Over 6000 downloads of Computing Open Educational Resources (OERs)

A selection of the open educational resources that have been released from the Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies, School of Science and Technology at the University of Northampton. 

	views	downloads
C Programming	827	4998
Summary of Evolutionary Algorithms	643	301
Problem-Solving	393	769
Total	1863	6068

Based on figures from Jorum at 25/3/2016.

Summary of Evolutionary Algorithms

Click here for the resource: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19204

Author: Dr Scott Turner 

These slides are intended for undergraduate computing students, providing an overview of Genetic Algorithms, a concept of in artificial intelligence. As well providing an overview the material also include links to applications via web resources. The slides are taken from an undergraduate artificial intelligence module on the BSc Computing Programme at the University of Northampton. Possible uses of these including support material for second year, third year or masters level course on artificial intelligence.

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Click here for the resource: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19204

C Programming

Click here for the resource: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19192

Author: Dr Scott Turner
In this material you will be introduced to some of the principles of programming, and specifically learn to write fairly simple programs using a programming language called C. An idea central to this material is that programming is about problem solving; you write a program to solve a particular problem. It is hoped that at the end of the material you should see that there is nothing magical or mysterious about programming. One of the features some people like about programming is you are making the computer do what you want. During the programming exercises, do not worry about making mistakes. In this material you will be expected to try out programs and eventually write your own. The target audience is anyone who wants to learn a programming language or is looking for some assessment questions around programming. The material was originally aimed at second year engineering students at the University of Northampton.

Click here for the resource: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19192

Problem-Solving

Author: Dr Scott Turner

http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19001

These mini lectures are intended for undergraduate computing students, for providing simple steps in problem solving before the students learn a programming language. Problem-Solving and Programming is a common first year undergraduate module on the BSc Computing Programme at the University of Northampton. This material was taken from the problem solving part of the module and provides an introduction to five topics in problem-solving.

The resource can be found at: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19001

All views are the authors, and may not reflect the views of any organisation the author is connected with in any way.All views are the authors, and may not reflect the views of any organisation the author is connected with in any way.

If you'd like to find out more about Computing at the University of Northampton go to: www.computing.northampton.ac.uk. All views and opinions are the author's and do not necessarily reflected those of any organisation they are associated with

Discussing computing on the radio

Yesterday (30th November 2015) there was a discussion on BBC Radio Northampton on:

- what is immersive technologies?

- why coding is important?

- The Race to the Top Coding Competition 


Click on ▶ BBC Radio Northampton - John Griff, 30/11/2015:  The discussion starts 15 minutes in and end about 30 minutes in.


To learn more about the coding competition go to: http://www3.northamptonshire.gov.uk/councilservices/children-families-education/information-for-school-staff/race-to-the-top/Pages/northamptonshire-coding-competition.aspx







'via Blog this'

virtual reality for environmental students

An ongoing project, which is a collaboration between the Dr Naomi Holmes (Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Northampton)  Dr Scott Turner (Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies, University of Northampton) and Adel Gordon (Learning Technology Team, University of Northampton) looking at Virtual Reality devices to prepare for field trips. 

Virtual field trips are not a new idea, but with the release of the developer version of the Oculus Rift providing a more affordable immersive/virtual reality equipment, could virtual field trips become immersive virtual field trips at reasonable cost? Is this a good idea?


The Oculus Rift (http://www.oculusvr.com/), a device whose popularity with gamers is increasing, is under investigation of tool for preparing for field trips. The demo of a house and gardens in Tuscany that comes with the Oculus Rift (available through the Oculus Rift developer centre https://developer.oculusvr.com/) is being used as the basis of the test. 

Students come in, put the headset on, after an initial orientation, walk around the house, and gardens, later fill in a questionnaire on the experience, as well as talking to the two investigators. Part of the procedure is the students are told they can stop at any time and restart if they want at any time during the session.

The research questions revolve around
- Do students like the tool?
- Do students think this tool could be used for:
   - preparation before a field trip to try out ideas.
   - a way of describing a trip when they come back.
   - a replacement for field trips.
- What are the limitations of the approach?
- Where else could it be used, if anywhere?
- Is there some procedures that need to be put in place to enable effective use of these?



Preliminary results will be released in the near future.

Funding for this work has come from the University of Northampton's Innovation Fund.




Related Links:

Update from the Innovation Fund Panel

MSc Computing: February 2013 update

The University of Northampton's, Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies offers five courses within the MSc Computing postgraduate provision (shown below) all available either part-time or full-time. 

•  Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies offers five courses within the MSc Computing postgraduate provision (shown below) all available either part-time or full-time. 
  
