Course syllabus

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Syllabus

UPDATE: As of July 2022, Kathryn Strong Hansen no longer works at Chalmers. If you need help concerning this course, please contact Carina Sjöberg Hawke (carsjobe@chalmers.se) or Anthony Norman (normana@chalmers.se).

TDA518 English and Professional Development for Engineers

LP3 VT22 (7.5 hp)

Course offered by the Department for Communication and Learning in Science

All parts of the course are run in English.

This course is designed to enhance and build upon skills from the communication course LSP310 (from year 1). It provides additional perspectives on academic and professional communication in English, through different textual genres, rhetorical structures, style, and delivery. The course is intended to help students improve their writing work taking place in the ongoing Bachelor’s projects.

As this course has two parts, communication for IT and engineering competence, please note that this syllabus contains information about both parts, labeled and color coded (as indicated earlier in this sentence) so as to clarify what tasks and information appertain to each. Please note that it is the responsibility of each individual student to keep track of their completion of the various components of the course. 

 

Contact information

Examiner and instructor: Kathryn Strong Hansen, strong@chalmers.se
Instructors: Carina Sjöberg Hawke, carsjobe@chalmers.se; Anthony Norman, normana@chalmers.se 

 

Purpose of the course

Communication for IT

The English communication part of the course aims at developing a variety of critical thinking skills that are essential for effective communication in professional and academic contexts. The goal is to develop reading, writing, and communicative strategies that can be transferred to other contexts and languages. For this reason, the course comprises activities such as guided reading and analysis of discipline-relevant academic texts (for example conference papers, bachelor essays), overview and practice of effective argumentative and rhetorical structures in writing, peer review, and reflection for planning and self-assessment. The course requires students to apply these skills in writing and in speech, by producing a text that critically summarizes a discipline-relevant topic and argues for a point of view, and by orally presenting this work and giving feedback to others.

The aim of this part of the course is to enhance students' understanding of academic and professional genres of communication in their discipline, and their ability to apply this knowledge to communicate effectively in English both in writing and speech, preparing them for future professional and academic contexts.

Engineering competence

The engineering competence component of the course aims to make students aware of the competencies needed for future studies and professional life and to increase the ability to reflect on how they can prepare for working life and/or future studies.

 

Learning goals

Communication for IT

Intended learning outcome Connected activities and assignments
Analyze, read critically and summarize different types of academic and professional written genres. Reading and analysis workbook; in class discussions; peer review activities; reflection
Apply knowledge in a text that critically summarizes state of the art knowledge on a topic and argues for an evidence-based perspective. Conference paper (plan, draft and final); reading and analysis workbook; peer review activities (how you work with received feedback)
Provide constructive feedback to others, and communicate clearly and effectively their work in speech. Review activities (plan; paper draft); presentation workshop and spoken peer feedback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The learning outcomes described above are achievable through a series of course activities, including assignments and in-class work. Course topics include:

      • Analysis and comparison of various academic and professional written genres
      • Academic writing strategies: rhetorical moves, referencing, evaluating sources, summarizing
      • Language focus: style, conciseness, clarity, and grammar
      • Oral skills: presentation and argumentation
      • Critical skills: reflection, peer and self-assessment

Engineering competence

Intended learning outcome Connected activities and assignments
Gain insight into and understanding of the diversity of professional roles that exist for an IT engineer Engineering career reflection portfolio (part 2); class visit/study visit and associated presentation
Gain insight into the requirements and expectations placed on an IT engineer.  Engineering career reflection portfolio (parts 2 & 3); class visit/study visit and associated presentation
Create an image of your own professional strengths and motivational factors as a preparation for working life.  Engineering career reflection portfolio (parts 1 & 4); CV and job ad analysis workshops

 

 

 

 

 

 

The learning outcomes described above are achievable primarily through an engineering career reflection portfolio, but also through other assignments and in-class tasks. Course topics include:

      • Reflection on academic achievements and career possibilities
      • How to showcase skills and education in various job search media
      • How to strategize an effective start/plan for your career

 

Schedule

Find this course on TimeEdit through this link: TimeEdit

Because of the large class size, most Communication for IT sessions run twice, and students must sign up to be either in the Monday or the Thursday option. That is why, in the list below, some sessions have two dates listed. Ingenjörskompetens sessions will also run twice, but always on the same day (see the session pages for which time slot you should attend). The course sessions are:

However, more detailed information about each session is found on the page for each session, linked in the above list and found in the Course information module. Obligatory sessions are noted in the list above, and missing them will require the completion of compensation work (you will receive an email after the session about what to do if you miss any of these sessions).

An obligatory study visit is also being planned, but we are awaiting final word from Volvo Trucks IT about the dates and times. We are working as quickly as possible to finalize this and inform you about it.

