KB3018 - Foundational Engineering Approaches 1

An enquiry-based approach will be used to allow you to develop your attributes in applied engineering practice and assist you in exploring key concepts and topics within the module. This will complement and support your learning in other modules at this level. Activities will involve the application of theoretical content via practical exercises to enable you to apply initiative and creativity to tackle authentic engineering problems. A problem-solving focused curriculum will allow you to explore and understand conventional solutions and provide opportunity for innovative discovery of alternatives. Learning activities will enable students to work collaboratively through the development of teamwork and communication skills, and the encouragement of creative thinking to solve engineering problems.

During your active learning sessions, academic support will be available to facilitate your exploration of the problem-solving activities. Formative feedback will be provided by the module team, including answering student queries and providing guidance concerning the module such as assessments and your academic progress. The electronic learning platform (eLP) provides a comprehensive resource for integrated learning incorporating learning materials and reading lists that will facilitate directed and self-directed learning. Contact with academic tutors and your peers outside formal teaching hours is encouraged through dedicated ‘office hours’, discussion boards and messaging systems within the eLP. Professional support staff, such as Ask4Help, provide the point of contact for a range of queries, including, for example, those concerning assessment submission, late submission / extensions, and other administrative issues.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
MLO1. Gather, select, and use technical literature and other sources of information to address well-defined problems.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
MLO2. Use practical laboratory/workshop and apply appropriate materials, equipment, engineering technologies and processes to investigate well-defined problems and reaching substantiated conclusions.
MLO3. Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
MLO4. Recognise the importance of equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and function effectively as a part of team.
MLO5. Plan and record self-learning and improve performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

Formative Assessment
The interrelated series of activities provide many opportunities for both tutor and peer formative feedback, and there will be specific formal opportunities for formative feedback. These include completion of an individual self-assessment of general, technical and transferrable skills, engagement in peer assessment, subsequent engagement with peer assessment and progress evaluations such as presentations. Completion of, and reflection on, the formative tasks is required to enable a full submission of the summative tasks to be made.

Summative Assessment
The summative assessment tasks will draw upon substantial contributions from the formative tasks.

MLOs 1-4 will be demonstrated by component 1, an individual competency and reflection connected portfolio that considers the outcomes of the activities completed within the module against the MLOs.

MLO5 will be demonstrated through component 2, a 10-20 minute oral presentation.

Feedback will be provided electronically through the eLP or student email within 20 working days of the date of submission.

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In this module, you will be presented with authentic engineering problems that have been derived and adapted to give you opportunities to explore ways in which you would resolve such problems in order to produce appropriate engineering solutions. The module will, within the supportive environment offered by staff and your peers, allow you to develop your approach to resolving engineering problems that may involve research, experimentation, creativity and the acquisition and utilisation of new engineering skills. Problems will span a range of engineering subjects to help you in making decisions towards your future degree programme.

In the module, you will be encouraged to investigate and gain confidence in research and critical thinking through the application of appropriate knowledge and methodologies to tackle well-defined and constrained problems. An enquiry-based approach will be used to allow you to develop your attributes in applied engineering practice and assist you to explore key concepts and topics within the module. This will complement and support your learning in other modules at this level. Learning activities will enable students to work collaboratively through the development of teamwork and communication skills, and the encouragement of creative thinking to solve engineering problems. The module utilises the electronic learning platform (eLP) to provide a comprehensive resource for integrated learning incorporating learning materials and reading lists that will facilitate directed and self-directed learning.