Mark Dixon Page 1 Tech – Module Introduction

Mark Dixon Page 2 Web site All material (slides, handouts, etc.) available before session: mdixon.soc.plymouth.ac.uk

Mark Dixon Page 3 About Me Contact Details Mark Dixon Portland Square Room B316 Availability Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu – School of Computing Communications and Electronics (main campus) Fri – other work (usually off-campus)

Mark Dixon Page 4 Module Admin Lectures and tutorials: –start at 5 minutes past the hour, and –aim to end at 5 minutes to the hour –if no lecturer - wait until 15 minutes past the hour then you may leave –Turn mobile phones off. –Ask questions or comment at any time –Feel free to talk quietly amongst yourselves –No need to ask to leave (for toilet, doctor's, etc.) –Please use my first name Lectures: –Don’t come in after 15 minutes past the hour.

Mark Dixon Page 5 Module Aims This module aims to teach you, how to: –learn surface learning (memorisation of isolated facts): hacking deep learning (interrelated concepts) includes interacting with others (lecturers, students, …) –develop software: fundamental programming concepts (e.g. events, procedures) how to combine these to solve problems –use Visual BASIC

Mark Dixon Page 6 Driving, IT, and Computing DriverMechanicDesigner UserIT SupportDeveloper use technology install + fix technology create + build invent technology School ICT GCSE/A level University Computing Degrees use carfix carinvent car

Mark Dixon Page 7 Dynamic-Interactive Web-sites

Mark Dixon Page 8 Module Format The module is delivered as follows: Lecture: 1 hr per week, all groups Tutorials / Practical Session: 2 hr per week lots of these (please check timetable) Private study (as much as it takes – typically 3 hours/week) 1 to 1 sessions (my office or labs) as needed at your request Teaching Evaluation (timely and specific) –Student Perception Questionnaire –Continuous Informal Feedback (talk to me)

Mark Dixon Page 9 Surface vs. Deep Learning For example, remember Learning to add up Surface Approach memorise all combinations = = = 4 … = 5 … = 977 Deep Approach understand theory = 5

Mark Dixon Page 10 Questions My job is: –not to give you the correct answer –but to help you understand, so you can work it out yourself Asking the right Questions –it doesn't work! –I am working on … –I did … –I was expecting …

Mark Dixon Page 11 Attendance Attendance is compulsory and essential to pass This is not a distance learning course portal is supplement (not replacement) for attending lectures and tutorials

Mark Dixon Page 12 Student Background Typically wide range of prior experience A.10 years programming (professional?) B.5 years programming (professional?) C.2 years programming (learning?) D.1 year programming (learning) E.no programming Can be difficult to cater for all A B C D E number of students

Mark Dixon Page 13 Last Year 36 students –offered 1 to 1 sessions after assignment 1 –all who did this passed 14 failed initially (38%) –large number of non-submissions everyone who attended - passed everyone who submitted - passed

Mark Dixon Page 14 Strategy for Success Most failures: –tried to do it on their own missed many lectures and tutorials didn’t ask questions didn't come and see me with problems To pass module –attend lectures and tutorials (if you miss a session – see me – I will help) –ask questions

Mark Dixon Page 15 Expectancy-Value Theory of Motivation People avoid tasks they see as: –impossible –pointless This module is: –challenging, but not impossible –critical to your degree technical skills foster creativity

Mark Dixon Page 16 Student Feedback feedback form –filled in by students –handed in with assignment this student: –failed (low attendance, low contact with me) –did referred work (over summer) –passed

Mark Dixon Page 17 Student feedback (zoom)

Mark Dixon Page 18 Admin – free software Technicians (Babbage 205) can provide you with free copies of (bring your own blank CDs): –MS Windows XP Professional (1 CD), includes MS Internet Information Services (term 2) –MS Visual Studio 2005 (4 CDs), includes Visual Web Developer 2005 Visual BASIC 2005 Visual C

Mark Dixon Page 19 Admin – jobs Computer weekly (jobs in 7 days) 6 Oct Oct Sep 2005 –java (2234) –VB (1614) –ASP (1355) –php (215) –flash (168) –dreamweaver (69)

Mark Dixon Page 20 Admin – jobs

Mark Dixon Page 21 Timetable

Mark Dixon Page 22 Schedule (subject to change)

Mark Dixon Page 23 Reading List 1 The following book is recommended reading: –Robbins J (2006) HTML & XHTML Pocket Reference (3rd edition). O'Reilly. ISBN: –Childs M, Lomax P, & Petrusha R (2001) VBScript Pocket Reference. O'Reilly. ISBN: –Gennick J (2006) SQL Pocket Guide (2nd edition). O'Reilly. ISBN: –Kingsley-Hughes, Kingsley-Hughes, and Read (2004) VBScript (2 nd Edition). Wiley Publishing Inc. ISBN:

Mark Dixon Page 24 Reading List 2 Additional reading (the following are referred to occasionally, borrow from library): Pressman, R (2000) Software Engineering: a practitioner's approach. 5th edition. McGraw-Hill. ISBN: Sommerville, I (2001) Software Engineering. 6th edition. Addison- Wesley. ISBN: X. –Overview of Software Engineering: Chapter 1, especially page 4. Preece, J; Rogers, Y; Sharp, H; Benyon, D; Holland, S; and Carey, T (1994) Human-Computer Interaction. Addison Wesley. ISBN: –Direct Manipulation: Section 13.6, pages –Interface Design: Chapter 24, pages Shneiderman, Ben (1998) Designing the user interface: strategies for effective human-computer interaction. 3rd edition. Addison- Wesley. ISBN SHN