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Undergraduate

Foundation Degree in Computing and its Practice - Learning Outcomes

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Educational aims

The aim of the Computing and its Practice Foundation Degree programme is to use your experience of working with computers as a basis on which to develop your career within the IT industry. You will achieve a clear understanding of the main concepts of computing, the knowledge and skills needed for modern software development, and the principles of structured career development.

In particular, our aim is to give you:

  • a grasp of the key concepts of computing, of the types of software systems that are now being developed, and of the tools and methods used to construct them
  • practical skills in the main tasks that are carried out as software is constructed and maintained, such as analysis, design, programming and evaluation
  • an opportunity to turn your experience of computing-related work into certificates that are widely recognised by employers
  • an ability to work with other people in a team, communicating computing ideas effectively in speech and in writing
  • a basis for going on to further study in computing, and for professional and career development in computing.

To meet these aims, a curriculum is proposed that comprises of three principal components:

  • academic study
  • professional certification
  • work-based learning.

Learning outcomes

As you progress through the programme you will build up knowledge and understanding, and a collection of skills. These are described below:

Knowledge and understanding

You will gain knowledge and understanding of:

  • the basic concepts of software development and maintenance, such as the identification of users’ needs, the principles of programming, and the representation and meaning of data
  • the methods and tools used to develop a range of software systems
  • the range of situations in which computer systems are used, the ways in which people interact with them, and the ethical, social and legal problems that computer software can create
  • working with your employer to plan your career development.

Cognitive skills

You will be able to:

  • explain basic software development concepts and apply them to practical problems in your own working environment
  • analyse problems, and design and evaluate suitable solutions to them
  • explain the various roles, functions and interactions of members of a software development team
  • reflect on what you achieve in your work, and how you might improve your performance.

Practical and/or professional skills

You will be able to:

  • design, program, test and evaluate software systems
  • use modern software tools, both within and outside your workplace
  • identify and handle the ethical and legal issues that may arise during software development and use
  • follow a career development path towards professional certification
  • work with your manager to agree, record and review your career development plans.

Key skills

You will be able to:

  • work independently, planning, monitoring, reflecting on and improving your own learning and working practices
  • work in a group, communicating computing ideas effectively
  • find, assess and apply information from a variety of sources, using information technology where necessary
  • use numerical and analytical techniques confidently to solve realistic problems.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods

You will learn independently, using the following types of material provided by us:

  • printed teaching texts
  • multimedia packages, on CD-ROM, DVD and the Web
  • directed readings from textbooks and papers
  • specialised software tools.

We will support your learning with:

  • self-assessment questions and exercises, included in the teaching texts
  • programming tasks, computer-based investigations and open-ended project work
  • feedback and guidance from a tutor, including, depending on location, support via tutorials, telephone or email
  • computer conferences
  • study and project guides.

We will assess your learning with:

  • tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
  • multiple-choice computer marked assignments (CMAs)
  • formal examinations
  • progress and project reports
  • your work-based learning log book.

You will develop your cognitive skills by engaging with exercises. Some exercises will be paper based (e.g. those involving analysis and design) and some will be computer based (e.g. you will encouraged to use a development environment in order to alter or produce code according to given specifications.)

These skills are assessed by questions in the TMAs and exams that ask for the application of concepts in given situations. You will be asked to provide evidence of using these skills in your place of work and will be encouraged to reflect on your learning and plan for improvement.

You will be supported in developing key skills by guidance in the Level 1 study materials and feedback from your tutor and place of work supervisor.

Online forums are an integral resource in several modules and you are expected to take part in online discussions moderated by your tutor who will give guidance as needed. Some of these discussions will form part of your assessment.

Assessment of your written communication skills will be integral to the programme.

You will be encouraged to draw together the skills you acquire through the module based units with those you practice in your place of work.

Assessment will be based mainly on the evidence you will provide of applying your skills in your everyday working environment.

Your OU tutor and your work place manager will work together to support your career development.

Assessment strategy

Assessment is via tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and, for some modules, computer-marked assignments (CMAs), set at intervals through the module. There will also be either an end-of-module project or special assignment or an examination. Professional skills are assessed through the submission of written assignments and evidence-based portfolios, which may include witness testimony from colleagues for your work-based learning.