School of Computer Science
Minutes of the Learning Community Forum Meeting
Spring 2010 – 2011
Date: / 17March 2011(Thursday)Time: / 2.00 -4.00pm
Venue: / Room BA43, Faculty of Science
Staff Members: / Chairman:
1. Mr Ho Sooi Hock - Associate Professor (HSH)
Staff Representatives
1. Dr Tim Braislford – Director Of Studies (TB)
2. Mr K.R Selvaraj - Assistant Professor (KRS)
3. Dr. VP Kallimani (VP)
4. Salma Abd Kadir (SAK)
Student Representatives: / Year 1:
1.Jayaweera Arachchige Bhagya Jayaweera (JABJ)
2. Muhammadh Khairul Amry (MKA)
Year 2:
1.Khaw Hwee Aun (KHA)
2.Sabesan Mahalingam (SM)
Year 3:
1. Piyumi Narmada Jayawardana (PNJ)
2. Abdullahi Shuaibu Adamu (ASA)
MSc :
1. Kiran Kumar Alle (KKA)
Secretary: / Puan Sabariah Amin (SA)
Item / Particulars / Action by
1 / Welcome & Introduction
1.1 / The meeting was called to order at 2.00pm.Chairman welcomed all staff and student representatives who were present in the meeting.
2 / Confirmation of the Minutes of the previous meeting
2.1 / The minutes of the Learning Community Forum Meeting (LCF) for School of Computer Science which was held on 11 November 2010 were confirmed to be accurate and accepted by all members.
3 / Matters Arising from Minutes
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6 / Item 4.1 – G52ADS
A detailed report was received and items discussed with the module convenor. Teaching support was changed and adjusted, e.g. providing more examples, for the benefits of the students.
Item 4.2 – G52APR
Sample codes were posted separately from the lecture materialsto reduce the number of powerpoint slides.
Item 4.3 – G52IFR
Lectures were moved to the CS teaching lab and solutions to assignments were provided before new assignments were given.
Item 5.1 – G51PRG
Lecture slides were uploaded to course web site before lecture.
Item 6.2 - Postgraduate Meeting Room
To provide a fan in BB61 for use by students after 6:00pm when air-condition is switched off.
Although BB61 has been renovated for about 3 months now, it is not ready to use as digital lock is not installed yet.
Action 1: To schedule digital lock installation by end March.
Action 2: To purchase a desk top fan using petty cash when the room is ready.
Item 6.5 – Softcopy Lecture Slides from Business Modules
Negotiation was done with the BusinessSchool but was only successful for one module convenor out of the 2 Business modules affected. / Done
Done
Done
Done
SA
SA
Done
4 / MSc
4.1
4.2 / G64SWE - Software Engineering
KKA informed that the scope of this module is too broad and deliverables, assessment criteria are not definedclearly. MSc students are facing difficultiesas currently the module convenor is recommending topics that can be extended for the summer projects, with considerations of business plans. No common understanding is given regarding evaluation ofproject difficulty levels, and milestone to be achieved at the end of this semester.
Action 1: Relook at the module specifications and confirm with the UK module convenor that the current module aim is not too ambitious.
Action 2:To exclude business aspects as this is strictly a software engineering module.
Action 3: Provide a standardized deliverables and assessment criteria.
G54PDC – Parallel and Distributed Computing
KKA conveyed the message that this module is handled well so far but would like to request help from the module convenor, i.e. to spend some extra time to cover some basic principles and explanation of the Erlang programming language as generally the students may not have the necessary pre-requisites.
Action: To explain to the module convenor that this problem arises due to the limited electives offered and make provisions for extra coverage of basic principles and programming requested. / VP
VP
VP
HSH
5 / Year 3
5.1
5.2 / Courseworks
PNJ brought up the issue of too many courseworks, i.e. 2 for G53SEC, 4 for G52HCI, 2 for G53NMD and 1 for G53DSM, to be handled by the final year students, especially at a time when they are struggling to submit their final year individual dissertations.
Action: To discuss with the lecturer concerned for any possibility for restructuring and re-scheduling of submission dates.
Exam Timetables
PNJ is concerned about the starting date of the examination being brought forward due to the change of Wesak public holiday from May 10th to May 17th.This might causeclashes of dissertation demonstration and first final year module exam dates.
Action 1: Bring forward the date for dissertation demonstration to give more lead time for preparationof the first examination paper.
Action 2: Check the draft exam timetables and feedback to examination office if necessary if the gap between the project demonstration and first examination date is too close. / KRS/HSH
KRS
KRS/HSH
6 / Year 2
6.1 / G52MAL – Machines and their Languages
KHA informed that due to the block delivery arrangement of this module by Henrik (6 weeks), 2 lectures were conducted and 2 courseworks have to be submitted every week. Students find that it can be very stressful at times.
Action: Discuss with Henrik to give some flexibilities on coursework submission dates, e.g. courseworks submitted when he is no more here can be scanned and emailed to him in UK. / HSH
7 / Year 1
6.1
6.2
6.3 / ClassroomAllocations
MKAsuggested that classesbe arranged in Block B if the following is a practical class in the CS Lab, e.g. G51FUN and G51PRG, to avoid long walking time between lectures.
HSH explained that this problem can be avoided if lecturers wrapup 10 minutes before time, which is therecommended practice for all lecturers. Moreover, classrooms in Block B are not as good as other blocks as the whiteboard is usually covered when projector is used.
ASA added that a long walk might actually help to refresh the minds in preparation for the next lecture.
G51OOP – Object-Oriented Programming
JABJ brought up issues with laboratory support for this module. It is highlighted that scheduled laboratory hours were used only for assessment and no exercise sessions were provided. Students are finding that they have difficulty in catching up.
Action 1: To ensure that the module convenor follows the module specifications and uses the structure, schedule of instructions provided in UK, with appropriate laboratory support and feedback on marked assessment questions.
Action 2: To compile a list of urgent problems that students have and hold tutoring sessions with different lecturers as tutors so as to resolve the programming problems identified.
Use of CS Lab
KHA suggestedthat CS Lab hours be extended due to heavy usage in other University Labs.
HSH explained that extended Lab hours implies that additional manpower is needed due to security reasons. This had been requested many times before and the agreed solution is to extend hours for specific labs that are manned by assigned security personnel. / TB
JABJ/HSH
There being no other matters the chairman thanked the staff and students. The meeting adjourned at 4:30pm.
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