  

  • MSc Computing
  • MSc Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
  • MSc Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
  • MSc Computing (Software Engineering)
  • MSc Computing (Immersive Technologies)

  
  

Two new courses to be run in September 2013

MEng Computer Networks Engineering (120 credits):

• Visual Objects Software (20)
• Computer Networks (20)
• Mobile Device Software Development (20)
• Group Industry Project (60)

MEng  Computer Systems Engineering (120 credits) from:

• Distributed Systems (20)
• Visual Objects Software (20)
• Modern Computer Architecture (20)
• Group Industry Project (60)

The dissertation is an important element of the MSc courses. The range and nature of the dissertations on MSc Computing  varies, below are some links to blog postings that I hope give a flavour some of the topics other students have  investigated:

• Web Analytics
• http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/analytics-enhancements-using-rankings.html
• http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/msc-dissertationanalysis-of-web.html
• IT in developing countries
• http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/msc-student-workefficacious-adoption-of.html
•  Augmented reality
• http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/development-of-augmented-reality-ar.html
•   Investigation into ‘Comet’
• http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/msc-student-work-use-of-http-push-in.html
•   Combining web-based technologies
• http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/msc-student-work-generic-google-maps.html

One ex-student has turned his dissertation into a book.

From the MSc program as a whole,  where successful student end up working varies; but I would say lot work in areas that are internet intensive some examples include becoming a consultant in optimising websites to be more likely to be picked up search engines; another is a lecturer. At least one has gone to further study at Universities such as the University of Oxford.

There is a strong practical element to the courses. The emphasis of the whole MSc Computing programme is on developing both technical and Master’s level academic skills through practicing these skills, but after being taught the necessary underpinning theory.

UKPass details can be found by clicking here.

Apply for this course through: https://pgapp.ukpass.ac.uk/ukpasspgapp/login.jsp?institution=N38&course=31469&source=www.ukpass.ac.uk

For more details contact: Scott Turner

Computing Courses

BSc and HND Computing Provision (click on the links below for more details of the courses)

• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• BEng/MEng Computing (Computer Systems Engineering) 

• BSc (Hons) Computing (also available part-time)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Mobile Computing)
• BSc (Hons) Computing (Software Engineering)
• BSc (Hons) Computing - One Year Top-Up 
• BSc  Computer Games Development
• HND Computing (Compute​r Net​works Engineering)
• HND Computing (Computer Systems Engineering)
• HND Computing (Graphics and Visualisation)
• HND Computing (Internet Tech​nolog​y and Security)
• HND Computing (Mobile Computing)
• HND Computing (Software Engine​ering) 
• HND Com​puting

The University of Northampton's, Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies offers five courses within the MSc Computing postgraduate provision (shown below) all available either part-time or full-time. 

• MSc Computing
• MSc Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• MSc Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Software Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Immersive Technologies)

The contents are the opinion of the author(s) and not necessarily the view of the University of Northampton.

update: Selection of 2012 Computing publications

A selection of 2012 publications involving staff from the Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies, University of Northampton

Journals

• Turner, S (2012) Case Studies in Web Sustainability Ariadne No 70 ISSN: 1361-3200
• Maunder, R., Turner, S., Sneddon, S. and Crouch, A. (2012) Editorial. Enhancing the Learner Experience in Higher Education. 4(1), pp. 1-2. 2041-3122.
• ihsan lami, Ali Al-Sherbaz (2013) W2BC: A Proposal for a Converged Baseband Implementation of WiMax and WiFi Transceivers International Journal of Information and Network Security (IJINS) Vol.2, No.1, February 2013, pp. 426 - 437 ISSN: 2089-329
• Kariyawasam K., A., Turner S., Hill G. (2012) "Is it Visual? The importance of a Problem Solving Module within a Computing course", Computer Education, Volume 10, Issue 166, May 2012, pp. 5-7, ISSN: 1672-5913.
• Hill G., Turner S. (2012) "Referencing within Code in Software Engineering Education!", Computer Education, Volume 10, Issue 166, May 2012, pp. 1-4, ISSN: 1672-5913.
• J.W.J.Xue and A. Yahya. (2012) “Critical Analysis of ECM Applications in the Clouds: a case study”, International Journal of Computer Science and Information Technology (IJCSIT) Vol.4 No. 3, June 2012. ISBN:0795-4660.

Conference

• Padillia I, Zhang Y (2012)Developing a haptic interface to manipulate and section high polygon models from x-ray data,  International Conference on Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS201)
• Dravid R and Al-Sherbaz, A (2012) Optimization of Routing Protocols for Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) to Achieve Higher Quality of Service for Real-Time Applications 3rd Annual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, Bangalore, India, December 12-14 2012
• Turner, S. and Al-Sherbaz, A. (2012) What's the problem with problem-solving? Seminar Presentation presented to: Insights into the future of learning and teaching at Northampton, University of Northampton, 3rd December 2012
• Bouyerbou, H. Oukid, S. Benblidiya N. and  Bechkoum, K. (2012). “Hybrid Image Representation Methods for Automatic Image Annotation: A Survey”. Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Signals and Electronic Systems, ICSCS 2012, 18-21 September 2012, Wroclaw, Poland.
• Al-Sherbaz Ali, Dravid Rashmi, Svennevik Espen and Picton Phil  (2012)" iSurvival: A Collaborative Mobile Network System for Disaster Management" PRO-VE’12 -13th Working Conference on Virtual Enterprises : Collaborative Networks in the Internet of Services, University of Bournemouth, 1-3 October 2012
• Al-Sherbaz A, Dravid R (2012) "Ultilising Mobile Mesh Networks for Disaster Management" M4D2012, 27-29 February 2012, New Delhi, India

update: MSc Computing - School of Science and Technology,

The University of Northampton's, Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies offers five courses within the MSc Computing postgraduate provision (shown below) all available either part-time or full-time. 

