CSC8113 : Research Methods and Group Project in Cloud Computing
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Bo Wei
- Lecturer: Dr Yinhao LI
- Owning School: Computing
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To prepare for working on individual research projects.
To give experience of reading, discussing and interpreting the professional and research literature To provide an insight into current and future developments in Cloud computing systems.
This module seeks to offer the students the experience in applying the techniques taught in preceding modules and building a cloud-hosted software system for a given specification by working in groups on a set of tasks which would involve literature review, software design, implementation, presentation of design and demonstration of the implemented system.
This module also aims to provide students an opportunity to research the literature on relevant topics and tools in Cloud computing and to collaboratively learn the tasks that lead to an efficient and state- of-art software system. Further, the specification of such a system will be structured with built-in opportunities for students to optionally apply the range of skills they have acquired from modules taught in Semester 1. Students will have access to technical guidance from faculty members, but will essentially work as a small independent team under their own initiative. This is meant to provide an opportunity to practice the technical skills developed in other modules, to develop new skills of cooperative working and organization, and to develop skills in preparation for the individual project and dissertation work.
Outline Of Syllabus
The project will focus on DevOps that has been co-designed with industry partners.
The module is structured in several phases:
• Lectures on research methods delivered intensively.
• Introduction to research projects and planning; identifying information need; assessing quality and
reliability of sources of information.
• Role of peer review in research and system development.
• Critical evaluation of published material.
• How to present claims with supporting arguments.
• Academic report writing; standards in the discipline; use and citation of sources.
• Ethical issues.
• Research topics are assigned and groups of 5-7 members are allocated by module leaders, mixing backgrounds,
abilities and skills. Groups work together, forming reading circles to collaboratively produce a literature
review.
• Groups begin work on the software development exercise. Choice of group organisation is left to the group.
Development will involve research, requirements elicitation, evaluation of tools and alternative
technologies, system design, implementation and testing.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Literature review. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Lectures (in person) on research methods. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Seminar. |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 60 | 1:00 | 60:00 | Project coursework. |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 60 | 1:00 | 60:00 | Formal/informal meetings (online synchronous). |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 16 | 1:00 | 16:00 | Reading circle (in person) through structured discussions. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 25 | 1:00 | 25:00 | Background reading. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 12 | 1:00 | 12:00 | Lecture follow-up. |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures will be used to introduce the learning material and for demonstrating the key concepts by example. Students are expected to follow-up lectures within a few days by re-reading and annotating lecture notes to aid deep learning. Students aiming for degrees with Distinction/Merit are expected to widen their knowledge beyond the content of lecture notes through background reading.
Project meetings, both formal and informal, will provide team members with the opportunity to follow progress and address team issues.
Students gain knowledge in research skills from lectures and working together on the literature review and reading circle. Students gain experience in development of a significant software project from the student-led activities and project work.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 2 | M | 25 | End of week 1, group literature review- maximum 12 pages. |
| Report | 2 | M | 75 | End of module, group report- maximum 40 pages. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The literature review provides an opportunity to assess practical research, communication and collaboration skills in a realistic environment. Students will assess each other's contribution to the literature review (formative assessment).
The group work report is used to award a mark to each group. The individual report is used to moderate individual weightings allocated by the group, to award a final mark to each group member.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CSC8113's Timetable