Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

In the university environment it is possible to simulate many aspects of professional practice and the industry environment, but there are still experiences that can only be fully appreciated within the workplace. In this INB300 compulsory unit, you will be able to experience real world work situations in a professional environment. To cater for the wide range of goals and backgrounds of different students this unit provides a number of different opportunities to gain professional experience. These range from short intensive internship experiences to longer term employment opportunities to mentoring relationships.

To help you to understand your future career you will be working in a team and/or group environments, seeing firsthand the challenges and constraints that arise during professional practice in a real world industry environment. You will develop a richer appreciation of the graduate capabilities required of all information technology professionals, particularly skills such as communication, negotiation and problem-solving strategies.

Aims

In this unit you will have the opportunity to experience real world work experiences and to reflect on how your studies have prepared you for the work environment. This will give you the opportunity to plan on how to best take advantage of your remaining studies to prepare for your planned career.

Objectives

Upon completing the unit INB300 you should be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

1. Define and deliver a project proposal addressing the given problems, scenarios and/or issues in the industry-class room work environment (GC1, CG2, CG3, CG5).
   
2. Work, share, collaborate and understand the Australian work place ethos in the work preparedness context (GC3, GC5, GC6).
   
3. Design, develop and deploy a solution or solutions to the given problem and/or situation in the real world practical context (GC2).
   
4. Use course unit experiences learnt already in the university environment to solve Information Technology, computing problems and/or related (allied) problems (GC1, GC4).
   
5. Design practical solutions to computational and/or related problems using project management techniques and tools available (GC2, GC7).
   
6. Work independently on technical and/or allied problems presented and then able to communicate such outcomes effectively (GC3, GC5).

Key: Graduate Capabilities
GC1 - Knowledge and Skills
GC2 - Critical and Creative Thinking
GC3 - Communication
GC4 - Lifelong Learning
GC5 - Independence and Collaboration
GC6 - Social and Ethical Responsibility
GC7 - Leadership and Change

Content

This unit introduces fundamental techniques of engaging you into the Industry and practicing small to large scale projects deliverables during your university study environment. In addition, you will be involved in solving Information Technology, computational and allied problems using Information Technology techniques and tools providing a sound basis for ongoing development of your graduate capabilities, communication skills in particular, and an appreciation of the technical issues that must be considered when working with all kind of staff. You will build on your previous basic project management and your course major skills and use these in real world project. Major themes of the unit include understanding the relationship between computer programs and computational processes; using procedural techniques to break computational problems into manageable parts by using project scoping, designing to deliver the anticipated outcomes.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

There are several different ways in which you may gain appropriate experience for this unit. Regardless of the experience option, all approaches require that you gain experience in a professional environment and be given mentoring support in your role. You will be required to demonstrate how you have applied the knowledge and skills gained in your course, in your lifelong experience and how you have practically tested your leadership and their capabilities in the real world and how that will affect your future studies.

The content of the unit is delivered through a few lectures (e.g., Week-1 and Week-3), an appropriate communication channel (e.g., Tele-Conferencing, Video-Conferencing and short face-to-face meeting), case studies, and the QUT Blackboard site. Lectures cover theoretical aspects of the unit, and assistance is available to solve project scoping, deliverables and technical issues, based on the current situation and/or circumstances put forward. Moderation staff and moderation process will be available.

The unit emphasises a 'hands-on' approach to learning through the illustration of new concepts through worked examples and demonstrations. The concepts introduced are presented in business scenarios. You are encouraged to work in groups. Group work will foster your ability to perform as part of a development team. You are encouraged to discuss the difficulties you are having with your group partner, academic supervisors, industry supervisor, and moderator.

A variety of online learning tools such as the project management web site, e-Portfolio and e-locker will also be used.

Assessment

You will report on your weekly progress to the academic supervisor. In addition, weekly and/or fortnightly face-to-face meeting with both academic and industry supervisors will take place. There are three assessment items in this unit. You are expected to deliver an oral presentation on the proposed project for the first assessment. You will also provide a project proposal for approval. At the end of the semester, you will present your project outcomes and provide a detailed written report on your industrial experience.Feedback on your progress throughout the unit through the following mechanisms:
- ask the teaching staff for advice and assistance during lectures and face-to-face meeting sessions;
- your project scope and/or written report will be returned to you before the due dates and end of semester (where appropriate) with comments on your progress;
- private consultation with industry, academic supervisors and moderators as appropriate;
- weekly call-up diary will be assessed and track for any derailment of the task assigned.

Assessment name: Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description: Presenting the proposed project scope.
Relates to objectives: 1, 3 and 5
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 5

Assessment name: Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description: Writen Project Proposal for approval by both Industry and Academic supervisors.
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 4, and 6.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7

Assessment name: Report
Description: Written Project Report and presentation.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

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

Sample documents of project proposal and final report will be provided via QUT Blackboard site for perusal and guidance.

No extraordinary charges or costs are associated with the requirements for this unit however students must bind the final report appropriately for assessment and/or evaluation purposes.

Required text:
TBC at a later stage

Recommended Reading:
TBC at a later stage

Risk assessment statement

Based on the nature of the unit, possible risks and their mitigation strategies will be placed on Blackboard to manage the unit deliverables and outcomes as appropriate.

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