Welcome to Aberdeen

Welcome to Computing Science

College Structure

College of Physical Science (CoPS)

Head of College: Professor Bryan MacGregor

School of Geosciences

School of Natural & Computing

Science

School of Engineering

Useful links: Student Support

Needing Advice?

We are here to help you with confidential, independent and non-judgemental advice and support.

 Student Advice and Support Office International Student Advisers – student.international@abdn.ac.ukSupport and confidential advice for international students. Disability Advisers – student.disability@abdn.ac.ukSupport and confidential advice for disabled students including students with medical conditions and

specific learning difficulties. Student Support Advisers – student.advice@abdn.ac.ukSupport, information and confidential advice on financial, personal, university issues, etc.

 Telephone 01224 273935 or visit the Ground Floor of the Hub, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen

Tutorials: how to sign up

• www.abdn.ac.uk/mycourses

• Only if more than 1 session

MyAberdeen is the University’s virtual learning environment. This is where you will find learning materials and resources associated with the courses you are studying.

Login at:

www.abdn.ac.uk/myaberdeen

You can find more information and support for using MyAberdeen at:

www.abdn.ac.uk/students/myaberdeen

Where is Computing Science?

• http://www.abdn.ac.uk/ncs/computing/• Everything is on the Web pages, deadlines,

regulations, etc.

Meston Building

CSD: 2nd Floor

People

• Head of Computing Science: George Coghill• Director (undergraduate studies): Yaji Sripada• Level 2 tutor: Nir Oren• Level 3 tutor: Martin Kollingbaum• Level 1+4 tutor: Frank Guerin

• Advisers:• See your Adviser to register for or change courses!

• You:• www.abdn.ac.uk/studentportal/• Need to elect 2 year reps!• Two staff/student meetings per year (in week 5)

Level 2 Tutor

• Dr. Nir Oren• Office: Meston 222• Homepage:• http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~csc342/Home.html

Level 3 Tutor

• Dr. Martin Kollingbaum• Office: Meston 219• Homepage:• http://www.abdn.ac.uk/ncs/profiles/

m.j.kollingbaum/

Level 1 and Level 4 Tutor

• Frank Guerin• Office: Meston 227• Homepage:• http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~csc245• Teaches Level 1 Course CS1015Grand Challenges of Artificial Intelligence

Portal

• Is your study aim (degree) correct?• Check via student portal.

• Are you registered for the correct courses?• Check via student portal.

• If wrong, see your Adviser…• You may have problems graduating next Summer unless you

get your course choices right now!

• Timetables also outside G01

Attendance

• Good attendance => Good exam results• Past years show a strong correlation

• Have to sign-in for practicals• Registry still send C5, C6 “warning”

letters etc…• See on-line CSD Handbook for rules…

Absences & Medical Notes

• Will be sent an e-mail about attendance monitoring.

• Off sick: need to complete a self certificate medical form which are available online or outside the Meston G01 office or

• If off for more than 11 working days need to obtain a doctor’s letter.

• Hand in doctor’s note to Meston G01• Please notify Course Organiser if you miss a

deadline due to illness (before deadline)• Only Level Coordinators (for HoD) can grant

“extensions” to deadlines• But illness can be taken into account…

Mentoring

• The University is concerned about retention and poor attendance, esp. in Level 1

• Mentoring Scheme:• Groups of about 10 Level 1 CS students• Two Level 3 student mentors (CS3021)• One PhD/Postdoc supervisor• Friendly faces, similar experiences…• Advice/discussion on issues/problems…

• Optional, but recommended for all Level 1 CS students• Some students found it very helpful before – try it and

see!

Assessment & Progression

• Examination & Continuous Assessment• Feedback from CAs should help you

measure how well you’re doing…• Assignment boxes are located in the

Meston foyer before you go upstairs unless told otherwise.

• Typically: exam 50% + continuous 50%• Passes in CS1016 and CS1515 are

required for entry to Level 2 Computing• Resits – August (best to avoid!)

Level 2 Information & Contacts

• Bookmark the Level 2 Home Page• E-mail - check regularly for

announcements• CSD: Plasma screen• Regulations Booklet & Online Level 2

Handbook• Talk to us!

• Tutors, Demonstrators & Lecturers• HoD (by appointment)

Level 3: Honours Regulations

• IMPORTANT:• Only your first attempt at a honours

assessment counts towards the final honours degree classification.

• Resits gain credits but do not improve mark for degree classification!

• If are awarded a “No Paper” for any course – counts as CAS of 0

Progression Regulations

• Entry into Senior Honours (Level 4)is not automatic:

• Students who have been accepted unconditionally onto an Honours programme will be eligible automatically to progress to the final year if they:

1. pass a minimum of 90 credits of the prescribed Level 3 courses for their intended degree programme

AND

2. Satisfy any additional conditions imposed by Degree Regulations

Computer Accounts & Keys

• CSD Computer Accounts• Keys

• Level 4 students are entitled to a key to Meston building •A refundable £20 deposit is required

(will not be refunded if you lose your key)

• Keys available from Meston Reception (G01)•Please wait until next week

Plagiarism

• Very serious issue! • In simple English: cheating, copying, etc.• With computers, plagiarism is easy!• With the Internet, plagiarism is increasing!• Staff obliged to report suspected plagiarism• Penalties:

• Zero for assignment … zero for course!!

• Software detection tools may be used• Boss/Sherlock: http://cobalt.sourceforge.net/• Moss:

http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~aiken/moss.htm

• Always acknowledge your sources:• Acknowledge contributions of others• Properly cite source - i.e. full URL or

reference• Writing “got this from the Web” isn’t enough!• If in doubt, ask your lecturer!

Avoid Plagiarism

Plagiarism – How to Avoid

• Read assignment instructions carefully• Usually, this means do the work on your

own• Note: it is OK to discuss assignments in

general terms with your colleagues…• Read the undergraduate handbook!

• Leave plenty of time for assignments• Most copying happens the night before the

deadline

ACHIEVEThe Graduate Attributes site

• Interactive learning resources

• Self-assessment tests & exercises

• Reflect & record in your ePortfolio

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/graduateattributes/

Important Info

• Societies (BCS, ACM, Computer Society)

Prize Student Record Code (eg 874)

Amount of Award Student ID Number

Name QSP Prize Ref(eg PRIZ/00001530)

QSP Ledger Code(eg 2120 RE051 EBZ0062)

*Requiring Registry Authorisation ( )

Notes

EDS Prize in Computing Science 700 £100 06445169 NITSCHE, Lisa PRIZ/00007236 2130CS000 EBZ0196

Cheque to be collected at the cash office by Shirley Mackie – 6 July 2011

BCS Prize for Best Level 2 Computing Science Student

047 TBC 50907617 HALL, Owen N/A Awarded directly by Sponsoring Body

BCS Prizes in Computing Science for CS2508 Project

049 TBC 50904075 LEARMONTH, Iain N/A Awarded directly by Sponsoring Body

Logica Prize in Computing & Computing Science512 TBC 50908736 DIDLA, Shammi N/A Awarded by the Discipline

Rob Milne Prize for Best Student in CS1015 667 TBC 51013188 STANKOWIAK, Mikolaj N/A Awarded by the Discipline

Sandy Murray Programming Prize 702 TBC 51013153 MATEI, Rares N/A Awarded by the Discipline