SEL2211 : Contexts: Cognition and Computation (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Joel Wallenberg
- Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
- 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
This module aims to provide a conceptual context for the other modules studied in year 2 of the various Linguistics and English Language degrees by outlining the history and methodology of the study of language and describing its connections with other sciences and with language technology and engineering disciplines. The uniting thread of the module is the Computational Theory of Mind.
Outline Of Syllabus
1. Introduction to Computational Theory of Mind
2. The Abstract Computing Machine
3. Language as a simple machine
4. Concrete Digital Computing
5. Biological Computing
6-7 Information and Basic Probability Theory
8. Language Variation and Bayes' Theorem
9-10. GOFAI vs Machine Learning
11. Societal and Ethical Implications
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 40 | 1:00 | 40:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 10 | 2:00 | 20:00 | Synchronous |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 66 | 1:00 | 66:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 13 | 1:00 | 13:00 | Synchronous |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 21 | 1:00 | 21:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 40 | 1:00 | 40:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
"Structured Guided Learning" presents the core module content with a variety of methods, including short presentations, guided exercises, discussions, and group research activities.
The practical in any given week examines one or more particular aspects of that week's lectures in detail, with instructor-student interaction.
The student-led group activity consists of small group computer programming projects, and presentation of these projects at the end of the semester.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2 | M | 60 | 3000 words |
| Practical/lab report | 2 | A | 40 | 25 minute oral presentation and submitted code* |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The essay enables the students to demonstrate their engagement with the subjects presented during the course of the module and conduct independent research, guided by the instructor.
The end-of-term group reports will present computer programming projects they have completed in the post-Easter period. Students will submit their code to the instructor, as well as present their code to each other and have other students test it. Students will also discuss issues raised by their projects, e.g. feasibility of weak/strong AI, the effect of language-related technologies on the human organism.
Practical/lab report 1: *submitted code and 25-minute synchronous oral presentation with questions OR -where appropriate and with prior permission from the module leader- submitted code and 10-minute asynchronous video presentation.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SEL2211's Timetable