HE Audit - Bsc (Hons) Applied Computing

Today I have added my suggestions to Ste's Module suggestions document, created a collective collection of the worksheet results from our course and translated them into Bar charts, explaining which were the most reccuring suggestions from our class.
I have also completed a Flowchart of Process in regards to out current case study.

-Rachael (:

HE Audit - FdSc Software Apps

Today I completed reviewing the FdSc Software Applications Development course. After the first meeting the group decided how we were going to analyse the graduate skills of our respective courses.

The first task to carry was to hand out the Employability Skills Student worksheet to as many FdSc students as possible. Once I had the worksheets back the next step was to analyse the results.

The next task was to complete the Employability Skills document for each of the modules, 6 in total. Once I had analyse each skill in each module I then entered my findings in the Assessment of Graduate Skills spreadsheet. After completing this, I wrote a course review which talked about how well each skill is practiced on the course as well as any suggestions on how to further integrate each skill. I wrote a module suggestions document in which I speak about ways these certain skills could be practiced more in future modules. On top of this I included an altered assignment brief as to provide an example.

Thats it from me.

HE Audit - Computer Forensics

Today I finished completing all aspects of the HE audit with reference to Computer Forensics. 

After the last meeting, in which myself, Steven, John and Philip discussed how we were going to analyse each graduate skill within our own courses, we have all set away at our own little tasks.

I emailed seven different IT employers, in which only one emailed me back, stating he did not himself deal with employing anyone but did pass on the email to the correct person, this has not come back with any result.

I have also completed the 'Assessment of Graduate Skills' spread sheet, in which I have analysed which skills are practised within the Computer Forensic modules for Y2. This spreadsheet will be shown in the finished audit. After this was completed, I created a report, reviewing the course, how the skills were implemented and how they could be further implemented to ensure all skills were covered, this again will be in the completed audit.

Any further information gathered, or any more work completed will be posted at a later date.

That's all from me!

Employability Focus Group - John

Today I have finished doing the finishing touches to the FDsc networking review, Module Suggestions FDsc Networking Review and Assessment of Graduate Skills FDsc Networking. In our previous meeting we read through the approved case study of Exeter’s and developed a plan of the components we aim to include in our case study. Along with how we could improve on Exeter’s study were also discussed.

After this each member of the project team cracked on with their own tasks. I have managed to finish the documentation for my module for the different tasks being the FDsc Networking review, Module Suggesntions, FDsc Networking Review and assessment of graduate skills FDsc Networking.  

I have reviewed the information which was put into the documents and made sure that the information which was input was accurate and sufficient for what is needed. For the employability skills along with the information which was received from students and employers however “none” of the employers which I have emailed out a total of 5 have managed to get back to me within the time given.

That’s all for now.

Computing Employability Focus Group – Day 1 – Ste Brown

Today I met with the majority of the project team for the first time. In our meeting we read through the adopted case study of Exeter’s and devised a plan of the elements we aim to include in our case study. In addition to this, ideas on how we could improve on Exeter’s study were also discussed.

After this each member of the project team cracked on with their own tasks. Firstly, I filled in the “assessment of graduate skills” work sheet for my course, which as described in the post below, scores each module against a list of given employability skills.  

My other piece of work of the day was creating templates for both the course review and programme review. I created this to save time for other group members and to show them the kind of structure I’ll be using for the review of my particular programme. I think it’s a good idea that we all to stick to a similar-ish structure throughout the review of our different courses. Obviously there’s no obligation to use it, just an idea…

Final thought, I think we can create a superior case study in comparison to that of Exeter’s, mainly because we all have mad IT skills. Thus we can be more creative about what we put in the study and how it is presented.  For example I think we could include some graphs in there instead of just tabular data. We could aggregate the scores for each employability skill for a particular course and illustrate which skills are scoring highest for that course in a bar chart perhaps.  I’m sure there’s plenty more we can do but that’s my first thought on that…  

That’s all for now.

HE Audit - First Entry

Dear All,

This blog has been set up by a group of students from Newcastle College who are completing an audit of the skills which are taught on various computing courses. The blog is here to allow each student involved to share their own experience and progress throughout the audit.

The audit involves each student performing a review of all the modules on their current course. Each module will be assessed on the top 12 employability skills identified by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Once reviewed, each module will receive recommendations on how each skill should be incorporated or improved.

So far we have asked students to complete an employability skills worksheet, which has asked them to identify the top 5 skills they believe an employer wants, as well as assess whether or not they believe their current course implements these. We have also sent emails to current IT employers to ask which are the top 5 skills they want when looking to employ someone.

We aim to complete a spread sheet, showing how each module fairs up against the 12 employability skills, rating them from 0-3, 0 being not considered, leading up to 3 which is optimally considered. This will give us an overview on the current courses, showing how well they teach the 12 top employability skills. We will then consolidate all results and compare them with the list of skills we acquire from the employers.

This blog will be updated regularly with the progress being made.

This concludes our first entry to the blog.