BEng Mechatronic Engineering / Course details

You will independently study a technical topic of your choosing* related to your degree title then clearly explain it to your peers or the public by creating learning resources (e.g. videos, workbooks, and/or interactive notes). This is an opportunity for you to explore an area of interest while building useful skills for your career.

The syllabus will include material on topics such as: finding and evaluating course material, creating effective graphics, recording videos, why explaining is hard, giving useful feedback, and similar. Where possible it will also include guest lectures discussing how and how often these skills are used in industry.

*(topic will be agreed between you and the unit tutor)

EEEN31001 anti-requisite for Optional Unit if taken no UCIL units can be selected.

If you take the EEEN31001 unit Independent Study and Technical Explanations, you will not be able to take a UCIL unit in either semester.

The unit aims to:

Prepare you for work in industry by helping you 1) learn independently, 2) gain a deep understanding of new topics, and 3) skilfully communicate and explain those topics to peers.

The skill of quickly learning about a technical topic and explaining to others is a very desirable one for employers and one you will use a lot in a graduate role.

ILO1 - Plan and record independent self-learning in the investigation of advanced or emerging technologies. (Taught and Assessed)

ILO2 - Find, critically analyse, and organise information from books, the web, and published research. (Taught and Assessed)

ILO3 - Design and build learning material to communicate complex matters effectively. (Taught and Assessed)

ILO4 - Evaluate the effectiveness of learning material that explains a technical or complex area. (Taught and Assessed)

Lab and Coursework assignments:

Logbook/ reflective journal (15%)

Peer feedback (15%)

Learning resource (70%)

Lab and Coursework assignments:

Logbook/ reflective journal (15%) - ongoing through the course

Peer feedback (15%) - as part of the activity

Learning resource (70%) - Comments on submission

1. Evidence-based training methods: a guide for training professionals by Clark, Ruth Colvin. ATD Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781949036572
2. E-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning by Clark, Ruth C ; Mayer, Richard E. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2016. ISBN: 9781119239086
3. The Craft of Scientific Presentations: Critical Steps to Succeed and Critical Errors to Avoid by Alley, Michael. Springer New York, 2013. ISBN: 9781441982797
4. The visual display of quantitative information by Tufte, Edward R. Graphics Press, 1983. ISBN: 0318029928
5. The visual display of quantitative information by Tufte, Edward R. Graphics Press, 2001 . ISBN: 0961392142
6. Visual explanations: images and quantities, evidence and narrative by Tufte, Edward R. Graphics Press, 1997. ISBN: 0961392126
7. Envisioning information by Tufte, Edward R. Graphics Press, 1990.