ACIT4065 Introduction to Engineering Communication in Global Contexts Emneplan

A real artificial intelligence project will be carried by a large team of students. A practical application will be targeted using state-of-the-art methods and tools. The students will construct a working system from scratch, implementing machine learning components as well as using existing tools. The students are involved in the entire process, starting from earlier design choices to the AI system completion. Examples of tasks may include speech processing and image recognition, robots or drones navigation, self-driving vehicles, and chatbots.

Through this course, the students will gain an in-depth understanding of "AI in practice", as opposed to "AI in theory" or "AI on toy problems".

No formal requirements over and above the admission requirements.

Upon successful completion of the course:

Knowledge

The student:

• understands why, when and how to use AI methods in realistic problems that they may encounter in their technical careers
• knows how to produce the necessary technical documentation
• understands how to manage a project in its expertise domain

Skills

The student:

• can work in a large group with a vaguely defined problem statement
• can assess different frameworks and tools for artificial intelligence in given contexts
• can build systems that realise aspects of intelligent behaviour
• can take part in the design and implemention of a relatively large AI project
• can debug AI applications and correct bugs at a system level (integration)

General competence

The students

• can work in a project within their specific expertise area
• is able to make decisions based on limited information
• is able to tolerate previous decisions when they turn out to be suboptimal and can evaluate them when better information becomes available

This course is run in collaboration with Louisiana Technology University. During the 2024-2025 academic year, the course will be offered online (digitally). The majority of the instruction will take place asynchronously (in Canvas), with periodic 1-hour long synchronous meetings, in Zoom or Teams. 

In line with best teaching practices from the field of professional communication, the following teaching methods will be used (listed here in order of priority and frequency of use): 

• Active learning and flipped classroom methods 
• Peer review and peer-learning 
• Short lectures and presentations by instructor(s), followed by discussions and informal assessments 

The role of the teacher is to be a facilitator and an expert-coordinator of course work, who guides the students through the content of the course 

1. Three written assignments, written individually and in teams. 
2. 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. 

The exam will be a ‘capstone’ written report in groups (max 5 students), between 5000 and 6000 words. 

Students will be provided with a detailed description of the task. Both the quality of the final text and each student's contribution to the group effort will be assessed.  

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. 

All members of the group receive the same final grade. Under exceptional circumstances, individual grades can be assigned at the discretion of the Course Coordinator  and Head of Studies.  

All aids are permitted.

According to the United Nations, European Union and national governments, industry, civil society and academia, true innovation is only achieved through diversity. By leveraging diversity, interdisciplinary, international and inter-sectoral teams can actively work to solve the complex challenges found in society today. This course aims to train students to face the complex challenges faced by society including issues related to the ageing population, human rights, climate change, sustainable development, and the rapid growth in industrialization 4.0.

The course will focus on experienced-based learning and gamification where students from multiple fields work together on a real-life local challenges with global implications. Students will work in collaboration with external partners including government agencies, civil society organizations and businesses in addition to leading researchers from across the globe who struggle every day with producing innovative solutions for their community's and the world's most complex challenge. While specific topics will vary, students will have the opportunity to choose among a variety of topics related to technology, innovation and society. Teams will be required to leverage their collective skills and experiences to effectively collaborate and produce new solutions to today's most complex challenges.

Ola Huse Ramstad

Upon successful completion of the course, the candidate:

Knowledge

• Has an in-depth understanding of innovation;processes including participatory design, co-design, and universal design methods
• Has an advanced understanding of relevant social challenges as articulated by the United Nations, European Union, and national governments including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

;

Skills

• Can critically reflect on the role of diversity in innovation and the role of personal experience, implicit bias, disciplinary traditions, professional background, gender, culture, and other social identities and characteristics
• Can deploy innovation processes to critically identify and analyze social, organizational, or technical problems and produce novel solutions that meet the needs of local communities and reflect global aims and initiatives
• Can critically reflect and reflexively analyze their roles and biases as domain experts and identify and put into practice mechanisms for ensuring ethical, professional conduct, and diversity in teams

General competence

• Has an advanced understanding of how innovation and design frameworks and processes can be implemented in interdisciplinary teams
• Can critically explain and debate creative processes, including design thinking, creativity, deduction and induction.