Course Title: Applied Science Project

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Applied Science Project

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ONPS2186

City Campus

Undergraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 1 2016,
Sem 2 2016

ONPS2186

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2017,
Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Flexible Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ONPS2186

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

UGRDFx2020 (All)

Course Coordinator: Prof. Toby Allen

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 0439

Course Coordinator Email: toby.allen@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Availability: By email appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

 

Assumed Knowledge

This is a capstone course for Applied Science degrees. You are expected to be in the final year of your program. The pre-requisite capabilities are those from core courses undertaken in the preceding years of your program stream, or evidence of equivalent capabilities.


Course Description

This is a final-year capstone unit that gives you an opportunity to engage in scientific research, while extending your knowledge and practical skills in a particular area of interest. You will undertake a small research project under the supervision of an academic staff member.

Collaboration with an external organisation may occur in some projects.

With the assistance of your supervisor, you will define the problem to be studied, carry out a risk assessment, develop the appropriate experimental methods, carry out research on your project, and finally present a written report and a poster or oral presentation.

This unit offers a challenge to final-year students, and allows innovation by the student with respect to both method and research direction. You are required to make a presentation regarding your project to your peers. 

This course will include a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) experience in which your knowledge and skills are applied and assessed in a real or simulated workplace context and where feedback from one or more of active researchers, government, industry and/or community is integral to your experience.

To undertake this course, you will be required to sign either a 2-way WIL agreement with the University or a 3-way agreement with RMIT and an external partner if your project involves collaboration with an external organisation.

 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This Course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes:

PLO-1 Understanding science
PLO-1.1 You will demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method and an ability to apply the scientific method in practice. PLO-1.2 You will demonstrate an understanding of the role and relevance of science in society.
PLO-1.3 You will demonstrate an understanding of the role and importance of evidence in the continuous evolution of scientific knowledge.
PLO-1.4 You will demonstrate an understanding of the significance of your research project to your field of specialization and to society.


PLO-2 Scientific knowledge
PLO-2.2 You will have advanced knowledge in specialized areas of your chosen discipline.
PLO-2.3 You will demonstrate knowledge of research principles and methodology appropriate to your discipline.


PLO-3 Critical Inquiry and Problem Solving
PLO-3.1 You will be able to concisely state research questions, and use them to design and plan a research project.
PLO-3.2 You will be able to gather, critically review and synthesise information relevant to a scientific inquiry or research project. PLO-3.3 You will be able to choose appropriate tools and methods to solve scientific problems within your area of specialization.
PLO-3.4 You will demonstrate well-developed problem solving skills, applying your knowledge and using your ability to think analytically and creatively. PLO-3.5 You will possess an ability to accurately record, analyse, interpret and critically evaluate your research findings.

 PLO-4 Communication
PLO-4.1 You will be able to communicate the solution to a problem or the results of a scientific investigation using effective oral, written and presentation skills.
PLO-4.2 You will be able to communicate the solution to a problem or the results of a scientific investigation using appropriate terminology for the intended audience.


PLO-5 Personal and professional responsibility
PLO-5.1 You will demonstrate accountability for your own learning and professional conduct. PLO-5.2 You will demonstrate initiative and independence.
PLO-5.3 You will work responsibly, safely and ethically.
PLO-5.4 You will develop an ability to work collaboratively.

 

 


On successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Carry out a research project in a professional and scientific manner
  2. Plan and execute a discipline specific research project
  3. Demonstrate an in-depth, project specific, detailed knowledge of instrumentation, procedures and theories associated with the project.
  4. Communicate the results of a research project to a wide audience
  5. Complete a concise written report that conforms with accepted scientific practices.


Overview of Learning Activities

Despite the differences between individual projects, each aims to provide you with the opportunities to gain expertise in project design, management and reporting.

Any or all of the following learning activities are involved:

  • Completion of laboratory, library, field or industry project designed to give you further practice in the application of theory and procedures in your field 
  • Private study, working through the requirements of the project with the assistance of a supervisor, and gaining practice at solving conceptual and numerical problems. 
  • Communication of the results of your project to an appropriate audience

You are expected to develop skills in: 

  • locating and synthesising information available in scientific (and in some cases other) literature in order to establish the need for, and potential scope and context of, the research project;
  • developing creative ways of solving unfamiliar problems by devising a methodological approach to address the research question being raised;
  • managing the time allocated to completing specific tasks;
  • collecting and analysing data (qualitative and/or quantitative) including an assessment of the validity of the research results; and
  • communicating the results in written form, requiring critical analysis, synthesis and organisation of knowledge, and the construction of a rational and lucid scientific argument.

Depending on the project, you may also find you learn other important skills such as how to work effectively in teams and how to take into consideration ethical issues associated with research.

 


Overview of Learning Resources

 

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Project brief describing project aims and methods with risk assessment
Weighting 15%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 and 3

Assessment Task 2: Scientific Progress and Presentation
Weighting 40% 
This assessment task supports CLOs 2, 3 and 4

Assessment Task 3: Project Report
Weighting 45%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.