Module Information
Module Identifier
CS18120
Module Title
Study Skills for Computer Science
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Reading List
Other Staff
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | 2 Hours Term-Time Blackboard Quiz Blackboard quiz covering job applications (including CV writing and covering letters), as well as data representation and use of computer-based tools | 40% |
| Semester Assessment | 20 Hours Activity day at a weekend and group presentation Students participate in an activity weekend where they engage in group activities. Based on this the groups will prepare and present a presentation in the tutorials. The group presentation reflects on the activity weekend (including a critical assessment of the students' own performance) and includes the use of figures to represent data. | 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Essay An essay on group/team work, including aspects of how to prepare and deliver a presentation 1250 Words | 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment | 2 Hours Blackboard Quiz | 40% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Understand how to write a job application including an appropriate CV and covering letter
Demonstrate the basic skills of time management, team working and academic writing
Critically review their own performance
Use computer-based tools to support university study
Design and give a presentation
Know essential techniques to present data
Brief description
The module covers a wide range of topics that aim at either developing relevant study skills or promote the development of students as professionals in Computer Science. The emphasis is on personal transferable skills of general value.
The activity day at a weekend is designed to foster community building in the cohort and enhance each student's team working, interpersonal, and communication skills. It leads up to a group presentation that includes a peer marking component to further students' abilities to critically review others as well as their own performance.
The module considers a range of different relevant tools including word processing and presentation software. Special consideration is given to the aspect of appropriate presentation of data.
Topics are explored and presented in a number of lectures. Weekly tutorials allow students to apply what they have learned and develop and practice their skills.
The activity day at a weekend is designed to foster community building in the cohort and enhance each student's team working, interpersonal, and communication skills. It leads up to a group presentation that includes a peer marking component to further students' abilities to critically review others as well as their own performance.
The module considers a range of different relevant tools including word processing and presentation software. Special consideration is given to the aspect of appropriate presentation of data.
Topics are explored and presented in a number of lectures. Weekly tutorials allow students to apply what they have learned and develop and practice their skills.
Aims
The module covers material which is not addressed elsewhere in specific modules but which is essential in order to gain a more complete appreciation of the field as a whole.
Personal transferable skills are an important quality for any computer scientist and form a crucial part of this module.
Personal transferable skills are an important quality for any computer scientist and form a crucial part of this module.
Content
Contents
1) Being a student at Aberystwyth University (modules, teaching activities, assessment; good and bad academic practice (including unacceptable academic practice); digital study tools)
2) Studying and working with others (working as part of a team (considering self-organised and compulsory groups); equality and diversity)
3) Using the work of others (literature search; referencing; use of code libraries)
4) Software to create presentations (presentation software; creating posters)
5) Presenting work (writing technical reports; creating presentations; presenting data)
6) Software to create documents (word processing software; document preparation software; referencing tools)
7) Organising your studies (note taking; time management)
8) Employability (writing a job application; work experience and skills development)
9) Preparing for assessment (exam preparation techniques; planning for assignments)
10) Planning your future (module choices; project work)
1) Being a student at Aberystwyth University (modules, teaching activities, assessment; good and bad academic practice (including unacceptable academic practice); digital study tools)
2) Studying and working with others (working as part of a team (considering self-organised and compulsory groups); equality and diversity)
3) Using the work of others (literature search; referencing; use of code libraries)
4) Software to create presentations (presentation software; creating posters)
5) Presenting work (writing technical reports; creating presentations; presenting data)
6) Software to create documents (word processing software; document preparation software; referencing tools)
7) Organising your studies (note taking; time management)
8) Employability (writing a job application; work experience and skills development)
9) Preparing for assessment (exam preparation techniques; planning for assignments)
10) Planning your future (module choices; project work)
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Communication | Effective communication as part of a team; writing skills (for job application); presentation skills; essential for learning outcomes 1:2:5 |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | essential for learning outcome 3 |
| Information Technology | Explicit in many aspects in the module; essential for learning outcome 4-6 |
| Personal Development and Career planning | One of the key aspects of the module; essential for learning outcome 1 |
| Research skills | Essential for learning outcomes 4:6 |
| Team work | Essential for the activity day and group presentation; essential for learning outcome 2 |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4