1. p1 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Welcome to Systems Engineering Eur Ing Chris Guy Head of School Dr Richard Mitchell School Director of Teaching & Learning On Handbooks, Courses, Registration, Thursday Welcome Dr Andrew Adams School Senior Tutor On Personal Tutors and PARs Video from School’s ITNG and Tour of School

2. p2 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Handbooks – Please Keep and Read Hopefully you will have received a)The School’s Handbook for Students details general information on School & Uni b)The relevant Degree Course Handbook specific information about your degree c) The School’s Guide to Computing information about the School’s computers If you have not got these, spare copies are available at registration this afternoon (and on the web).

3. p3 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Communications The web is one source of information The School uses much modern technology as a means of communicating with you E-mail is used regularly We also use ‘Blackboard’ : each module you do has a presence on blackboard, where information is posted – read it regularly – used also for notices, but some staff also use more advanced features The second welcome on Thursday will introduce BB and email – bring your username/password

4. p4 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Courses and Professional Bodies Most of our courses are accredited by professional bodies, such as the IEE or the BCS You may well want to consider joining them Note, both IEE and BCS have local branches which organise evening lectures and other activities [The IEE have a stand in freshers week and an event on Oct 13 th : see www.iee.org/berkshire ]www.iee.org/berkshire You may well want to attend some activities: watch the relevant web sites and emails

5. p5 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Degree Course Organisation Degrees last 3, 4 and occasionally 5 years Each Degree is divided into Parts (aligned to years) Each Part is divided into Modules Each Module is worth X credits (usually 20) There are Modules worth 120 credits per Part In order to ‘progress’ to the next Part, you have to pass the current Part Each course has a Programme Specification – this lists the Modules, contains Progression Rules, etc. These Prog Specs are in your Course Handbook.

6. p6 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Modules and Registration (from 2:00) Each degree has some Compulsory Modules, many have Optional Modules You can usually do the Compulsory Modules for other degrees as well as your chosen degree So if you Pass, you can stay on your current degree, but may be able to change to another for Part 2 Registration is about choosing the Modules Programme Advisors will be there to help Look at your Course Handbook before then This also includes Module Descriptions

7. p7 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 School Student Information Office G44 This office, in the northern part of the ‘main’ school building, has spare copies of lecture notes other bits of useful information copies of forms, you may need system for receiving coursework And the delightful Glennys and Helen

8. p8 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Systems Engineering Buildings

9. p9 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Second Welcome to Systems Engineering On Thursday, starting at 10.00 in Madjeski lecture theatre, in Agriculture (Earley Gate campus) Talk on various aspects of Uni / School Then ‘parallel’ sessions back in Systems Engineering Welcome from relevant subject groups Hands-on computing session try out email – send message to your tutor try Blackboard: fill in form on programming Then on Friday (for most) you see your tutor …

10. p10 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Your Tutor Each Student has a Personal Tutor Member of the academic staff of the School, who Helps with the transition to University and to make the most of your time here Advises and support you with your studies and any difficulties Provides reports and references Supports you in developing your PAR (Personal Academic Record)

11. p11 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 What is PAR? PAR – simple record of tutor-tutee meetings Useful to both as can help provide overview of tutee’s academic progression encourage students to take more responsibility for their own learning encouraging the development of key skills provide tutors with useful material for references ensure that each tutee receives same basic support provide written documentation of the tutorial support a School provides

12. p12 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Your PAR Folder Given to you at the first meeting (for most this will be this Friday) For you to keep and you to bring to each meeting Your tutor will keep the original of each record of meetings and you will get a copy You both sign the record If you want other information to be added give your tutor a copy If you don’t want something recorded – say – but your tutor may forget if there isn’t a record

13. p13 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 First Meeting At registration you will be given the name of your tutor and a date and time to meet him/her You will also get a form to fill in about you Do this before the first meeting Take care it is carbonated The topics for the first meeting include Quick check on general stuff mentioned here Discussion on the form about you Check on your Part 1 modules and Timetable Discussion on any special needs

14. p14 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Other Meetings In your first year, timetabled meetings: In the first or second week of each term In other years, timetabled meetings: In weeks as detailed in your PAR You fix exact time with your tutor, via email Always use your Reading email Note if you need to see your tutor at other times, send an email, suggesting a few times, or phone For urgent matters, you may have to see another If you cant get your tutor, ring School 0118 378 7634

15. p15 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Guided Tour Thanks for your attention We will now go for a brief tour of the school, seeing G44 – School Information Office Common Room – where you will register G21 – one room for Part 1 labs G56 – another room for Part 1 labs Don’t forget, the second welcome on Thursday at 10 in Madjeski – bring email username & password

16. p16 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Systems Engineering and Procedures Dr Richard Mitchell Director of Teaching & Learning This talk includes some general information about the School, the University and their procedures Much of it can be found in the School Handbook which, together with other handbooks, should be read and kept for reference. Topics: Illness etc, Exams, Filling in relevant forms.. Examinations, Your Responsibilities More on web sites, etc.

