Department of Computer Science

1.         Notes of the 4th Year Wrap-up meeting held on Monday 2nd June 2003

Present:                      Robin Hirsch, Graham Roberts and 2 MSci students

In attendance:            Jill Saunders

Points raised:

  1. The fact that 4th Years are taught alongside MSc students leads to some workload scheduling problems, for example 4th Years have project work to do in T1 and 2 whilst MSc students do not, so the Undergraduates have this to cope with as well as coursework.  This problem was particularly bad in T2 from Reading Week to end of T2.
  1. MSc students were better prepared for the statistics prerequisites of certain courses, having had a mathematical methods course in T1.  This was really evident in supervised learning.  All the Undergraduate students on this course dropped out.
  1. 4C34 Multimedia coursework was essay-based.  Those present felt this was not appropriate.
  1. The balance of available T1 and T2 options was not good, leading to a heavier workload in T2.

ACTIONS: Item 1 – 4 to be raised at the Undergraduate Teaching Committee.


2.         Notes of the 3rd Year Wrap-up meeting held on Monday 2nd June 2003

Present:                      Robin Hirsch, Graham Roberts and 14 students

In attendance:            Jill Saunders

Points raised:

  1. There were some T2 courseworks for which students still had no feedback, even after exams.  This problem might be even worse next year as some 4C exams will be held before Easter, leaving even less time for marking and feedback.
  1. Allied to this was the general problem of coursework being set at the end of term, leading to unacceptable peaks in workload.  Robin Hirsch noted a suggestion that coursework questions could be set earlier in the term so that even if the hand-in date was unchanged at least students would have the opportunity to start the work earlier and spread the load.
  1. Students would appreciate more feedback, sample solutions or worked examples.  If there was no time to return marked coursework then at least sample solutions would help.  The first half of the Complexity course was mentioned in this report.  Help with techniques about how to arrive at solution would be appreciated.
  1. There were concerns about the workload in T2 next year when 4C lectures will be taught in ‘short-fat’ mode alongside normal requirement for coursework and revision.  Robin Hirsch noted the need to asses the workload distribution.
  1. Some courswork had no apparent usefulness, for example the 1st 3C05 coursework.  It was also suggested that some coursework required a lot of effort but contributed only a small percentage of marks for a course.  Robin Hirsch explained that students should not try and see a correlation between effort and marks, as coursework is a necessary part of learning.
  1. Arrangements for the MSci project next year were discussed.  Students will still have to meet interim report deadlines in T1 and T2, but the final hand-in date will be later than the BSc (i.e. mid-late May) The process for selecting a project was explained, students were advised to look at project suggestions on the web and, where possible, identify a topic and supervisor before the vacation so that they could read up about the subject over the summer.
  1. It was clarified that 4th Year MSci students are encouraged to take as much 4C advanced material as possible, but are allowed up to one unit worth of 3C courses (ie 2 half-units, one of which must be 3C05 if not already taken in year 3).
  1. There were concerns over the advanced level of maths pre-requisites (e.g. in Intelligent Systems course).  B46 is too easy and does not prepare people for advanced 4C courses.  The students suggested a compulsory 3rd Year course to prepare people for 3C and 4C courses.

ACTIONS: All points to be reported to the Undergraduate Teaching Committee for consideration.

3.         Notes of the 1st Year Wrap-up meeting held on Monday 2nd June 2003

Present:          Robin Hirsch, John Washbrook, Graham Roberts and 20 students

In attendance: Jill Saunders

Points raised:

  1. The coursework workload due at the end of T1 was excessive.  This issue has been raised before and there is probably no easy solution.  On-line submission in the first week of the Christmas holiday was suggested, but it was pointed out that this might be unfair to certain students eg whose do not have access to PCs.
  1. The choice of 2nd Year options was raised.  The department’s advice is for students to try and build on options from Year 1 in order to deepen knowledge and skills.  However this is not always possible (for example there are no suggested 2nd Year Psychology options).  The students were advised to look into possibilities then discuss ideas with tutor during Registration Week next term.
  1. In response to query about exam results it was confirmed that results will be emailed to individuals on Monday 16 June and displayed in the departmental notice boards (by candidate number).  Robin Hirsch reminded 1st Years of the progression requirements and said he would be available during the week beginning 16th June to talk to individuals about the progression queries etc.

ACTIONS: Points 1 and 2 to be raised at the Undergraduate Teaching Committee for discussion.

4.         Notes of the 2nd Year Wrap-up meeting held on Monday 2nd June 2003

Present:          Robin Hirsch, John Washbrook and Graham Roberts and 36 students

In attendance: Jill Saunders

Points raised:

1. The scheduling of Year 2 Computer Science was very bad for MACS students as they had more courses in T1 than T2.  The breakdown is as follows:

2B11= Term 1 and 2

2B13= Term 1

2B15= Term 1

2B16= Term 1 and 2

Jill Saunders thought these courses would be very difficult to reorganise as they affect groups of students from different programmes. The problem was acknowledged, however it leads to a coursework overload at the end of  T1.

2. The view was expressed that Computer Science sets too much coursework (nearly 40 pieces in one case) but it does not count for much in terms of overall marks.  Robin Hirsch explained the important role of coursework, and that students should not try and see a correlation between effort and marks.  Practice in programming is particularly important.

3.  The timing of Computer Science coursework was problematic as it tended all to be at the end of term.  In comparison Maths coursework was set at a steady pace.  Robin Hirsch agreed that this should be referred to the Departmental Teaching Committee. For Programming, some students said they would prefer more unassessed exercises. Graham Roberts undertook to look into this.  ACTION: Graham Roberts.

4. The B46 syllabus had changed from last year, but the Maths Department was late in distributing course notes.  People were also unhappy that the first few weeks of the course moved too slowly, with the result that the last topics were squashed.  It needs to be paced better.  Robin Hirsch undertook to raise this with the course organisers.  ACTION: RDH

5. In response to query about exam results it was confirmed that results will be emailed to individuals on Monday 16 June and displayed in the departmental notice boards (by candidate number).  Robin Hirsch reminded 1st Years of the progression requirements and said he would be available during the week beginning 16th June to talk to individuals about progression queries etc.

6.  Robin Hirsch advised anyone wishing to transfer from BSc to MSci to see him as soon as possible and to arrange matters with their LEA.

ACTIONS: Points 1 - 4 to be raised at the Undergraduate Teaching Committee for discussion.

JFS

04/06/03

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