32144 Technology Research Preparation
Subject description
This subject equips you with vital communication skills for your engineering and IT career. It focusses on you understanding key research principles, activities and outcomes, which include but are not restricted to crafting literature reviews, completing ethics applications and more. You will be guided and assessed on how to propose a research project as part of the foundational research activities for your degree. By enhancing your academic and professional language proficiency which is crucial for both university and workplace success you will engage with a series of interactive lectures and tutorials, where you will apply concepts in practical exercises and weekly written assignments as provided via the Canvas site.
Subject learning outcomes (SLOs)
1. Demonstrate critical analysis of technology research and the codes of conduct/ethical practices when working with and for Indigenous peoples. (A.1)
2. Integrate academic integrity and critical evaluation of sources and perspectives into a research report. (B.1)
3. Synthesize review of the literature by critically evaluating textual sources of information to inform. research argument. (C.1)
4. Communicate research argument to a range of audiences. (E.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
An aim of this subject is to help you develop academic and professional language and communication skills in order to succeed at university and in the workplace.
Each student will attend between eight and eleven one-and-a half-hour lectures depending on the student’s stream, and between eight and eleven one-and-a half-hour tutorials, which will include a session with the UTS Library.
Each tutorial will focus on work either prepared beforehand by students or completed in class, using concepts taught in the previous lecture.
Self-study: Students will be expected to produce written work each week, for tutorials, based upon their reading and searching.
OPELA: An aim of this subject is to help you develop academic and professional language and communication skills in order to succeed at university and in the workplace. To determine your current academic language proficiency, you are required to complete an online language screening task, OPELA. (More information is available at About OPELA for Students (https://www.uts.edu.au/about/uts-vision/teaching/enhancing/language-and-learning/about-opela-students) ). If you do not complete the OPELA you will receive a sanction preventing access to view your subject results. If you receive a Basic result for OPELA, we will invite you to attend Language Development Tutorials (each week from week 4 to week [11/12]). These tutorials are designed to support you to develop your language and communication skills.
Marking criteria for each assessment task will be available on Canvas.
For Pass/Fail subjects and marking criteria, find more details from a section “Assessment: faculty procedures and advice”.
Content (topics)
The various aspects of Engineering and IT industries or scholarly reading and writing will be integrated into the creation of a literature review. Topics include: search strategies; evaluating sources of information; reading critically; reference lists and citation; writing critically and making an argument; producing a literature review; and research ethics.
The subject will also cover development of a research proposal, encompassing project aims; background; significance; methodology; editing; and proposal integrity (or consistency of the various parts of the proposal).
Assessment task 1: Task 1 - Building Research Skills
Description
To become an independent researcher. To develop the skills of working collaboratively and talking informally about research.
Demonstrate an independent approach to the mastery of foundational research skills. In-class exercises require students to undertake a series of practical activities aimed at building skills in conduction literature reviews and developing research proposals.
Learning Outcome
SLO1 Demonstrate critical analysis of technology research and the codes of conduct/ethical practices when working with and for Indigenous peoples. (A.1)
SLO2 Integrate academic integrity and critical evaluation of sources and perspectives into a research report. (B.1)
SLO4 Communicate research argument to a range of audiences. (E.1)
Type Exercises
Groupwork Individual
Weight 15%
Length
In-class exercises vary in length each week according to the nature of the topic and type of activity. The scope of the exercises undertaken range from short written responses (e.g., 100-200 words per question) to the completion of structured worksheets (e.g., 250-500 words).
Assessment feedback
Assessment task 2: Literature Review
Description
To establish search skills and the ability to evaluate the appropriateness of the articles chosen. To develop the skills of critical analysis and synthesis, direct and indirect citation, referencing and the writing of a complete report.
Students will select a topic and conduct a search of the literature relevant to their research topic and write a literature review, which includes title page, table of contents, introduction, critical evaluation of the sources, literature review, conclusion, reference list and appendix.
Learning Outcome
SLO1 Demonstrate critical analysis of technology research and the codes of conduct/ethical practices when working with and for Indigenous peoples. (A.1)
SLO2 Integrate academic integrity and critical evaluation of sources and perspectives into a research report. (B.1)
SLO3 Synthesize review of the literature by critically evaluating textual sources of information to inform. research argument. (C.1)
SLO4 Communicate research argument to a range of audiences. (E.1)
Type Literature review
Groupwork Individual
Weight 45%
Length 3000-4000 words – not including table of contents, reference list or appendix.
Assessment feedback
In this assessment, you will also receive feedback on your academic language level. If your language is below the required standard, you will be invited to attend further language support.
Assessment task 3: Project Proposal
Description
To identify a significant research problem applicable to the industry context, to add depth to their knowledge and understanding of a field in which they are interested, and to design a method for addressing the question.
Students will develop a project proposal in a group (up to three students) or individually for the industry or academic, demonstrating that the student engages in genuine enquiry and investigates something worthwhile. This industry-style. or academic report will link the proposed research question and literature review, linking existing knowledge, ideas, facts, technologies, and relevant solutions. It should be suitable and feasible for the execution of the student's capstone project in the subsequent session. The report must contain the following elements:
Cover Page, Executive Summary (or Abstract), Table of Contents, Introduction, Research Aims and Objectives, Background, Research Significance and Innovation, Research Methods, Indigenous Research Protocol and Assessment, Project Plan and Resources, Conclusion Reference List and Appendix.
Learning Outcome
SLO1 Demonstrate critical analysis of technology research and the codes of conduct/ethical practices when working with and for Indigenous peoples. (A.1)
SLO2 Integrate academic integrity and critical evaluation of sources and perspectives into a research report. (B.1)
SLO3 Synthesize review of the literature by critically evaluating textual sources of information to inform. research argument. (C.1)
SLO4 Communicate research argument to a range of audiences. (E.1)
Type Report
Groupwork Group, individually assessed
Weight 40%
Length 3000-5000 words – not including table of contents, reference list or appendix.
Assessment feedback
Students within groups will use peer moderation software to allocate individual marks for the project proposal report.