• School of Computer Science
• Modules Home
• 2003
• 06147
  • Syllabus
  • Module Description
  • Login for more options

Syllabus page 2003/2004

06-06147
Communication Skills & Professional Issues
Level 1/C

Links | Outline | Aims | Outcomes | Prerequisites | Teaching | Assessment | Books | Detailed Syllabus

The Module Description is a strict subset of this Syllabus Page. (The University module description has not yet been checked against the School's.)

Relevant Links

The British Computer Society is concerned about professional issues, accreditation of courses, professional development of software engineers, and so forth. This link is worth some attention.
Professor Kevin Bowyer's website has many useful sources on various professional aspects -- such as hacking, privacy, whistle-blowing, intellectual property, environmental and health concerns, and etc.
JILT is an electronic journal devoted to computing and legal issues.
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility have an interesting site, very professionally set out, with a focus on socially responsible uses of computing.
SWECC -- this is a reference site for professional software engineers -- there is a comprehensive code of practice document.
Easter Eggs are those silly things which unprofessional engineers stick into their software -- unspecified, unrequested, unnecessary and not guaranteed to be benign. There are many of these, which perhaps shows how unprofessional many engineers are? The topic should not be hidden like an Easter Egg -- so here are a couple of links: the Easter Egg Page, Apple Easter Eggs.
The Foundation for Information Policy Research is an independent body that studies the interaction between information technology and society. Their goal is to identify technical developments with significant social impact, commission research into public policy alternatives, and promote public understanding and dialogue between technologists and policy-makers in the UK and Europe.
The Data Protection Act is the legal framework within which data protection in UK is managed. The Information Commissioner is the person with whom people/companies must register. Have a look at the Commissioner's website for up-to-date information.

Outline

The module is based partly on student participation, both as regards researching the materials and managing the presentation of these materials to other students in the TV studio. Students also participate in the running of the studio, and in making a video programme to a previously specified script. Students attend lectures presented by university staff and external speakers. Staff involvement also takes the form of tutorial advice to individuals/groups, and continuing review of the student contributions in the studio.

Aims

The aims of this module are to:

• improve students' presentation skills in several media
• enable students to practice working in groups
• encourage consideration of ethical, social and professional issues in computing
• provide an environment for students to learn from observation and experience

Learning Outcomes

Restrictions, Prerequisites and Corequisites

Restrictions:

None

Prerequisites:

None

Co-requisites:

None

Teaching

Teaching Methods:

Formal lecture-format presentations by module staff and visiting lecturers, teamwork in TV studios, group reports.

Contact Hours:

20

Assessment

• Supplementary (where allowed): As the sessional assessment
• Assessment is by one essay, in html format. This is marked for content and for html style.

Recommended Books

Detailed Syllabus

1. TV Studio. The work in the studio is designed to provide teamwork experience and to build confidence in personal presentation / public speaking. Each week a group of students will work as follows:
   • Students form into teams which make presentations concerning social, ethical and professional issues in computing. Topics will include such things as: 'the ethics of privacy', 'beneficial and harmful effects of computers', 'social and ethical aspects of the internet', 'the data protection act', 'computing, health and the workplace', 'computing and safety-critical systems'.
   • Students operate the studio and record the presentations for analysis and feedback/formative assessment.
   • Students work with a pre-prepared script to make a short programme which is taped and reviewed.
2. Lecture Theatre. This work is intended to promote awareness of professional issues. Visiting lecturers will present material on which students will write essays. The course starts with an Introduction and advice on written and oral presentation. The lecture material also covers basic topics in html and web-based documentation.

Last updated: 2 July 2003

Source file: /internal/modules/COMSCI/2003/xml/06147.xml

Links | Outline | Aims | Outcomes | Prerequisites | Teaching | Assessment | Books | Detailed Syllabus