C&ENVENG 7049B - Masters Civil Structural Engineering Project Pt 2

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2019

This is a part of a full year course where students work in groups on a research project under the supervision of an academic staff member. Key steps include the production of a project report which includes a critical literature review, identification of appropriate research gaps, detailed methodology, and research outcomes. All groups are expected to produce a safe work plan and liaise with staff, including laboratory personnel, as appropriate. The final outcomes are presented at a one day conference.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code C&ENVENG 7049B
    Course Masters Civil Structural Engineering Project Pt 2
    Coordinating Unit School of Civil, Environmental & Mining Eng
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 12
    Contact 480 hours project work over the year
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites C&ENVENG 7049A in previous Semester
    Assessment Project reports, literature review, verbal presentation
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Noune Melkoumian

    noune.melkoumian@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

    See Course Planner and/or the Course Profile on MyUni.
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

     
    1 Locate sources of information that will assist with the understanding of a technical problem that has not previously been encountered,
    2 Critically evaluate the validity, coverage and gaps in such sources of information;
    3 Write a statement of a research question or hypothesis, identifying an issue of which there is incomplete understanding;
    4 Design and execute an investigation, experiment or theoretical study to answer the research question;
    5 Present the background and findings of the research investigation in multiple formats;
    6 Apply an advanced level of technical understanding in multiple areas of technical specialisation to devise solutions to complex technical problems;
    7 Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and flexibly as a member of a team, contributing to team leadership as the situation requires;
    8 Communicate, in writing and verbally, advanced technical concepts to both technically informed and lay audiences;
    9 Apply project management techniques to devise and synthesise engineering solutions to complex, open ended problems.

     
    The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.
    The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency: 1.1   1.2   1.3   1.4   1.5   1.6   2.1   2.2   2.3   2.4   3.1   3.2   3.3   3.4   3.5   3.6   

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    3,4,6
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1-5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    7,8,9
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,6,7
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    7,8
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    5,7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    If any school resources are to be used on your project (e.g. laboratories) you are required to submit a completed and signed
    Technical Resources Application Form (short referred to as TARF). These forms should be completed in collaboration with your project supervisor. The completed form should be submitted to Mr Andrew Heathershaw, Technical Operations Manager, Room M 12, Engineering North Building.
    Recommended Resources
    Discuss with your supervisor.
    Online Learning
    All resources for this course are available online via MyUni. All students are required to use MyUni Groups to manage their Research
    Projects (or alternative online project management portals, e.g. Teamwork, Asana, Trello etc). MyUni Groups will provide your group with a usable web space to exchange files, communicate to one another and your supervisor through Discussion Boards, and develop collaborative projects through a Wiki.

    The recommended uses of MyUni Groups are:
    - Discussion Board: use to communicate with your group members and project supervisor
    - File Exchange: use to exchange files and store data obtained for your project
    - Wiki: can be used for developing the report before the final formatting in Word
    - Email: allows easier communication with your supervisor
    - Blog: use to clearly illustrate the current roles of each group member and allocated tasks for each week
    - Journal: store agendas and minutes for your group meetings
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is mainly self-directed study/group work. You must have regular weekly meetings with your supervisor and group members to discuss your project and progress.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    For a semester of this course the workload will be the equivalent time for a 3-unit course in one semester. According to university policy, this corresponds to 12 hours a week for an average student to achieve a credit.
    Learning Activities Summary
    A set of lectures is run for this course. These lectures should be attended. Lecture sessions will be recorded.
    Specific Course Requirements
    You must have regular weekly project meetings with your supervisor and group members. Meeting times must be arranged between your supervisor and you/your group.

    Meeting minutes must be recorded and kept for each formal meeting. This document should record date, start and closing time, venue of the meeting, apologies, who attended and dscribe what was discussed and the results that were presented. Any proposed
    actions should be noted int he minutes and checked at the next meeting to see if they have been carried out. In a group, taking of the minutes should be rotated amongst group members. These minutes should be posted on MyUni Groups for all your group members and project supervisor to be able to reference.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    This course is part of the small group discoversy experience. It involves discovery of new knowledge in the area of civil and structural
    engineering through open-ended research using laboratory, numerical or analytical methods and/or field work. Understanding group dynamics is an important element of this project. Self and peer assessment is used to moderate the contribution of group members.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Weighting (%) Individual/ Group Formative/ Summative
    Due (week)*
    Hurdle criteria Learning outcomes
    Part 1 - Initial Project Report 25 Group Summative S1 - Wk 10 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
    Part 1 - Initial Project Report Presentation 5 Group Summative S1 - Wk 14 1. 2. 3. 5. 7. 8.
    Part 2 - Final Report & Meeting Minutes 40 Group Summative S2 - Wk 10 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
    Part 2 - Conference Paper 20 Group Summative S2 - Wk 12 1. 2. 3. 5. 7. 8.
    Part 2 - Conference Presentation 10 Group Summative S2 - Wk 14 1. 3. 5. 7. 8.
    Total 100
    * The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.
     
    This assessment breakdown is registered as an exemption to the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy. The exemption is related to the Procedures clause(s): 1. a. i   
     
    Assessment Related Requirements
    This course includes self and peer assessment for the tasks undertaken within groups. Further details on self and peer assessment are posted on MyUni. To maintain the integrity of the assessment task(s) all students within a group contribute to each assessment task. Where there is evidence that group members have not contributed sufficiently to a group assessment task, the Academic Honesty policy may be applied.

    Each individual student must complete peer assessment of group members.
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment details are stated in the course profile posted on MyUni.
    Submission
    Detailed information on submission deadlines and modes are stated in the course profile posted on MyUni.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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