PHY3039 : Group Project (MPhys) - Undergraduate Study

Offered for Year: 2020/21

Module Leader(s): Dr Toby Hallam

Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Semester 1 Credit Value:	10
ECTS Credits:	5.0

Aims

To enhance the ability of the student to undertake a project as part of a team, working to time scales, develop understanding in an area of physics beyond those taught in the degree programme.

Outline Of Syllabus

A group assignment involving investigation of a physics-based problem or scenario and involving programming, research and analytical skills. The project specification is scaffolded by a base programming task with details determined by students. Guidance is provided by an academic staff advisor who assists in project management and monitoring. Groups of three to six students are involved with each project, and a major part of the work is concerned with group organisation and interfacing of individuals' efforts. Fortnightly formal progress meetings are monitored by academic staff advisor. Assessment of the project is via recorded presentation, and final group report. Participation is assessed by academic staff advisor with input from students in a round-table debrief meeting.

Teaching Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

Teaching Activities

Category	Activity	Number	Length	Student Hours	Comment
Guided Independent Study	Assessment preparation and completion	1	10:00	10:00	Preparation of project presentation.
Guided Independent Study	Assessment preparation and completion	1	10:00	10:00	Preparation of project report.
Guided Independent Study	Student-led group activity	9	3:00	27:00	Project meetings with group members, zoom or in person.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities	Dissertation/project related supervision	5	1:00	5:00	Project meetings with supervising academic member of staff via zoom.
Guided Independent Study	Independent study	1	48:00	48:00	Independent project study
Total				100:00

Jointly Taught With

Code	Title
PHY3025	Group Project

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Delivery will follow usual format, student-led group meetings will be carried out online with a timetable devised by students.
Usual project plan assessment is removed due to the reduced semester length, this is replaced by a deeper focus on team management in scheduled meetings.
Academic group advisors will hold group meetings on 5 fixed occasions through the semester to allow for more appropriate assessment of group participation. Final session will be a debrief discussion group to address participation.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment

Description	Semester	When Set	Percentage	Comment
Research paper	1	M	50	Main project report submitted as a group
Prof skill assessmnt	1	M	20	Project participation - observation
Oral Examination	1	M	30	Recorded presentation submitted as a group

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Report and assessment is in keeping with the usual assessment.
Presentation is recorded and marker feedback will be provided.
Peer assessment component is replaced by advisor teamwork assessment. This is chosen as COVID provides challenging conditions for group working.

Reading Lists

PHY3039's Reading List

Timetable

Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
PHY3039's Timetable

Module