CY6084 - Programming for Science (2024/25)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2024/25, but may be subject to modification | ||||||||||||
| Module title | Programming for Science | ||||||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||||
| School | School of Human Sciences | ||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2024/25(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
The aim of this module is to provide students with an appreciation of how to use MATLAB® and how this can be applied in the sciences. Students will also gain experience at handling and analysing scientific data. Students will also learn how to plot data, have the opportunity to make GUIs (general user interfaces) and even make interactive games as a fun way to educate others about their area of scientific study. The module will be highly interactive allowing students to develop confidence in writing MATLAB scripts. The module provides students with fundamental computer programming skills which will give them the tools to use other computer programming languages such as Python and C. Students will also develop their logic and problem solving skills.
Prior learning requirements
Available for Study Abroad? No
Syllabus
• Understanding what is programming – LO1, LO4
• Using the command prompt and mathematical expressions – LO1, LO2
• A brief introduction to vectors and matrices – LO1, LO2
• Using variables – LO1, LO3
• Basic plotting of scientific data – LO3, LO4
• Making a game using MATLAB - LO1, LO4
• Making a GUI – LO1, LO4
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Students will be provided with a range of activities to accommodate different learning
styles. The module delivery will consist of lectures (11 hours) and workshops (22 hours)
In-class verbal feedback will be provided and students will be encouraged and directed towards relevant subject matter material. Students will be expected to prepare in advance for lectures by reading on the subject matter beforehand. The workshops will follow immediately after the lectures to allow students to use MATLAB and contextualise and enhance understanding of what they have learned in the lecture. This will culminate in the submission of a piece of coursework where the student will have either written their own GUI or game to demonstrate their own critical thinking. To develop and enhance student engagement there will be a series of exercises throughout each workshop for the students to work through and formative feedback will be given throughout the session. The students will be expected to keep a reflective log of what they have learned throughout the course and how they have developed their programming skills. This will allow student to see for themselves their own progress and skill development..
Learning outcomes
LO1: The students will learn the fundamentals of how to design MATLAB scripts.
LO2: The students will learn some fundamental mathematics and how to use MATLAB for mathematical calculations
LO3: The students will learn how to handle and analyse scientific data including how to plot data using various graphical methods.
LO4: The students will learn essential problem solving skill and how to apply logic and reasoning.
Bibliography
MATLAB: A Practical Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving – Fifth edition - Stormy Attaway Ph.D. Boston University Dr. - 6 Sept. 2018
https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/18-s997-introduction-to-matlab-programming-fall-2011/pages/syllabus/