Units
Project 1
Unit code: ENN590-1
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This two-semester unit is a project unit aims to give students experience in solving advanced engineering problems in a relevant discipline and the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained throughout the course. Through the project students will gain experience in project identification, research planning, finding solutions and communications.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Offered in these courses
- EN50
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Problems that confront professionals are ill-defined and complex. The ability to define a problem, and collect and analyse relevant information using appropriate research methods is essential to professional practice. From a learning perspective, one of the most effective ways of achieving this is to consolidate and extend previously gained skills through an activity that is relevant to industry and, where possible, is associated with a specific workplace.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to provide you with research skills that acknowledge prior learning and that can develop further through an authentic learning project of relevance to your profession and industry.
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to demonstrate the following capabilities in a discipline specific context:
- Identify and define a relevant industry related problem;
- Retrieve and review information at an advanced level from various sources using appropriate strategies and techniques;
- Identify and Implement a suitable research plan in a systematic, rigorous and ethical way;
- Communicate your research process and outcome through, discussion, research proposal, progress report, final report and presentation.
- Work independently and collaboratively as required
Content
The content of this unit will include aspects of:
- approaches to defining problems and determining suitable research methods
- critical thinking and reflective practice
- research design
- research rigor and ethics including intellectual property
- information retrieval and literature reviewing
- qualitative and quantitative research methodologies relevant to the disciplines including
associated - methods of data gathering and analysis
- research dissemination and reporting
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Teaching Mode:
Your learning in this unit will take place through an independent work-related project supervised by an appointed supervisor. If you are working in an industry organisation related to this course, you are encouraged to select a project of relevance to the organisation. In such case, your project may be supervised jointly by an academic as well as someone from the organisation. If you are not employed in a related industry, you are encouraged to approach a relevant organisation in order to understand the nature of the problems confronting industry as well as explore the potential to work temporarily with the organisation during the course of your project. Your supervised learning will be supported by lectures and tutorials during the first few weeks of semester, followed by individual interaction with your supervisor(s).
The project is to be an empirical/evidence-based research project with the findings adding to the factual base of the topic or to an improved organisation of theory for the purposes of explanation or prediction.
The on-line Blackboard teaching site will be another forum for learning, interaction and collaboration.
Learning Approaches:
Authentic learning, incorporating some aspects of work-integrated learning, informs the pedagogical approach in this unit. Associated learning approaches include problem/project based learning, experiential learning and reflective learning.
ENN590-1 and ENN590-2 are components of the same project, but cannot be enrolled in the same semester. ENN590-1 should be enrolled in the preceding semester to ENN590-2. ENN590-1 will not be graded until both components are complete.
Assessment
Assessment will be formative involving an emphasis on constructive and progressive feedback using a criterion referencing approach. Your performance in the unit will be assessed through three items of assessment due at specified times in the semester. You will have the opportunity to present drafts of your proposal and report to your supervisor for comment and rewriting prior to the date for final submission. The assignments will contribute to the overall summative grade for the unit.Feedback will be provided by the individual supervisors during regular meetings throughout the semester.
Assessment name:
Literature Review
Description:
Problem Identification - You will submit a proposal for the project with evidence showing proper library skills.
Relates to objectives:
1 and 2
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 3
Assessment name:
Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description:
You will present your project outcomes highlighting, the problem,analysis, methodology and the solution.
Relates to objectives:
1, 3, 4 and 5
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of Semester
Assessment name:
Project Report
Description:
You will submit a report clear showing, the problem, research
method, literature and solution.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of Semester
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Most of the readings will be determined by your individual project requirements. A list of other general readings will be provided on-line at the commencement of the semester.
Risk assessment statement
In general, there will be no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. However, if you are spending part of your time for this project in the work place participating in a range of activities associated with professional practice you should make yourself familiar with the organisation's workplace health and safety plan/s. In addition, you should ensure that any relevant safety courses and safety permits/cards (such as site safety cards) have been attended or attained prior to participating in regulated activities such as site visits.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 20-Sep-2012
