41079 Computing Science Studio 2

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Recommended studies:

completion of Year 2 Bachelor of Computing Science (Honours) subjects

Description

This is a studio-based subject in which students apply knowledge and skills learned in prerequisite subjects. Computer scientists work on a variety of problems and the challenges they face in their research are very often cross-disciplinary ones. They work on very fundamental problems such as how to model complex software systems as well as on applied and practical solutions, e.g. how to build early-warning systems for detecting customer churn, or how to recommend what movies to watch. This studio-based subject immerses students in some of the interesting challenges that they face by finding their own research topic and developing a study from its conceptualisation and literature review, through execution, to the final verification and validation. Students have an opportunity to be guided by the leading researchers from UTS. Students also focus on further skill development for their careers in computing science, developing the communication skills necessary for academic and professional communication, the ethical principles required of modern IT professionals, and the analytical skills needed for the critical use of academic literature. This subject is an extension of the 41078 Computing Science Studio 1.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

• Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, interpret and analyse stakeholder needs and cultural perspectives, establish priorities and goals, and identify constraints, uncertainties and risks (social, ethical, cultural, legislative, environmental, economics etc.) to define the system requirements. (B.1)
• Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to develop components, systems and processes to meet specified requirements. (C.1)
• Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)
• Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)
• Reflective: FEIT graduates critically self-review their performance to improve themselves, their teams, and the broader community and society. (F.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

This studio guide students to apply discipline knowledge and software skills they’ve obtained so far to solve complex problems faced in communities and research. It mimics a research-collaborative environment which could be assimilated and applied to work environments, and instructs team activities from identifying research gaps, formulating a challenge problem, designing and implementing innovative solutions, and verifying and validating.

This studio subject will consist of 12 weekly 3-hour workshops. Each workshop first introduces a topic around extending understanding and knowledge about research skills needed to conduct original research and properly validate its outcomes. Then students apply the learning to their own projects in a collaborative way via a range of diverse activities and tasks from individual and group exercises, presentation practice, analytical exercises, assignment planning and drafting, and research skills training.

Constant feedback will be given by teaching staff, academic mentors, and your fellow students. Teaching staff will provide feedback for activities and tasks during workshops within a collegial, discursive learning context. Academic mentors will evaluate aspects of a project from the significance of a problem, innovation of a solution, and proper experimental verification and validation. Students will provide feedback to each other via collaborating through a process of constructive peer-review and discussion of each other’s contribution.

This studio will be an opportunity for professional practice as a researcher, and students should aim to produce a professional quality output, with mentoring from professional researchers. Students will find that during this studio process they will need to recognise that a variety of solutions are possible, rather than one prescribed approach being adopted. Students will find that there isn’t one sequence to completing the task, and often the process will be iterative – that is students will run one project or experiment, realise the errors or missed opportunities, and then iterate on those to improve the outcome. Students are expected to learn from their failures and to develop work during this process.

Content (topics)

1. Managing research project – setting up a framework for project planning, teamwork, implementing and evaluation
2. Identify a gap and define a problem from critical and comprehensive literature review
3. Design a solution with critical thinking and appropriate research methodology
4. Implement solutions with discipline knowledge and appropriate software tools
5. Verify and validate outcomes with proper experimental design and results analysis
6. Reflect, discuss and conclude.

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Assessment

Assessment task 1: Portfolio and presentations

Assessment task 2: Project proposal, plan, and presentation

Assessment task 3: Progress report on initial solution implementation and analysis

Assessment task 4: Showcase final project and summarise in a research paper

Assessment task 5: Reflective journal

Minimum requirements

In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.

References

Brick, J., Herke, M., & Wong, D. (2016). Academic culture: A student’s guide to studying at university (3rd ed.). Sydney: Macmillan Science & Education.

Liebowitz, J., Agresti, W., & Djavanshir, G. R. (2005). Communicating as IT professionals. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice

Hall.Meltzoff, J., & Cooper, H. (2017). Critical thinking about research: Psychology and related fields (2nd ed.). American Psychological Association.

Morley-Warner, T. (2014). Academic writing is...: A guide to writing in a university context. Sydney: Sydney University Press.

Zobel, J. (2014). Writing for computer science (3rd ed.). London: Springer-Verlag.