Course Title: Thesis Preparation, Planning and Problem Solving EL

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Thesis Preparation, Planning and Problem Solving EL

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

EEET1481

City Campus

Postgraduate

125H Electrical & Computer Engineering

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 2 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 2 2007

Course Coordinator: Professor Alireza Baghai-Wadji

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2851

Course Coordinator Email: alireza.baghai-wadji@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 10.7.16

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

To successfully complete this course, students should be able to follow and comprehend consecutive logical steps in the thinking and problem solving procedures, have the ability to translate the instructed procedures into writing a successful proposal for a thesis, be capable of acquiring knowledge for time management, disciplined work and task scheduling, have the ability to learn various research methodologies, have the capability to learn to write accurately, concisely and consistently.


Course Description

This subject aims for the following:

• To provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to develop a proposal for work to be performed in the minor thesis component of the degree.
• To develop students’ personal and professional skills.
• To raise student awareness in importance of a structured approach to innovation and problem solving.
• To equip researchers and engineers with basic techniques of effective thinking, creative problem solving and proper decision making.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The primary objectives of this course are:

• The determination and clarification of the scope of the topic, in a specific discipline setting, for the work to be performed in the minor component of the degree.
• The development of capabilities necessary to write proposals, scientific papers, reports efficiently and concisely.





Overview of Learning Activities

In this course students will:

• Apply for a thesis/project topic,
• Search the literature to refine the aims and objectives of the topic,
• Learn the problem solving, project management, report writing, and presentation skills that will help them to successfully complete their thesis/project in the following semester,
• Write a report on
a) Thesis/project topic aims and objectives.
b) Literature survey on the topic.
c) Project management plan

• Give oral presentation on the report.


Overview of Learning Resources

References

1. Evans D., How to write a better thesis or report, Melbourne University Press, 1995.
2. Leedy Paul D., Practical Research: Planning and Design, 4th Edition, McMillan, New York, 1989.

3. Parsons C. J., Theses and Project Work, Allen and Unwin, UK, 1980.

4. Moses I., Supervising Postgraduates, HERDAS, 1985.

5. Students are also referred to, e.g., the Otaga University web site (NZ) for further reading on grammar and syntax.
Prescribed text/s will be detailed in part B of the course guide.



Overview of Assessment

Assessment will consist of evaluating several written assignments pertaining to the student’s research topic, and an end of semester presentation on the chosen topic. Students will be expected to be able to download reference lists from websites for which a suitable template exists, using Endnote or similar software. They will also be required to define components of a typical thesis and aspects of these components such as the difference between a bibliography and a reference list.