 

Examination

Find course information in the Student Portal here:  Studieplan

Communication for IT

The Communication for IT grades (U. 3, 4, or 5) for 3.8 course credits are based on completion of:

        • the final conference paper assignment (in groups, graded U. 3, 4, or 5) and
        • the Reading and Analysis Workbook (individual, graded U/G). See the upload slot for that assignment for a suggested schedule of completing the different parts of the workbook.

Earning a passing grade for 1.5 course credits for Communication for IT is based on satisfactory completion of the following tasks/activities (G/U):

Specific requirement for and information about each assignment can be found at each separate assignment upload site. There is a possibility for raising or lowering your conference paper grade based on your work in the Reading and Analysis Workbook. A workbook that exceeds the minimum criteria (completes all sections, including the bonus tasks, fully and at a high level) may result in a +1 point on the grade of the conference paper (for you individually, NOT for the entire group). An incomplete or insufficient workbook will result in a -1 point on the grade of the conference paper (for you individually, NOT for the entire group). That means that a conference paper that earned a grade of 4 would, with a plus point, become a 5. Conversely, a conference paper that earned a grade of 4 would, with a minus point, become a 3. Workbooks that are empty or do not present any analysis will not be accepted.

The table below is a summary of the main assignments and their assessment form. The Canvas calendar, as well as each assignment upload site, includes the deadlines for each of these elements.

Compulsory communication for IT assignments Group/individual Part of which course credits  Assessment format
Conference paper plan Group 1.5 U/G
Plan and conference paper draft peer responses (attendance and activity) Individual 1.5 U/G
First draft of conference paper Group 1.5 U/G
Reading and analysis workbook Individual 3.8 U/G, with +/- possible (see above)
Final conference paper Group 3.8 U-3-4-5
Contribution reports at first and final draft stages Individual 3.8 U/G

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engineering competence

Earning a passing grade for 2.2 engineering competence course credits is based on satisfactory completion of the tasks/activities (all assessed as G/U) that are assembled in the table below. The assignment upload site for the respective assignment includes the deadlines for each of these elements, or the session page (in the "Course information" module) will include information about in-class tasks.

Compulsory engineering competence assignments Group/individual Part of which course credits  Assessment format
Job ad analysis workshop Individual 2.2 U/G
 Peer review or analysis of CV  Individual 2.2 U/G
Engineering career reflection portfolio Individual 2.2 U/G
Presentation of insights from class visit/study visit Group 2.2 U/G



 

 

 

 



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Course literature

Communication for IT

Selected reading material will be assigned during the course, including self-selected secondary sources. All assigned readings, Powerpoints, handouts, and other materials are posted on the course Canvas site in the pages for each session.

Engineering competence

This portion of the course offers a range of resources and websites, but each student will have many choices as to which materials to read so as to tailor the readings to their own career needs. All choices are posted on the course Canvas site in the pages for each session.



Course structure

Communication for IT

The course is organized into seminars, workshops, and lectures. Aspects dealt with in the lecture series include the communication process, strategies for effective communication in speech and in writing, report writing, and oral presentation techniques and strategies.

This part of the course comprises both in-class sessions, including guided discussions and presentations, and out-of-class assignments. Your personal engagement and participation are vital throughout this course. This portion of the course is structured around the writing and presentation of a conference-like paper on a topic of your interest, possibly connected to your BA project. Additionally, the course requires preparing a plan for that conference paper, reading and analyzing different written academic texts through answering questions in a  workbook, and giving peer feedback. The various required assignments should be completed on time.

Engineering competence

This part of the course primarily uses mini-lectures and workshops, though a study visit comprises an important element of this part of the course as well. Most of the pertinent materials are supplied for students' out-of-class review, creating a predominantly "flipped" structure. As with the Communication for IT structure, personal engagement is needed for students to make the most of the readings, activities, and assignments. This portion of the course is primarily centered upon a reflective portfolio in which students will record their impressions of the process of preparing for a job search and/or anticipating how to most strategically engage with the first few years in further education or in industry; the portfolio also asks for written reflection on the study visit arranged with Volvo. The other main assignment is a presentation of takeaways from a study visit.


Changes from previous course run

Communication for IT

The presentation task that is now part of the engineering competence part of the course previously appeared as part of the Communication for IT 1.5 requirements. However, that part of the class was too time-demanding for the number of credits earned, and that is why the presentation has been moved to the 2.2 credits that are earned through engineering competence tasks. The student portal text does include mention of “orally presenting” the work done in the Communication for IT part of the course, but this is addressed through several opportunities for discussion amongst participants about their conference paper task. Additionally, the reading and analysis workbook assignment has been streamlined (condensed) as well as revised to help course participants focus their thinking about how to apply the lessons learned from it to their future writing (including their writing on their theses).

Engineering competence

The instructors for this portion of the course are now the same as those for the Communication for IT part of the course; in this way, conflicting assignment due dates can be minimized or, ideally, eliminated. Assignments have been streamlined so as to create fewer demands on students' schedules, particularly in LP4, and assignments have been redesigned to reflect the advanced stage of career contemplation of most third-year students.

Course summary:

Date Details Due