BR3010 - Problem Solving in a Technology and Programming Context

At The Bridge you learn through a blended approach where short, focused and interactive face-to-face sessions are underpinned by guided and independent online learning. Your attendance for scheduled activities is monitored regardless of whether you are on campus or joining the session remotely. This ensures you access all of the learning opportunities which have been purposefully designed for your success.

A range of teaching and learning approaches are adopted to accelerate your learning in this module.

During the first week of this module, you will receive information about the module and Teaching & Learning Plan. The teaching and learning plan (TLP) sets out
• Learning outcomes and overall module and programme aims
• Teaching, learning and assessment strategy
• Teaching schedule
• Directed reading references (text and journals) and core texts for the module
• References to data sources and details of lab activities

You will also receive the assessment brief which sets out the formative and summative assessments throughout the module.

There are three key sources of academic support available to you during your time at the Bridge in addition to Ask4Help who are available 24/7 for general queries related to your studies.

Your Module Tutor
Your module tutor is responsible for your learning outcomes on the module. They deliver the workshops and provide guidance in relation to learning and assignments. They develop all of the key resources and make them available through the eLP (electronic learning portal module) Blackboard, which is used to provide support materials, interactive learning tasks and give you regular opportunities to test and get feedback on your learning. You will be given both written and verbal feedback and guidance on your work and progress during the semester by your module tutor.

Your Learning Mentor
On programme, you will have your in-person and online engagement activity tracked against the learning plan with key check-in points built into the academic calendar to ensure you maximise your learning potential. Engagement with formative assessments will also be used by the learning mentor to discuss any action planning required to ensure success.

Academic Skills Team
The Bridge aspires to build a range of student skillsets, including digital skills, academic writing and discourse, working alone and in teams. Your learning mentor may refer you a dedicated academic skills team which is based in the centre. Here you can attend drop-ins or schedule 1-1 sessions on issues which have been identified at the diagnostic stages of the programme however you may also have self-identified areas for your own growth and self-refer yourself for support.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
MLO1. You will be able to define the problem and show an understanding of the required activities to promote sustainable solution(s) /development.
MLO2. You will demonstrate your understanding of appropriate technology management techniques to model problems and understand the limitation of employed techniques.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
MLO3. You will be able to apply techniques to investigate organisational technology problems.
MLO4. You will be able to use your professional skills to design solutions for problems that evidence some originality.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
MLO5. You will be able to demonstrate your awareness of cultural, environmental, and societal impact of solutions to organisational problems.

You will receive formative feedback throughout the module including at the following checkpoints:-

•Week 2: Navigating the course materials
•Week 4: Completing the in-module reflective tasks
•Week 6: Completing the in-module knowledge checks and tasks

The module is assessed in two parts:

For part 1 you will be presented with a problem and are required to conduct a root cause analysis and present your findings in a Fishbone diagram (in poster format). You must clearly identify the problem and root cause by evidencing your thought process.(MLO1 and 3) (40%)

For Part 2 you will be presented with a series of IT support tickets. You must use appropriate problem solving techniques which you have learned on the module to categorize them by urgency and identify any remedials actions for your IT team. This will be presented in a 1000 word report. You should include why your actions are more appropriate than other solutions to the problem (MLO2-5) (60%)

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This module has been designed to develop your computing problem solving skills and prepare you for your future studies at the Bridge, Northumbria University. You will engage in interactive learning, drawing upon the directed learning and your own experiences. Guided by your tutor you will use programming software to generate innovative, and sustainable solutions to defined problems.