Engineering: professions, practice and skills 2

This module extends your planning of personal and professional development in engineering enabling you to further develop the skills you need to achieve professional engineering status. Team working plays an important role. You’ll develop these skills through remote practical engineering activities, using a home experiment kit. This replaces a week-long compulsory residential school that we’ve cancelled due to the uncertainty raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the support of experienced tutors, you’ll explore real-world engineering phenomena and undertake analysis and design work as carried out by engineers. You'll continue to explore the world of professional engineering as you further develop and practise a range of key skills needed in your workplace and for study.

What you will study

In this OU level 2 module you’ll have the opportunity to develop the skills to support you in attaining your chosen qualification in engineering. It is a compulsory module of the OU Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Q65) and Master of Engineering (M04) and is not available for standalone study.

The collection, use and manipulation of data will be examined together with developing these into meaningful results that can be successfully communicated.

As part of the skills development, you’ll take part in practical engineering activities. You’ll work in small teams, under the guidance of experienced tutors, carrying out engineering tasks and solving problems. You’ll also gain practical skills in taking measurements, analysing data, seeking and evaluating information, modelling, as well as further developing your presentation skills.

You will learn

On successful completion of the module you will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge, understanding and critical analysis of methods applied to the collection and use of data in a scientific and engineering context
• by use of appropriate technical vocabulary, assess the acquired knowledge in the broader context of engineering practice
• demonstrate critical evaluation and assessment of technical and numerical information, utilising analytical methods as necessary with the aim of making clear communication of your own investigations utilising external sources where needed
• further develop the management of your learning in terms of analytical, practical, and professional skills, and assessing your learning development so far to formulate and demonstrate the planning of your future learning needs to achieve your goals
• demonstrate critical analysis skills in the collection and use of data as part of investigative work together with presentation of results in the most appropriate format to communicate meaningful conclusions both as an individual practitioner and in a team working environment
• use examples from your own experience, previous study and practical work to extend your portfolio of personal and professional development in the context of engineering practice and professional recognition.

Professional recognition

We design our engineering degrees to meet the accreditation requirements of professional engineering institutions. Both our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees have been accorded the highest levels of recognition in the last two accreditation cycles, and we are now seeking re-accreditation for our current suite of degrees.  

Entry requirements

This module is not available for standalone study. You must first register for either the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Q65) or Master of Engineering (M04).

To study this module, normally you should have also completed the OU level 1 module Engineering: professions, practice and skills 1 (T176).

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.

What's included

You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:

• a week-by-week study planner
• course-specific module materials
• audio and video content
• assessment details and submission section
• online tutorial access.

You’ll also be provided with a copy of the Practical Engineering Handbook, and activity notes.

Computing requirements

A computing device with a browser and broadband internet access is required for this module. Any modern browser will be suitable for most computer activities. Functionality may be limited on mobile devices.

Any additional software will be provided, or is generally freely available. However, some activities may have more specific requirements. For this reason, you will need to be able to install and run additional software on a device that meets the requirements below.

A desktop or laptop computer with either an up-to-date version of Windows or macOS.

The screen of the device must have a resolution of at least 1024 pixels horizontally and 768 pixels vertically.

To join in the spoken conversation in our online rooms we recommend a headset (headphones or earphones with an integrated microphone).

Our Skills for OU study website has further information including computing skills for study, computer security, acquiring a computer and Microsoft software offers for students.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Throughout your module studies, you’ll get help and support from your assigned module tutor. They’ll help you by:

• Marking your assignments (TMAs) and providing detailed feedback for you to improve.
• Guiding you to additional learning resources.
• Providing individual guidance, whether that’s for general study skills or specific module content.
• Facilitating online discussions between your fellow students, in the dedicated module and tutor group forums.

Module tutors also run online tutorials throughout the module. Where possible, recordings of online tutorials will be made available to students. While these tutorials won’t be compulsory for you to complete the module, you’re strongly encouraged to take part. If you want to participate, you’ll likely need a headset with a microphone.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above.

You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).

The module finishes with an end-of-module assessment (EMA) that is also submitted electronically.

Residential school

A residential school would normally take place at a university in the UK, but in response to uncertainties raised by the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve cancelled this for 2021. Instead, you’ll conduct your practical learning remotely, using a home experiment pack.

The practical engineering activities will take place in summer 2021. You can carry out all the tasks on a desk or table.

You’ll explore real-world engineering phenomena and solve engineering problems. You’ll also enhance your practical skills: measuring; data analysis; research and information evaluation; modelling; presenting, designing; and decision making. Working in a small online team, you’ll develop these skills through enjoyable, online interactive learning activities. You’ll define your learning needs and plan ways of meeting them with the support of experienced tutors.

If you have any concerns about the practical engineering aspects of the module, contact your Student Support Team to discuss your options.

To pass the module, you must take part satisfactorily in the practical engineering activities.