1 hour lecture to introduce the module. 11 hours of project review meetings. It is intended that the project should focus on the learner's workplace, and therefore should reflect the discipline that the learner is following and should be designed to build on the learner's academic and industrial experience.

A supervising tutor will be appointed who should agree with the learner the aims of the project, how they are to be met, and how supervision will be undertaken. Independent study will be the focus of the module but some guided learning through review meetings will support this. Students should seek work-based guidance. Additionally you can expect to utilise web-based activity as part of your independent learning.

This module provides an opportunity to record activities, to collect, analyse and apply data, to find and use sources of information and to develop solutions to construction issues. It enables application of the skills, knowledge and understanding developed in other modules of the course within a major piece of work that reflects the type of performance and level of ability expected of professional project personnel. It is an individual project of the student?s choice and related to the particular vocational needs of the individual learner but drawn from a variety of aspects of the construction environment studied on the course. It aims to develop ability to research background source material, observe and record data and analyse the results.

It will have the following stages:
Investigate background information: identify relevant source materials and plan activities. Establish a list of technical and non-technical sources of information, identify the practical needs of the project, and produce a planned approach
Produce a plan: for the completion of the project, including the time scale for each stage, resource requirements and required support
Identify sources of information: background material and supporting information, support the observational phase, development of the final conclusions
Carry out planned investigations: record observations in an acceptable method, systematic interpretation and scrutiny
Interpretation of observations: identify the final conclusions and identify the method of interpretation and reasoning behind conclusions
Final report: summary of outcomes, analysis and record of the initial stage of project development, analysis and record of the observational stage, interpretation of the results of the study presented in various forms with stated conclusions.

Internet, ICT/CAD facilities, LRC, Libraries, British and European Standards, Codes of Practice, Facilities available at the students place of work

Moore, N (1999) How to Do Research: The Complete Guide to Designing and Managing Research Projects Library Association Publishing ISBN 1856043584
Berry, R (2004) Research Project: How to Write It Routledge ISBN 0415334454
Walliman, N S R (2000) Your Research Project: A Step-by-step Guide for the First-time Researcher Sage Publications Ltd ISBN 0761965394
Fink, A & Kosecoff, J (1998) How to Conduct Surveys Sage ISBN 0761914099

A 20 minute oral presentation weighted at 20% and a report weighted at 80% (2000 words). The assessment will focus on an area of the student's workplace. The aims of the project will be agreed with the tutor. Evidence of outcomes will be monitored at each stage of the development of the project.