• MSc Computing
• MSc Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• MSc Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Software Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Immersive Technologies)

As well as staff teaching on two other MSc courses:

•  MSc Environmental Informatics
• Engineering (MSc)

The dissertation is an important element of the MSc courses. The range and nature of the dissertations on MSc Computing  varies, below are some links to blog postings that I hope give a flavour some of the topics other students have  investigated:

·         IT in developing countries -http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/msc-student-workefficacious-adoption-of.html

·         Augmented reality-http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/development-of-augmented-reality-ar.html

·         Investigation into ‘Comet’ -http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/msc-student-work-use-of-http-push-in.html

·         Combining web-based technologies -http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/msc-student-work-generic-google-maps.html

Examples from the current students include:

·         improving search engine optimisation  techniques;

·         intelligent documents;

·         web technologies for internet TV;

·         rural healthcare software for developing countries.

One ex-student has turned his dissertation into a book.

From the MSc program as a whole,  where successful student end up working varies; but I would say lot work in areas that are internet intensive some examples include becoming a consultant in optimising websites to be more likely to be picked up search engines; another is a lecturer. At least one has gone to further study at Universities such as the University of Oxford.

There is a strong practical element to the courses. The emphasis of the whole MSc Computing programme is on developing both technical and Master’s level academic skills through practicing these skills, but after being taught the necessary underpinning theory.

UKPass details can be found by clicking here.

Apply for this course through: https://pgapp.ukpass.ac.uk/ukpasspgapp/login.jsp?institution=N38&course=31469&source=www.ukpass.ac.uk

For more details contact: Scott Turner

MSc Computing courses - University of Northampton

The University of Northampton's, Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies offers five courses within the MSc Computing postgraduate provision (shown below) all available either part-time or full-time. 

• MSc Computing
• MSc Computing (Internet Technology and Security)
• MSc Computing (Computer Networks Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Software Engineering)
• MSc Computing (Immersive Technologies)

As well as staff teaching on two other MSc courses:

•  MSc Environmental Informatics
• Engineering (MSc)

The dissertation is an important element of the MSc courses. The range and nature of the dissertations on MSc Computing  varies, below are some links to blog postings that I hope give a flavour some of the topics other students have  investigated:

·         IT in developing countries -http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/msc-student-workefficacious-adoption-of.html

·         Augmented reality-http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/development-of-augmented-reality-ar.html

·         Investigation into ‘Comet’ -http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/msc-student-work-use-of-http-push-in.html

·         Combining web-based technologies -http://computingnorthampton.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/msc-student-work-generic-google-maps.html

Examples from the current students include:

·         improving search engine optimisation  techniques;

·         intelligent documents;

·         web technologies for internet TV;

·         rural healthcare software for developing countries.

One ex-student has turned his dissertation into a book.

From the MSc program as a whole,  where successful student end up working varies; but I would say lot work in areas that are internet intensive some examples include becoming a consultant in optimising websites to be more likely to be picked up search engines; another is a lecturer. At least one has gone to further study at Universities such as the University of Oxford.

There is a strong practical element to the courses. The emphasis of the whole MSc Computing programme is on developing both technical and Master’s level academic skills through practicing these skills, but after being taught the necessary underpinning theory.

For more details contact: Scott Turner

New immersive course

This MSc pathway at the University of Northampton, UK aims to complement the already established pathways on the MSc Computing programme, but at the same time is also a collaboration between the Departments of Computing and Immersive Technologies; Engineering and nVision. 

This pathway is distinctive in that it will be more industrially focused towards the application of immersive technologies and high performance  computing principles applied to industrially relevant problems.  This industrial connection is strengthened by members of NVision being part of the course team. Having NVision as part of this course also enables access to cutting edge immersive technologies providing rare opportunities for students to work with multi-million pound immersive technologies in a meaningful and practical way.

This pathway is also supported by the research interests of the course team in haptics (force feedback), visualisation of data, high performance and distributed software and hardware.

Typical modules

·         Immersive Technologies

·         Media Technologies

·         Distributed Systems

·         Mathematical Modelling

·         Modelling for Enterprise

·         Programming

·         Dissertation

For more details  about this and other MSc Computing courses go to : http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/200170/subject-areas/291/computing