Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

This project module consists of 3 parts with separate learning objectives:

1. Problem Based Learning (PBL)
2. Scientific Methods
3. The main project: “Services and Platforms"

Learning objectives

Knowledge

Part 1: Problem Based Learning (PBL)

• Must know methods for planning of project work
• Must have knowledge about process analysis
• Must have knowledge about different learning styles
• Must have knowledge of different approaches to project- and problem-based learning, including the Aalborg PBL model

Part 2: Scientific Methods

• Must have knowledge about scientific methods and their applicability in ICT engineering
• Must have knowledge about main scientific paradigms and their applicability for different problems
• Must know methods for the iterative development and refining of project ideas and problem formulations.
• Must know methods for quantitative and qualitative data gathering, data analysis and data presentation, e.g. interview techniques for expert interviews.
• Must know the consequences of plagiarism

Part 3: Services and Platforms

• Must have a holistic understanding of the ICT environment, i.e. the heterogeneous networks, Internet technologies and business models, on which ICT solutions and services rely
• Must have knowledge about the key Internet technologies and standards for content networking: representation, identification and transport
• Must have knowledge about the characteristics of different networks and the technologies that are important to provide a good user experience for a service
• Must be able to understand the service architectures, platforms and business models that are needed to provide future services and applications

Skills

Part 1: Problem Based Learning (PBL)

• Must be able to apply basic principles related to planning and management of a problem based project: basic study techniques, phases in a problem-oriented project, from initial problem to problem analysis and problem formulation, design and implementation
• Must be able to analyse and evaluate the organisation of the project group work and collaboration, especially regarding identification of strong and weak factors, and, based on this, suggest how group organisation and collaboration can be improved in future situations: team roles, group dynamics, communication within the group and externally, creativity, methods for analysis and documentation of learning processes
• Must be able to analyse group conflicts, causes and possible solutions
• Must know methods for resolving project-related conflicts

• Must be able to analyse and evaluate own contributions to the group work
• Must be able to communicate problems and findings to the group
• Must be able to analyse learning processes within the group

• Must be able to create optimal collaborative learning processes

Part 2: Scientific Methods

• Must be able to extract scientific knowledge from academic publications, e.g. journal papers, conference proceedings and anthologies.
• Must be able to master good academic praxis for the use and presentation of sources
• Must be able to discern between inductivism vs. deductivism, models vs. reality, hypothesis, empirical data, assumptions and proofs for a given research problem within the scope of the study programme.
• Must be able to explain the applicability for qualitative and quantitative methods for a given ICT engineering problem
• Must be able to conduct a structured search for sources, e.g. peer-reviewed literature
• Must be able to assess the quality and applicability of a given source (e.g. peer-reviewed / non peer-reviewed sources, industry whitepapers, interviews, marketing texts)

Part 3: Services and Platforms

• Must be able to specify requirements for innovative applications, services, solutions or service architectures based on a thorough analysis of the ICT environment and the needs of the target users
• Must be able to assess the network characteristics and limitations, which affect the delivery of content and services to the end users
• Must be able to discuss the technical and business-related aspects of services and service architectures
• Must be able to conceptually construct relevant business models

Competences

Part 1: Problem Based Learning (PBL)

• Must have competencies in group work and project-organized learning
• Must have competencies in communication in a group 

• Must know methods for the management of group-based project work for ill-defined problems

Part 2: Scientific Methods

• Must have the competency to identify and apply relevant scientific methods in relation to ICT engineering problems and projects
• Must have the competency to structure an academic presentation of project (e.g. semester project) in a report
• Must master the principles for correct academic citing

Part 3: Services and Platforms

• Must have the competency to assess the viability and potential of new ICT-related technologies, frameworks and concepts
• Must have the competency to identify the value proposition in ICT services and solutions and develop a technical realization as well as a relevant business model for the value proposition
• Must have the competency to identify new business opportunities in relation to ICT services and service architectures

Type of instruction

Project work. There will be lectures and assignments for Part 1 and Part 2 at the start of the semester project.

Exam

Exams