. The academic area of study is approached through independent research and supported by a library information skills workshop. Class content is focused on support for the production of the digital output. Students will be further supported through one-to-one supervisions and through peer feedback.

Areas covered in class contexts include:
Expectations and examples of possible platforms for the digital output.
Effective communication and design considerations.
Issues of copyright and accessibility in digital publications.
Digital training workshops.

‘Standard’ delivery is campus-based. Hybrid/online variants are given below.

Teaching method 1 - Lecture (in hybrid/online teaching, these will be asynchronous and online)
Description: Lectures are tutor-led activities, offering a map of the syllabus and a framework for independent enquiry-led research. Students are encouraged to engage actively through, for example: (i) taking opportunities to ask questions during the session; (ii) interacting with each other at appropriate moments; (iii) reflecting on and responding to questions posed to them; (iv) producing questions and notes on issues for subsequent group discussion in workshops and supervisions.
Attendance recorded: Yes

Teaching method 2 - Workshops (synchronous – online or on campus as required)
Description: Workshops are formative spaces of applied and enquiry-led learning. Workshops offer opportunities for students to develop their digital competence and skills in a supported env ironment with guidance and feedback. Workshops for this module will take place in computing laboratories.
Attendance recorded: Yes

Teaching method 3 - Group work (online during hybrid/online teaching)
Description: Students will, in teams of four, offer formative peer feedback on each other’s digital outputs.
Attendance recorded: No
Notes: Students will publish their work on an internal platform with access restricted to the class. The work is then discussed in groups in timetabled space.

Teaching method 4 - Supervisions (online during hybrid/online teaching)
Description: Personal meetings with supervisors
Attendance recorded: No

Self-directed learning: Students will engage in independent research, develop and exercise digital skills, and prepare for the assessments.