Special Topics course
for IT and engineering students in third or fourth year of study
Semester 1, 2011

Thinking Systems: bio-inspired technology

Aims: This special topics course will provide students with an opportunity to complete a guided project related to bio-inspired technology with staff in the Thinking Systems Project. The lectures will introduce students to the cross disciplinary research from Thinking Systems lecturers, and research methods used in Thinking Systems.

Course codes tba
(website under development – please check back later)

Course Profile
TBA

Assessment
deliverables

Software

Further
Readings

Project suggestions

Prerequisites

Results

LECTURES are open to all UQ staff and students. Labs are for enrolled students only.
Lectures: TBA, starting from week 1 (2 hours per week)
Labs: TBA, starting from week 2 (2 hours per week)

Wk

Date

Proposed Schedule (subject to change)

1

2

3

4

5

Break

7

8

9

10

11

12

Requirement
& Marks

Deliverable Components
Assessment criteria are provided with the assignment sheet

Time estimate
(total 130 hours)

Advice / Handouts/Feedback

Participation at lectures (10%)

Wks 1-13

Marks will be given for participation in class.

Lectures: 26 hrs

Participation means taking part in class discussions, asking and answering questions. Students who prefer not to speak during the class may hand in written questions for the lecturer at the end of the class.

Participation at lab (10%)

Wks TBA

Marks will be given for participation in lab.

Labs: 6 hrs  (includes 6 hrs prep)

Participation means taking part in class discussions, asking and answering questions. Students who prefer not to speak during the lab may hand in written questions for the lecturer at the end of the class.

Project (80%)

Wk 3

Asgt 1a. Project title and abstract (pass/fail)

2 hours

one page draft

Wk 7

Asgt 1b. Project Proposal and lit review, and preliminary results (25%)

23 hours

Full project proposal with literature review.

Wk 13

Asgt 1c. Project report (55%)

60 hours

Full project report

Assignment sheets

Sample assignments

This course is unique, so there are no past examples of completed assignments. However, other special topics courses have had  project-based assessment, and examples of other projects may provide useful background.

1a. Title and abstract plan, see Sample Title and overview

1b. Project proposal and literature review, see Sample Project progress report
Aim for 10-15 pages total; the literature review should have 5-10 references relevant to your project

1c. Project  report Sample project report
Aim for 20-30 pages total. The material in your 1b submisssion can be used again for this report.

For examples of complete research projects, see the honours project listed at http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~comp4809/Sample%20projects/

Week

Date

DRAFT (will be finalised in week 1)
Tutorials

1

None

2

None

3

None

4

Project work

5

Project work

6

Project work

7

Project work

8

Project work