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Module

MEC2008 : Mechanical Engineering Professional Skills II

  • Offered for Year: 2023/24
  • Module Leader(s): Mr Peter Chapman
  • Lecturer: Dr Piergiorgio Gentile
  • Other Staff: Mrs Lucie Oxley, Mr Graham Cole
  • Owning School: Engineering
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 5
Semester 2 Credit Value: 5
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

To enable students to develop software, employability and business enterprise skills appropriate for professional mechanical engineers.

Outline Of Syllabus

Further development of IT and computing to support engineering applications.
Introduction to professional employability and career development.
Awareness of the industrial and business enterprise context of engineering.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion18:008:00Target non-timetable hours to complete computing coursework tasks and assignment submissions
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials80:304:00Non-Synchronous Online (Semester 1) Professional Development/Careers background materials
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials110:305:30Non-Synchronous Online (Semester 2) MATLAB background lecture materials
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion112:0012:00Target non-timetable hours to complete Professional Development Portfolio (CV, Cover Letter, etc.), plus interview research and preparation.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical11:001:00PiP Student interviews by Industrialists
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical112:0022:00PiP Computing practicals guided tutorial session outlining and working through programming examples - including weekly exercises.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesFieldwork24:008:00PiP (offsite) Industrial visit to local engineering company and follow up presentation.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery41:004:00PiP Drop-In tutorial session for Professional Development/Careers support.
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study134:3034:30Recommended regular personal study throughout teaching period to follow up taught classes
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesModule talk11:001:00PiP Introduction to all aspects of the module
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Programming and computing skills build on the previous Stage 1 content with consolidation/practice exercises throughout. Learning is assessed with engineering-focused programming assignment and backed up with microcontroller hardware implementation and software control lab task.
The other elements of the module and assessment focus on the "softer skills" that graduates will require for professional employment and are delivered at Stage 2 to prepare students for placement and graduate job seeking. These elements are assessed as part of a personal Professional Development Portfolio. This contains elements of self-reflection - analysis of current skills and characteristics, along with an identification of gaps in professional development and research into means by which gas could be filled. This portfolio includes CV, Application Letters, Mock Interview Recordings and evidence of a development of Entrepreneurial and Team Working Skills.

Assessment Methods

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

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Computer assessment2M50Computing Skills - assessed MATLAB programming exercise
Prof skill assessmnt1M50Assessed professional development Portfolio - Completed across semester incl. CV, Covering Letter, Mock Interview.
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Digital Examination1MCV & Cover Letter online quiz providing immediate formative feedback and assessing of learning.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Employability and wider professional skills are assessed by evidence gathered within the Professional Development Portfolio as appropriate to these particular skills. Professional Development Portfolio, assessment for this module is completed throughout Semester 1. The formative assessment provides immediate feedback to assist students with their understanding in the module.

Computing skills assessed in practice through lab-based programming & computer-based software task.

Reading Lists

Timetable