Computing Course Talk

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited.”

Computing Course Leader Dr Ambikesh JayalLearning Centre, LC118Email: ajayal@glos.ac.ukTel: 01242714254

• Structure of the course• Modules• Placements• Key staff• Examples of student work

In this session

• Software development• Problem solving and algorithms• Programming languages• Hardware interfaces

• Study a range of topics over 3 or 4 years• Breath and depth

In Computing you will experience

Structure of the course

• You can choose to take particular themes at level 4 (first year of a course) and carry them through at Level 5 (second year)• Eg: programming, games, databases

• There are also other IT related themes such as networks and forensics available to you

• Your ART will discuss these options with you in more detail tomorrow

Modules

Technical subjects you will study

• These are some of the topics which students often say they’re most interested in• They form the main focus of the course

Arduino

Databases

C

Games

UX

Mobile apps

Web designAlgorithmsNetworks

Java

Security Hardware

Arduino: Small computer

• A “Graduate” should also have academic skills• Ability to research a topic – Google Scholar, Library

databases, books, journals• Organise the information – notes, structure• Write a summary, report or essay drawing on the

evidence

• Employers also want• Honesty, integrity• Timekeeping skills• Team working skills

• Self-directed learner – keen to update skills

Other skills

• Most employers want you to have industry experience as well as a degree

• It is strongly recommended that you take a placement to gain that experience

• Grades from your first year modules are key to gaining a successful post

• Coursework is designed to give you a portfolio to demonstrate your skills to potential employers

• 30% of students went on placement this year

Industry experience

• You may feel a bit undecided as to which course you want to study

• Don’t worry, you can change the course at the end of Level 4 provided you have taken any required compulsories

On the right course?

The main points are:

• The degree structure is flexible• You can change your course• But do talk to your Academic Review Tutor if

you are considering this

Key Staff

• Ambikesh: Programming• Vicky: Programming• Kevin: Networks• Andrew: Databases• David: Web & QA

Key staff

• Like you, we all have different, complementary skills, interests and personalities

• We hope that you will find the course interesting and rewarding

• The more you put in, the more you’ll get out of the course so… enjoy!

By the third year

• Employability• You will have the skills to work in a team to

produce a professional quality application• Communication• You will be able to communicate ideas clearly to

others• Note: you will be very employable if you have

engaged with your studies

Student projects

• Typical student projects would include:• Mobile apps• Desktop executable• Web delivered database system• Arduino Based Projects

Student projects

• Netcom: Group project 2011• http://comx.glos.ac.uk/comx11/netcom/

• HDCoders: Group project 2013 • http://comx.glos.ac.uk/comx13/teams/hdcoders/

• Bead Soft: Group project 2013 • http://comx.glos.ac.uk/comx13/teams/bead-

soft/

University Life

• “The best part of college is not the classes you take or research you do, but the peripheral things: meeting people, going to seminars, joining organizations, dropping in on classes, and learning what you don’t know.”

• By Peter Harrington in the book 'Machine Learning in Action'

Any questions?