Comp3352
Module Outline: COMP3352 Modelling and Simulation Sem2 2016-17
Contents / PageThings you need to know at the beginning
Assessment Items
Assessment grading matrix
If you have problems with assessments
Module Content
Things you need to know at the beginning
Occurrence A / Tuesday 13:15 – 16:15 / Room: CH1001Occurrence B / Friday 12:15 – 15:15 / Room: CH1001
Teaching team / Dr. Colin Price, , Room CHLG020, Phone 542024 / MA in Natural Sciences (Cambridge), PhD Electronic Engineering (University of Leuven – Belgium), Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, National Teaching Fellow. Over 60 research publications.
How this module fits into your course / This module builds on your experiences on the course so far. Starting from these experiences, especially coding, it also introduces some new theoretical approaches such as mathematical modelling and data analysis.
How this module engages with the external environment / No trips or visits are planned for this module, engagement will be through a simulated environment such as virtual fairground rides, badminton games etc.
How this module will enhance your employability / This module will enable you to develop and enhance the following and evidence them on your CV:
- Application of relevant knowledge. You will sharpen your mathematical and computer coding skillsYou will develop abstract thinking helping you to “step out of a problem” to understand it
- Research and problem solving. You will learn how to plan and conduct a simulation study to address a problem you have identified, propose and test a hypothesis about a particular scenario.
- Critical Analysis. In conducting simulations you will be exploring “what – if” scenarios and you will understand the implications of choices you make. In analysing simulation data you will be able to look for patterns and form conclusions from the interpretation of your data.
- Numeracy. You will learn how to use spread sheets to analyse data of moderate complexity. Through a study of mathematical models of natural systems, students will enhance their mathematical skills such as algebra and analysis.
What you need to know before you start this module / Learning will be centred around set tasks where students carry out a number of activities, following input from the Tutor. Tasks will involve the use of simulation and professional software. Tutor input will consist of working together with the class to explore concepts; there will be no powerpoint presentations, but notes made during the sessions and voice recordings of the sessions will be placed on the module web pages.
Feedback from the previous year shows that students found the topics presented engaging and appreciated the range of tutorials placed on the module website. Students liked the structure of the assignments and the formative feedback which allowed them to improve their grades.
Higher education requires a lot of reading; this means you need to get used to using the library resources (available from the Library website and add the link ( in particular the Talis Aspire Resource List ( which is a list of all the things you need to read for each module.
If you have further questions please contact Stephanie Allen the Academic Liaison Librarian for the Business School or go toBusiness LibGuide or ComputingLibGuide
Your responsibility / You must do all the required reading – or you will struggle with the classes and ultimately the assessments.
You must attend all sessions and undertake any and all of the required pre-reading, since failure to do so will affect your performance. If you cannot attend for any reason you must notify the module leader as soon as possible.
It is your responsibility to actively engage positively with sessions for example contributing to group discussions, asking questions and taking responsibility for your learning. This way you’ll get the most out of the lessons.
If there is anything which is unclear or you do not understand you must ask a member of the module team.
What help is there if you have a disability or a particular learning need? / The University of Worcester is committed to ensuring diversity and equality within its teaching practice. If you have a registered disability or particular learning need and you wish this to be taken into account please speak to your Personal Academic Tutor or let the module leader know. You will find additional useful information on the Disability and Dyslexia webpages at
Assessment(s) / The assessment for this module is based a two assignments; you are required to pass both items of assessment to pass this module. Report 1 provides grounding material for Report 2 and therefore has to be passed. You will have opportunity to present Report 1 to the module teacher during the 6th module session and to receive individual formative feedback.
Assignment 1 – Report 1
Word Limit or equivalent (e.g. time) / You may achieve the maximum grade for 750 words, however there is no word limit
Weighting / 25%
Learning Outcomes Assessed /
- Evaluate the various approaches to modelling real-world scenarios
- Design a model for a given scenario and implement this model in a computer programming language
- Conduct planned simulations using the programmed model to verify and validate the model
- Evaluate the results of simulations conducted according to a planned research investigation
Submission date / Friday 17th March
Feedback date / w/c 27th March
Module Leader / Colin Price
Verified by / Marc Price
If anything about this assignment is not clear to you, please contact the module leader.
You are expected to plan your time and work to manage your overall assessment workload.
What you need to do / You need to write a report comprising 4 components each of which addresses single learning outcome. This report should mainly be based on the first four workshop activities. There is no requirement to cite any references. Workshop sessions which contribute to each learning outcome are indicated on the Module Content at the end of this document.How you should present your work / Organise your report into four components, one for each learning outcome. Here are some suggestions what to put in each component:
LO4. Data collected from a simulation presented in a table, graph, screen-shots or other media modes. Explanation of how your investigation was conducted, e.g. which parameter you changed, and which variable you measured.
LO3. You should state what validation and verification of a model mean, and why this needs to be done. Your data collected (as instructed in the associated worksheet) will be used to show whether or not a model is validated and verified.
LO2. Present the code you have written, and explain how this is related to the underlying mathematical model. Annotate your code explaining what it does in as much detail as you can.
LO1. Here you should reflect on several simulations you have performed and provide your own thoughts on the following:
(i) The complexity of the mathematical model. (Complexity will be defined in class)
(ii) The difficulty or ease of translating the mathematical model into code
(iii) The difficulty or ease of making sense of the data provided by the simulation
An effective way of doing this would be to create a table with a row for each simulation and items (i)-(iii) as columns, though you may choose this in another way.
Please put your student number and page number in the report header or footer.
How we’ll give you guidance
/ You will receive formative feedback on your report during a module session as indicated on the Module Content at the end of this document. This will occur one week before the submission date and you will be able to amend your report as a result of this feedbackHow and when to hand the assessment in / Work must be word-processed/typed and should clearly show your student number.You are required to keep a copy of work handed in. You should submit your report electronically via SOLE by 15:00 Friday 17th March 2017. See the University’s guide to uploading and submitting assessment items at the University of Worcester via SOLE in under 60 seconds on You Tube you have issues uploading your assessment to sole you will need to contact . You are not required to apply Turnitin for your report.
How the assessment will be marked
/ Specific criteria is in the Grading Matrix for this assignment, which can be found on page 5.How you will get feedback / Feedback will be presented to you individually in class.
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Grading Matrix
This matrix captures the assessment criteria for this part of the coursework.
Student Number: / Academic Year and Semester: 2016-17 S2 / Module Code:COMP3352 / Assignment No:
1 / Occurrence:
A/B
Learning Outcomes:
1. Evaluate the various approaches to modelling real-world scenarios
2. Design a model for a given scenario and implement this model in a computer programming language
3. Conduct planned simulations using the programmed model to verify and validate the model
4. Evaluate the results of simulations conducted according to a planned research investigation / Module Title:
Modelling & Simulation / Assignment Weighting:
25% / Assignment Description:
Report 1
Assessment Criteria
GRADE / Criteria
A / All four components are present and are complete with details and explanations.
B / All four components are present: Three of the four components are complete with details and explanations. One component is adequately presented.
C / All four components are present: Two of the four components are complete with details and explanations. Two components are adequately presented.
D / Three of the four components are adequately presented.
Fail (E-G) / Less than three components are presented and/or the components presented are inadequate
General Comment:
What you can do better in future assignments:
How successful completion of this assignment helps your employability:Application of knowledge, Critical analysis, Logical and Abstract Thinking.
Assignment Grade: / Marker: Colin Price / Moderator*:Marc Price
* This person is responsible for moderating a sample of student work for this module. Your work may, or may not, have been included in this sample
RESULTS ARE PROVISIONAL UNTIL AGREED BY THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS
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Assignment 2 – Report 2Word Limit or equivalent (e.g. time) / You may achieve the maximum grade for 2250 words, however there is no word limit
Weighting / 75%
Learning Outcomes Assessed / 1. Evaluate the various approaches to modelling real-world scenarios
2. Design a model for a given scenario and implement this model in a computer programming language
3. Conduct planned simulations using the programmed model to verify and validate the model
4. Evaluate the results of simulations conducted according to a planned research investigation
Submission date / 15th May 2017
Feedback date / Before 29th May 2017
Module Leader / Colin Price
Verified by / Marc Price
If anything about this assignment is not clear to you, please contact the module leader.
You are expected to plan your time and work to manage your overall assessment workload.
What you need to do / You need to write a report based on your project work which addresses all 4 learning outcomes. There is no requirement to cite any references.How you should present your work / You may choose between alternative ways of presenting your project work:
1. Organise your report into four sections, one for each learning outcome.
2. Write in a journal style, where you record your work as it develops during the project sessions.
If you have written any code, this must be included with annotations explaining how it functions.
You must have a clear section at the end of the report where you address learning outcome 1. This section will contain your reflections on the “complexity” of your project. Complexity will be discussed in the session before you start your project, and you will receive detailed instructions on what to include in your report.
Please put your student number and page number in the report header or footer.
How we’ll give you guidance
/ A range of possible projects will be discussed during the session before the project starts. Also during this session the requirements for your report will be discussed, and you will be given individual advice on what sort of project could be best suited to you. You will be asked to email the module Tutor with your project choice before the first project session.How and when to hand the assessment in / Work must be word-processed/typed and should clearly show your student number.You are required to keep a copy of work handed in. You should submit your report electronically via SOLE by 15:00 15th May 2017. See the University’s guide to uploading and submitting assessment items at the University of Worcester via SOLE in under 60 seconds on You Tube you have issues uploading your assessment to sole you will need to contact . You are not required to submit your report to Turnitin.
How the assessment will be marked
/ Specific criteria is in the Grading Matrix for this assignment, which can be found on pageHow you will get feedback / You will receive feedback on this report no later than 29th May 2017
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Grading Matrix Template
This matrix captures the assessment criteria for this part of the coursework.
Student Number: / Academic Year and Semester: 2016-17 S2 / Module Code:COMP3352 / Assignment No:
2 / Occurrence:
A/B
Learning Outcomes:
1. Evaluate the various approaches to modelling real-world scenarios
2. Design a model for a given scenario and implement this model in a computer programming language
3. Conduct planned simulations using the programmed model to verify and validate the model
4. Evaluate the results of simulations conducted according to a planned research investigation / Module Title:
Modelling & Simulation / Assignment Weighting:
75% / Assignment Description:
Report 2
Assessment Criteria
GRADE / Criteria
A / All four components are present and are complete with details and explanations.
B / All four components are present: Three of the four components are complete with details and explanations. One component is adequately presented.
C / All four components are present: Two of the four components are complete with details and explanations. Two components are adequately presented.
D / Three of the four components are adequately presented.
Fail (E-G) / Less than three components are presented and/or the components presented are inadequate
General Comment:
What you can do better in future assignments:
How successful completion of this assignment helps your employability: Application of knowledge, Critical analysis, Logical and Abstract Thinking.
Assignment Grade: / Marker: Colin Price / Moderator*:Marc Price
* This person is responsible for moderating a sample of student work for this module. Your work may, or may not, have been included in this sample
RESULTS ARE PROVISIONAL UNTIL AGREED BY THE BOARD OF EXAMINER
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If you have problems submitting work or submitting work on time: / Firstly, contact someone, your Module Leader or personal Academic Tutor.It is essential that you submit your work, in order to be able to pass the module. Work which is submitted late will be subject to grade penalties as below.
- Students who submit course work late but within 5 days of the due date will have work marked, but the grade will be capped at the minimum pass grade unless an application for mitigating circumstances is accepted.
- Students who submit work later than 5 days but within 14 days of the due date will not have work marked unless they have submitted a valid claim of mitigating circumstances.
If you are ill or have personal problems / The University has a system for applying for mitigating circumstances where things happen, beyond your control, which affect your assessments. Don’t suffer in silence. Speak to your Module Leader, your Personal Academic Tutor or a Programme Advisor.
Full details of Procedures for Dealing with Exceptional Mitigating Circumstances are available at
If you engage in academic misconduct (cheating)
/ Do not use material from sources without acknowledging them using a recognised referencing system. Do not copy another student’s work. If you do you will be referred to the School’s Academic Integrity Tutor and may face further penalties. Details in your Course Handbook accessible via SOLE and atIf you don’t pass at the first attempt / DON’T PANIC. In the event you are required to take reassessment you will receive formal notification of this via a letter from Registry Services posted on the SOLE page after the meeting of the Board of Examiners. The letter will normally include a copy of the reassessment task(s). Deadlines for re-assessment can be found in the University Calendar at
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Module Content
W/C date / Teaching week / Pre-class reading. / Topic / How does this link to the Assessment?30 Jan / 13 / None / Concepts of modelling and simulation. Rocket launch investigation / ILO 4
6 Feb / 14 / See web pages / Math modelling and coding a 1D dynamic system (fairground ride) / ILO 1,2
13 Feb / 15 / See web pages / 2D dynamic systems (e.g. projectile motion) / ILO 1,2
20 Feb / 16 / See web pages / Verification and Validation of a model and its simulation (oscillator) / ILO 3,4
27 Feb / 17 / See web pages / Models of Urban Growth by Cellular Automata / ILO 2,4
6 Mar / 18 / See web pages / Search and Rescue using Quadcopters (drones)
Formative Feedback on Report1 in class / ILO 1,2
13 Mar / 19 / See web pages / Robot behaviour using PID control theory.
Submission of Report 1 / ILO 1,4
20 Mar / 20 / See web pages / Introduction to Complexity Theory. Project choice. / ILO 1
27 Mar / 21 / None / Project
Return of graded Report1 / ILO 1,2,3,4
3 Apr / 22 / None / Project / ILO 1,2,3,4
10 Apr / Easter
17 Apr / Easter
24 Apr / 23 / None / Project / ILO 1,2,3,4
1 May / 24 / None / Project / ILO 1,2,3,4
8 May / Assessment Week
15 May / Assessment Week
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