For this module you will be expected to undertake independent guided research in order to address an identified emerging technology area / challenge and present your findings as both a research paper and poster. This will extend your knowledge in a particular computing field to give you a cutting-edge advantage in the future workplace.

1. DEMONSTRATE A SYSTEMATIC UNDERSTANDING OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, AND THEIR CHARATERISTICS, AND DEVELOP APPROPRIATE KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS SOME FIELD SPECIFIC CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH QUESTIONS.
Knowledge and Understanding,

2. COMMUNICATE, AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL, AN AREA OF CONTEMPORARY INVESTIGATION DEMOSTRATING APPROPRIATE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE.
Communication

3. DEMONSTRATE A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF TECHNICAL AND/OR NON-TECHNICAL IMPLICATIONS OF A RESEARCHED EMERGING TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS TO INCLUDE AN APPROPRIATE CRITICAL EVALUATION OF ANY SOCIAL, LEGAL OR ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS.
Analysis, Reflection

4. IDENTIFY AND EVALUATE RESEARCH GAPS IN AN IDENTIFIED EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND PROPOSE SOME POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS.
Problem solving, Analysis

Assignment 1 -
Research and write a research paper of a publishable standard, covers Learning Outcomes 1,3 and 4.

Assignment 2 -
Prepare a poster related to the paper of assignment one and present this, covers Learning Outcomes 2.

This module will use independent research in the pursuit of investigating a topic chosen for the research paper, using appropriate research methods in its development. Students will be referred to recent publications and appropriate learning resources to complete the investigation. They will be expected to investigate an identified emerging technology and evaluate one or more technical and / or non-technical challenges, including the social, legal and ethical implications of the topic. Relevant commercial aspects also need to be researched and considered, and this will partly be achieved through an analysis of relevant literature with appropriate referencing, leading to the proposal of potential directions to solve any of the identified challenge/s within the paper. To support the paper students will also prepare a poster and present this.

Group sessions will introduce the module and outline the areas of potential topic investigation. 20 students will join each group with a specialist supervisor being assigned to each. Teaching time is divided as follows -

36 hour lectures/tutorials
8 hours seminars/workshops (assignment clinics and revisions)
4 hours on Communication Skills
4 hours on Poster Presentations

Total of 52 contact class hours
248 hours of independent study

Texts appropriate to the issue/problem being investigated, as well as general research guides.

Sharp, J.A. (1996) The Management of a Student Research Project (2 ed), Aldershot Gower, ISBN: 056607706X
Oliver, P. (1997) Research, Teach Yourself Books, NTC Publishing Group, ISBN: 0844200158
Huff, (1999), Writing for Scholarly Publication, Sage Publications, ISBN: 0761918051
MacArthur, C.A., Graham, S., and Fitzgerald, J. (2005), Handbook of Writing Research, The Guilford Press, ISBN: 1593851901
Marshall and Rossman, (1999) Designing Qualitative Research, Sage, Third Edition, ISBN: 0761913408
Cottrell, S. (2003), Skills for Success, Palgrave MacMillan, ISBN 1-4039-1132-0

Software and tools for referencing (e.g. Mendeley, Zotero, and RefWorks), mind mapping software.

None