CE1CES-Empirical Studies

Module Provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Timothy Lees
Email: t.j.lees@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module seeks to develop students£ capacity in linking theory to practical and physical applications. It further seeks to reinforce that strengths and limitations of knowledge generated empirically is an essential skill required in students£ future professional careers. The module is a highly effective means of reinforcing learning that takes place in modules taught in Part 1.

Aims:
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the principles of experimental design, measurement and technical report writing. The experiments are used to illustrate the physical principles introduced in taught parts of the first year course.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Use instruments to measure the performance of aspects of real buildings


• Use instruments to measure the behaviour of physical scale models of a building


• Use computers to simulate the performance of aspects of real buildings


• Understand how each of these ways of learning about buildings differ, and the implications this has for our capacity to predict how our buildings will behave once built


• Understand how much confiden ce we can place in our understanding of buildings based on these methods


• Write well-structured, unambiguous, succinct professional technical reports

Additional outcomes:
To increase students' critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Outline content:

This module is based on four experiments:

• Structural Properties of Materials


• Mechanics


• Thermal Comfort


• Digital Surveying 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

A briefing session outlining the aim, objectives, learning outcomes, organisation and assessment of the module takes place in week 1 of the Spring Term. Each practical will be led by one academic member of staff as named above. Students will work in groups. The work involves taking measurements and recording observations. Each practical is different in terms of its aim and delivery mode.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		1
Practicals classes and workshops		12
Guided independent study:		87
Total hours by term	0		0
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Practical skills assessment	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 40% overall

Reassessment arrangements:

Submission of alternative assignment(s) based on the originally failed experiment(s). The alternative assignment should be in the form of 1500 words each. 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1. Required text books: None


2. Specialist equipment or materials: None


3. Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: None


4. Printing and binding: None


5. Computers and devices with a particular specification: None


6. Travel, accommodation and subsistence: None

Last updated: 8 April 2021