17. p17 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Systems Engineering Web Site www.sse.reading.ac.uk has school wide info and links to subject group pages and research group pages School and Subject group pages have standard sections, including those for prospective students and (more relevant to you) current students You can find timetables, handbooks, module information and often lecture notes There are links to blackboard – which like email, you should monitor regularly

18. p18 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Feedback There are plenty of opportunities for you to comment on the courses, which we welcome, as they enable us to improve them: for instance Staff-Student Liaison Committees course representatives (students) and staff meet to discuss course matters - volunteers needed There will also be ‘feedback’ forms given out near the end of term for comments. These are particularly important this year as we have reorganised the first year modules

19. p19 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Your Responsibilities You are expected to go to lectures, labs, tutorials and do assessed work check email regularly (use Reading username) see your tutor at PAR meetings (at least) obey rules of University and School do enough work to ensure you are able to graduate with a good degree be here for 10 weeks of ALL three terms BUT do remember to enjoy yourself as well !

20. p20 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Lectures Lectures are not same as School classes You may get lecture notes, you may not Don’t believe these are sufficient You should make your own notes Consolidate them after class Ideally, read last week’s notes before next lecture If you don’t understand, ask in class or at the end Spare copies of notes are often available in the School Information Office – or from lecturer There may be extra info for Module on Blackboard

21. p21 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Compulsory Lab Practicals + Tutorials For Modules SE1CA5, SE1EA5, SE1EB5 occur on Mondays … separate timetable your responsibility to find out when Starts Second Week, when have lab for SE1CA5 you will be given a sheet on this. Note you may do lab before theory in lecture For Module SE1SA5 … a further separate timetable Tutorials for other modules (eg SE1CB5, MA116) also exist, some are on the timetable, others will be set up separately).

22. p22 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 How much time should I work? A 20 credit module may have: 2 hours of lectures per week over 2 terms Some practical work (maybe not every week) make sure you know when your practicals are. Some assessed work Some material you need to read up on or revise. You should probably spend ~ 40 hours a week on academic work, 10 weeks each term, in Reading If you have a part time job, allow enough time for your academic work But also, allow time for relaxation and fun

23. p23 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Assessed Work Some work has to be given in Details of the system are in the School Handbook and on the cover sheet of the work given out Essentially you should submit it via the School Information Centre (rarely electronically as well) [Some Lab Pracs you submit in the lab] Submit when the Office is open and get a receipt You should get the work back when marked Keep a copy of the work – examiners may need to see it

24. p24 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Submission and Late Work Late work will be penalised Reminders are not given Extensions can only be given by the School Director of Teaching and Learning And will only be given for a good reason And you must use the relevant form Do your work on time Don’t leave it to the last minute Do submit it even if its incomplete

25. p25 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Examinations and Cheating You will be assessed by exams at the end of the year and by some coursework See ‘Examination and Assessment procedures’ You must not cheat at either Read section on plagiarism in School Handbook gives examples of what, and what not, to do Note, software is available for us to use to help in detecting plagiarism

26. p26 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 If you have problems If you have a problem let your tutor know If you’re ill let your tutor know If you’re ill at exam time – make sure a member of academic staff knows – before the exam We can take account of such problems, if valid But in order to do so the University has forms to be filled in, some of which come to me for approval There are two forms – please use the right one!

27. p27 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 The ‘Problem’ Forms For problems which are temporary and affect your ability to hand in a particular item of coursework use a Green Coursework Extension Request Form complete one form per piece of coursework For problems which are more long term, and affect your ability to demonstrate your general level of achievement, or your examinations use a Gold Extenuating Circumstances Form Both available from School Information Office; both should be submitted there; our response (after a few days) should be collected from there.

28. p28 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Information on the forms NO action can be taken by the School or Examiners without a properly filled-in and signed form As much supporting evidence as possible must be supplied Confidentiality will be maintained but there will always be some people who need to know if your case is to be considered properly You can discuss with your tutor and write on the form ‘as discussed with tutor’.

29. p29 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Change of Status and Module Forms The Change of Status form can be used a) to request a degree change b) to request a repeat a year c) to request a change of tutor Requests have to be agreed, so a case may be needed The Change of Module form can be used to change a module (or many) They can be collected from the School Info Office; You must fill them correctly and get them signed – then return to office, for sending onwards

30. p30 RJM 19/09/05Fresher’s Welcome – T&L © Dr Richard Mitchell 2005 Rest of Today’s Welcome Degrees \ Time10: 50-11:1011:15 to 11:3511:40 to 12:00 Cyb, Cyb&Con, BioMed & Cyb emailCY IntroEE Intro CS/Cyb AI/Cy Rob CS IntroCY Introemail EE/Cyb inc SEemailCY IntroEE emailCY IntroEE CSCS Introemailnothing EE/CS + CEngCS IntroemailEE Intro ITIT introMore IT introemail CS in PhR; CY in G56; EE in G21; IT in Ph124; email G45/G46