Research in Information Technology
1. As a team, to demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate the application of information technology in organisations within a socio-technical context.
2. As a team, to demonstrate an ability to successfully apply the study skills and research techniques discussed in the Research in Information Technology module.
3. As a team, to prepare and deliver an effective oral presentation appropriately supported by visual aids.
4. As an individual, to demonstrate an ability to work as part of a team and contribute positively to the overall team aims.
Task 1 – Joint Research Paper (JRP)
Jointly with your team you are to produce an academic paper which presents your research into the socio-technical impact of the Internet on organisations. You may choose either a commercial, industrial or public/not-for-profit organisation as the basis of your study.
You must construct a plan of how you intend to tackle the work and construct the deliverables. In the body of the work you must develop academic debate concerning the given topic and write an academic paper giving a balanced view of the arguments and counter-arguments found in relevant literature. The conclusions should be relevant and describe what has been achieved, what has been discovered, its contribution to knowledge, and recommendations for further study. The final paper should be about 3000 words (+/- 10%) in length, contain citations (using the Harvard style) to at least 15 referenced sources of relevant literature and conclude with a reference section (also using the Harvard style).
Task 2 – Group Presentation
Prepare and effectively deliver a well-structured and informative presentation which shares with your audience an overview of your team project. The presentation should make use of all team members and relevant support material, including relevant theories and, if appropriate, empirical data, together with realistic conclusions and recommendations for further study. The whole presentation should be carefully linked together to provide a coherent account of the subject under consideration.
Research in Information Technology March 2013 ? NCC Education 2013
Part Two: Individual Report
Aims of the Individual Report:
1. To keep a record (Learning Logbook) of your learning progress throughout the ‘Research in Information Technology’ module in order for you to manage your learning;
2. To produce a report comprising a critical reflection of that learning progress. You must demonstrate your ability to think, problem-solve and learn. You must also demonstrate the amount and depth of your learning during this module.
Task 3 – Learning Logbook
You are to keep a Learning Log in which you make notes about the issues raised whilst carrying out the group research project. It is important to document ‘real’ activities such as company visits, group meetings, desk research, primary research, etc. You should also include notes that you make on articles from academic journal papers and books (and their references), draw sketches of ideas, diagrams of processes, record and discuss any other factors that contribute to your thinking and learning processes.
Task 4 – Critically Reflective Report
You are to develop and write a critically reflective report (CRR) of approximately 2000 words (+/- 10%) describing, explaining and analysing how and where your learning has taken place. Indicate any events of significance that influenced your learning in general and in research methods and information technology in particular. You should also reflect upon the activities which you engaged in as part of the group research project, as recorded in your logbook.
See the ‘Guidance’ section on page 5 for further information on how to develop a critically reflective report.
Research in Information Technology March 2013 ? NCC Education 2013
Submission Requirements
Electronic Submission:
? A Joint Research Paper which conforms to the above specification, submitted as a single word processed document containing all reports and other documentation i.e. explanations, output reports and page images of graphic tools etc. pertaining to all tasks. Maximum word limit is 3000 words (+/- 10%) not including the appendices. Produce clear and specific reasoning and argument to justify answers.
? A Critically Reflective Report of approximately 2000 (+/- 10%) words and a completed Learning Logbook which conform to the above specification, submitted as a single word processed document containing all reports and other documentation i.e. explanations, output reports and page images of graphic tools etc. pertaining to all tasks. Produce clear and specific reasoning and argument to justify answers.
? These documents should be properly structured with a table of contents, bibliography (online and literature sources) and appendices (where necessary). Refer to the Assignment Presentation Requirements on Campus for more information. (See front cover).
Presentation Slides
? Task 2 (the Group Presentation) will be marked by the Accredited Partner Centre, and moderated by NCC Education. You should submit an electronic copy of your PowerPoint slides to your Accredited Partner Centre, to be sent for moderation along with the marker’s report.
Important:
All documents and slides for this module should be submitted in one .ZIP file per student, using the following filename format:
[student number]_[module]_[component]
For Example: 000123456789_RIT_Assignment
Warning: All media must be virus free!
Media containing viruses, or media which cannot be run directly, will result in a FAIL grade being awarded for this module.
You must read and understand NCC Education’s policy on ‘Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism’.
You must complete the ‘Statement and Confirmation of Own Work’ form and attach the completed form to your assignment.
Research in Information Technology March 2013 ? NCC Education 2013
Guidance: Reflective Reports
Reflective reports include: thoughts about what went right and what went wrong; consideration of what happened as a result of action or inaction; what has been learned and what there is to learn; and what to do next time.
The Critically Reflective Report (CRR) should be developed concurrently with your learning on the Research in Information Technology module and not left until the end. The best reflection results in action. The more critical the reflection, the more sense you will make of the unfamiliar, resulting in greater clarity about what you know. Reflective thinkers tease out the assumptions underlying their own and others’ actions and beliefs. They also analyse their own justifications for actions in terms of their rationality, technical reasoning and morality.
When writing your CRR, you should ensure that it has a basic structure including the following broad areas:
? Introduction: an explanation of the expected learning outcomes to the module. This section should cross-refer to the Learning Outcomes section of the Module Specification for Research in Information Technology.
? Main report: drawing on your Learning Log, this part should contain a reasoned and critical account of your learning from the module, including the key theoretical, conceptual and applied learning points. Be sure to write about each of the Learning Outcomes and explain how your learning relates to previous understanding. To prepare information for this part of the report, ask yourself when you have completed a topic in a unit of the module: what are you able to do better now? What new principles have you understood? What new competences have you acquired? What questions remain? What would you do next time? What surprised you? Who and what helped?
? Conclusions: illustrate how the learning and new knowledge has developed your study practices and thinking and, if appropriate, contributed to your professional career.