Undergraduate Course: Computational Cognitive Science (INFR09035)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Informatics |
College |
College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 09 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
10 |
| Home subject area |
Informatics |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None |
|
|
| Course description |
This course aims to introduce students to the basic concepts and methodology needed to implement and analyse computational models of cognition. It considers the fundamental issues of using a computational approach to explore and model cognition. In particular, we explore the way that computational models relate to, are tested against, and illuminate psychological theories and data.
The course will introduce both symbolic and subsymbolic modelling methodologies, and provide practical experience with implementing models. The symbolic part will focus on cognitive architectures,
while the subsymbolic part will introduce probabilistic models. |
Entry Requirements
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites |
|
| Prohibited Combinations |
|
Other requirements |
Successful completion of Year 2 of an Informatics single or combined honours degree. Students who have completed Year 2 of another degree will also be accepted provided they have some programming experience. Informatics 1: Cognitive Science is strongly recommended.
|
| Additional Costs |
None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: No |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 14:00 - 14:50 | | | | | Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | | 14:00 - 14:50 |
| First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 14:00 - 14:50, Zone: Central. Seminar Room 4, Chrystal Macmillan Building |
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Part-year visiting students only (VV1)
|
WebCT enabled: No |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 14:00 - 14:50 | | | | | Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | | 14:00 - 14:50 |
| First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 14:00 - 14:50, Zone: Central. Seminar Room 4, Chrystal Macmillan Building |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts and methodologies of cognitive modelling, by being able to design simple cognitive models for sample problems.
- Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between computational models and psychological theories, by being able to critically assess the psychological adequacy of a given model.
- Qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate computational models of cognition using a range of techniques, when given a model and a set of experimental data that it is supposed to account for.
- Demonstrate an awareness of the most important computational approaches to cognitive modelling, by being able to use these approaches to formalise theories that are couched in potentially
vague and ambiguous terms (e.g., natural language).
- Use existing modelling tools (e.g., Cogent or Matlab) to design and test computer implementations of cognitive models (both existing models from the literature and simple models they have designed themselves). |
Assessment Information
Written Examination 70
Assessed Assignments 30
Oral Presentations 0
Assessment:
The assignments will require students to develop or modify cognitive models using the Cogent cognitive modelling package or other software for probabilistic modelling. Students will also be required to analyse the adequacy of their models with respect to psychological data, and critically evaluate models and ideas presented in course readings (e.g., Marr&©s three levels of analysis). |
| Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr Marcelo Cintra
Tel: (0131 6)50 5118
Email: mc@inf.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Miss Tamise Totterdell
Tel: 0131 650 9970
Email: t.totterdell@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:10 am
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