Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

English Language to IELTS 6.0 or Pearsons 54 or equivalent. Satisfy admissions or progression requirement for entry to Stage 1 of an engineering degree programme at Level 3, including A-Level Mathematics or equivalent and normally an A-Level in science or equivalent.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The objectives of this module are to introduce and implement design concepts, processes, approaches, systems and the multidisciplinary nature of design. The focus is also on identifying and addressing ethical issues in engineering, software tools for design, and applying knowledge gained in other Stage 1 modules to create innovative solutions. Additionally, the course aims to cultivate awareness of systems, integrate knowledge from various themes into a design case study, develop conceptual design skills, and review and produce designs for an engineering problem. It emphasises reflection on group working strategies, building transferable and graduate skills, and enhancing presentation abilities in various media for scientific work. Ultimately the module concludes with a reflective portfolio of what students are capable of as a result of the whole of their stage 1 learning and experience.

Outline Of Syllabus

•Design, Creativity and Professional Skills, including: How to design? Principles of problem definition. Introduction to ethics in engineering; raising awareness of issues, obligations and responsibilities. Reflecting and critiquing of group/team working strategies (including a residential activity during the first teaching week), and the application of learning throughout Stage 1 (M18). Innovation is introduced to ensure that engineering design is based on data-led insights.

•Visualisation and communication – sketching design concepts and annotation, introduction to commercial computer-aided design and drafting software applications (e.g. Autodesk INVENTOR);

•The electrical skill sessions of this module introduce the key fundamental equipment used in electrical engineering such as oscilloscopes, power supplies, and multi-meters, and the fundamental electrical skills, such as soldering, identifying electrical components and their values, circuit diagrams, and circuit design. The Build sessions reinforce this knowledge with circuits based around operational amplifiers, motors, sensing, and their control constructed.

•Design and Build sessions provide opportunities to create an integrated solution to an engineering problem, combining electronics, mechanics, programming, and creativity. A set of skills workshops are completed in advance of the Design & Build sessions to support and maximise the benefits of these ‘making’ practicals to learning and the student experience.

•Graduate engineers participate in this module to share the realities of design and build projects in practice, and also to share the skills and competencies that are required for their successful practice and career development.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

To identify and distinguish the wider context of multidisciplinary engineering design and practice and its underlying principles.
By the end of the Skills Labs and build sessions of this module, a student will be able to:
1.Recognise and describe the operation of basic electrical equipment and instrumentation (C1)
2.Employ knowledge of electrical engineering principles to design and build circuits, and to select appropriate components for basic operational amplifier and sensor circuits, and motor systems (C1, C2).
3.To identify resource (both physical and digital) requirements and to apply them effectively to the learning tasks. (C1, C2, C3, C4)
4.Design an integrated system by applying engineering principles and cross-disciplinary academic learning. (C6, C12)
5.Create an operationally correct physical engineering system from a digital design. (C13)
By the end of the Design, Creativity and Professional Skills sessions, students will be able to conclude, with evidence, what they are capable of as ‘Stage 2 ready’ engineering learners and practitioners (C18)

Intended Skill Outcomes

Technical problem-solving skills, including problem modelling, using systematic scientific and engineering methods. Overall: Fundamental use of digital and non-digital tools to develop personal competency and learning. By the end of the electrical skill and build sessions of this module, it is expected that students will be able to:
1.       Distinguish different electrical components and be able to employ these in different circuits (C1).
2.       Recognise and demonstrate the safe and ethical use of basic electrical equipment (C1)
3.       Construct basic circuits and explain their operation (C1, C2).
4.       Identify and operate different sensors for specific test applications (C1, C2, C6, C12).
Ability to apply design software to engineering applications. (C3)

By the end of the Design, Creativity and Professional Skills sessions throughout this module students will be able to:
Use appropriate data and innovation principles to validate decisions about the requirements of engineering design (C3, C4, C5, C6, C12, C13, C15)
Understand ethical engineering practice and evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to complex problems (C7, C8, C11)
Ability to match skills and knowledge to the requirements of Stage 1 modules to enhance learning throughout the degree programme. (C18)
Function and communicate effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader of a team. Evaluate effectiveness of own and team performance (C16) and the presentation of designs and ideas (C17)

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The design project helps students to acquire skills in communicating ideas, concepts and solutions effectively. Drawing and Computer-Aided Design skills are achieved through CAD exercises in Semester 1 and in the design project in Semester 2.
Professional skills are developed in Semester 1 through a range of activities, and through industry presentations and workshops.
Digital skills are developed throughout the module, including assessments (e.g., reflective portfolio using NUReflect).
The problem-solving aspects of the Design and Create activity enable the students to demonstrate a broad range of understanding and the analysis and synthesis of skills to novel situations, including the transfer of knowledge and skills from other modules.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The competency portfolio helps students to acquire skills in communicating their ideas, concepts and solutions effectively.
Drawing skills are achieved through a CAD drawing exercise in Semester 1 in the digital portfolio.
Professional skills are developed in Semesters 1 and 2 through team-based design and build objectives. The problem-solving aspects of the Design and Create activity, and assessments at each of the Build workshop sessions, enable the students to demonstrate that they can apply this understanding and their analysis and synthesis skills to novel situations. These are further explored through an individual reflective log using NUReflect to create a competency portfolio.

General Notes

N/A