Computing Research Collective
Module aims
In this module, you will work as a member of a small research Collective, supported by a mentor, to explore an area of Computing research. You will identify, read and critique academic research papers, and present your findings to the group verbally and in writing. The Collective provides you with an opportunity to meet researchers within the Department, explore areas of personal and/or emerging interest, and to hone your research skills to support your Individual Project. The range of Collectives formed will vary from year-to-year.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, you will have demonstrated your ability to:
- Identify and analyse key academic papers in a specific area of computing research, distinguishing between primary findings, research methodologies, and implications for future work
- Evaluate and provide constructive feedback on peers' presentations and written work, demonstrating critical thinking and the ability to discern the strengths and areas of improvement
- Apply effective communication techniques to present complex computing research concepts, both orally and in writing, ensuring that their audience can understand and engage with the material.
- Synthesise a comprehensive literature review drawing from multiple academic sources, integrating diverse perspectives to present a cohesive understanding of the chosen research topic
- Actively participate in discussions, share insights, and contribute to the co-construction of knowledge, demonstrating commitment and professionalism
Module syllabus
The Computing Research Collective is designed to allow students to explore an area of academic research as part of a small group that they would not otherwise cover on the Computing degrees. The collective also allows students to develop an understanding of academic research methods, to critically appraise academic research, to develop their academic writing and presentation skills, and to consider topics that they may wish to pursue further for their Individual Project.
A collective will typically consist of five students and one academic mentor who together agree a topic to explore. The mentor may be a member of academic staff, a Teaching Fellow, or an approved researcher or PhD student. Mentors may propose topics and try and attract students, or students may propose topics and try and interest a mentor. A Collective may choose to look at a human, engineering or societal problem and consider how to address this. They may use this as an opportunity to explore the work of a particular research group. The intention is that both students and mentors will learn together, so a mentor does not have to be an expert in the topic, although they will take responsibility for assessment. Where more than five students are interested in a topic, it may be possible to offer more than one collective in the same or related areas.
There is no guarantee that every student wanting to take the module will be able to find a suitable Collective to work within.
A 2 hour weekly slot will be held for the module on the timetable, although the Collectives have some autonomy as to the exact meeting times that will work best for them.
Teaching methods
Each Collective is supported by a suitable mentor. All mentors will have experience with academic research, although they may not know the details of all identified research studies. They will provide general guidance to the Collective.
The mentors will be encouraged to signpost students towards relevant central support where this is useful. The module leader will also suggest resources of general use to students across all Collectives, such as information on how to produce a Literature Review.
Each Collective operates autonomously in terms of the subject matter reviewed, but follows a centrally developed framework. An overview of the framework is as follows:
Week 1 – An introductory session is held. Mentors and students share ideas and collaboratively form Collectives.
Week 2 – The Collective meets for the first time. The mentor provides core knowledge necessary for the Collective (if known) or the Collective discuss the area together and identify any background understanding they will need to develop.
Week 3 – The Collective find and explore key academic papers on the topic. The mentor helps the students to prioritise the papers based on importance and relevance. Each student is allocated one paper to study and review in-depth through a process of agreement.
Weeks 4 to 8 – Each student presents the paper they have been allocated, helping to explore the key ideas, to present the importance of the paper, and to suggest future work. The student also answers questions from the group. The remainder of the Collective agree a peer assessment mark for the student and provide then with written feedback.
Week 9 – Wrap up week. The students bring with them to the session a short literature review of the subject area, which may also include further papers not directly discussed in the previous weeks. The Collective peer reviews the Literature Reviews providing marks and comments. The Mentor summarises the contributions and main findings of the Collective for sharing more widely across the Department.
The module is primarily delivered within each Collective, adhering to a standard framework to encourage consistency. Students will be active learners. Through research engagement and discussion, students will develop the ability to independently review research papers, along with the confidence necessary to write a detailed Literature Review for their Indvidual Project.
Assessments
For a Collective to be successful, active participation is required by all members. Each Collective operates according to a common framework. The Collectives are developed from student partnership principles, so students are also involved in the assessment process proving feedback for their peers. Final summative marks are determined by the mentor.
During the module, each student will typcially develop a 30 minute presentation, to be followed by Q&A and group discussion. Students will write a Literature Review, typically 1,500 words long. Their participation throughout the Collective will also be evaluated by the mentor.
Students will receive mentor and peer feedback throughout the module during the weekly meetings, following their individual presentation, and for the final Literature Review. Feedback will primarily be given verbally.
Each Collective will identify its own current reading list, supported by the mentor.