ACIT4100 Understanding and Communicating Research Course description

The course offers students an overview of current theory and practice of working in virtual professional teams, particularly in the contexts of technical fields such as engineering, computer science, and other related areas. The course covers principle frameworks, methods, and practical approaches to forming, participating in, and managing virtual teams for professional activity in those fields. Students will conduct and present guided research of best practices in virtual team management.

This course is designed and run in collaboration with Louisiana Technology University.

No formal requirements over and above the admission requirements.

No formal requirements over and above the admission requirements.

The course will guide the student through a series of topics related to research and how research is communicated. The topics range from debate and rhetoric, philosophy of science, writing genres, narrative templates to professional ethics and plagiarism.

Throughout the course, the student will also search for and collect research literature on a topic of their own chosing. This literature will be organized and categorized in such a way that it allows the students to look for patterns and commonalities. The literature will also form the backbone of a popular science essay, which the student works on throughout the course.

The weeks are organized so that the students own search for material is combined with relevant topics and training on how to read, understand and summarize it. Towards the end of the course, more emphasis will be on writing and communication, where the students will look for ways to best communicate their findings. Each student will record a video presentation of their chosen topic in order to test the outline of their essay.

The role of the expert, either as a professional expert or a researcher in academia, will be discussed at several points in the course. In addition, we look at the interplay between the public and the impact technology has on society.

All modules will be taught as lectures / seminars with assignments for students. Throughout the course, students will work on an individual essay from their own specialization topic. The essay will contain:

• a literature survey
• a discussion on the methods applied by the researchers in the material reviewed in their survey
• a discussion on the ethical challenges related their topic both with regard to the research applied and relative to uses in society

The essay will give the opportunity for the student to tie together all modules in this course into a cohesive document.

Knowledge

On successful completion of this course the student has:

• familiarity with main current theories, methods, and techniques for purposes, structures, and problems related to virtual teams, based on current research in professional communication and engineering.
• knowledge of practical steps and techniques for the formation, participation in, and management of virtual teams in engineering. Such techniques include but are not limited to best practices for forming virtual teams, task setting, conflict resolution, labor distribution within virtual teams, and others.
• understanding of principles and specific techniques for translating virtual team work into effective professional texts and other types of messages.
• awareness of communication technologies for visual teamwork and their appropriate application for various projects and tasks.

Skills

On successful completion of this course the student can:

• participate in the work of the virtual team through effective, efficient, and timely contributions to problem-solving, writing, and other related tasks
• apply knowledge of virtual team work to various stages of a communication project, including but not limited to writing process management, conflict prevention and resolution and technology use
• effectively participate in virtual team communication-related projects, from beginning of a project to completion

General competence

On successful completion of this course the student can:

• Understand the role and purpose of teamwork in modern engineering and other technical disciplines

• Understand how the communication skills and competencies required for successful virtual team work in engineering relate to the general communication competencies in technical disciplines.

Written individual essay of between 5500 and 6500 words.

The exam can be appealed.

New/postponed exam

In case of failed exam or legal absence, the student may apply for a new or postponed exam. New or postponed exams are offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam. The student is responsible for registering for a new/postponed exam within the time limits set by OsloMet. The Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet.

All aids are permitted, provided the rules for plagiarism and source referencing are complied with.

Grade scale A-F.

1. Three written assignments

1. Weekly reading response and peer-review assignments. A minimum of 75% (9 out of 12) out of the reading response and peer-review assignments must be approved.

Detailed description of all assignments will be provided to the students in Canvas.

Individual written report of between 1800 and 2200 words.

The exam can be appealed.

New/postponed exam: In case of failed exam or legal absence, the student may apply for a new or postponed exam. New or postponed exams are offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam. The student is responsible for applying for a new/postponed exam within the time limits set by OsloMet. The Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet.