ENGGEN 101G : Software, Data and Intelligent Automation
Engineering
2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course is an introduction to the concepts of data and software automation. For data, we will explore where it comes from, how we can collect and use it, and what are some ethical, moral and legal issues around using data. In software automation, we'll explore how automation has changed our societies and look at some basic principles around automating a task. As part of the course, you'll learn how to build an AI solution. We will be using commonly available solutions that will be available to you in future.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
Learning Outcomes
- Describe and explain what intelligent automation is, how it works and how it can be utilised in an organisation (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 6.1)
- Analyse how data can be stored, transmitted, and used when solving problems, including the legal and ethical issues of accessing and collecting the data (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Discuss different worldviews and perspectives of software, including its ownership, how it can be used, and the impacts on society (Capability 1.1, 3.1 and 3.2)
- Build an automation solution to solve a problem and explain how the solution works (Capability 3.2 and 5.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Essay | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Coursework |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
| Coursework | ||||||||||
| Essay | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.
During a typical teaching week there will be two hours of lectures and either a one-hour tutorial or a two-hour lab. For the 12 teaching weeks, this totals 39 hours (there are no labs or tutorials in weeks 1 and 12.) Since the course as a whole represents approximately 150 hours of study, that leaves a total of 111 hours across the entire semester for independent study, e.g. reading, reflection, preparing for and completing assessments.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs and tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials and labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
There are no prescribed textbook or course book for this course. There will be online readings and videos assigned on Canvas. All course material will be available for you in Canvas, including lecture notes, laboratory work and links to readings and videos. There is also an online discussion forum (Piazza) where you can discuss course topics and seek assistance from staff and other students.
Health & Safety
Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
For the labs, you can use either university computers or your own computers.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
- The overall course structure was perceived as well organised, with the information clearly presented by the lecturers.
- The in-person labs were helpful for learning the different concepts involved.
- We have revised the labs and tutorials to better align them with the course content.
- Simplified the project, especially for students who have not come from a programming background.
- Some students queried the value of an essay for an assignment. The essay has been included to assess some of the non-technical concepts in the course that cannot be assessed with a hands-on assessment. We will change the instructions for the essay to make it clearer what is expected.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.