Undergraduate Course: Informatics 1 - Critical Skills and Practice (INFR07003)
Course Outline
| School | School of Informatics |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | An introduction to what it means to be studying Informatics at Edinburgh, including the wider context of the discipline and profession, the composition of the School (including its people and research), and what skills are required to study the subject well. Students will learn how to make the most of university education, how to think critically about their work and others', and how to approach solving complex, practical problems while acknowledging their influence by and on wider society. |
| Course description |
This course aims to introduce students to study at the University and the Informatics community, as well as the diverse and contextual nature of practising modern Informatics. It will prepare them for the rest of their degrees and provide them with the skills to be outstanding Informatics professionals by teaching critical thinking, an appreciation of the social and ethical implications of computing, and how to reflect on one's own learning, as well as providing an opportunity to develop a range of transferrable skills, such as writing, presenting and working with others.
Two lectures each week will cover course topics and guidance for developing skills, while a third will invite University and industry colleagues to share how these skills are valuable for their work, giving students a real-world context for what they're learning. Weekly lab sessions will provide practical, hands-on drop-in activities, while weekly tutorials act as a peer support group where students report and discuss progress on coursework.
Examples of topics covered include:
- An understanding of the range of subjects and methods represented under the banner of Informatics, both locally and in the wider world.
- Thinking critically about topics related to the ethical design, development and use of technology, as well as collecting and analysing evidence for claims.
- Communicating effectively, through written and spoken formats and in collaboration with others.
- Acting as an independent learner and understanding the value of learning activities.
- Managing time and effort, identifying goals, paths to achieving them, and methods for evaluating success.
Students will be assessed on a portfolio of skills, practised and demonstrated through multiple activities throughout the course, then discussed and reflected upon for final submission. Many of these activities will be scaffolded around a piece of practical design work, also giving students the opportunity to practise their technical skills at a level appropriate to their prior experience.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 30,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
150 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Feedback |
Ongoing formative feedback will be provided through tutorials, as well as staff office hours. Summative feedback will be given on all written submissions. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- describe Informatics as a School, subject, and profession
- practise key skills required for future courses, including effective communication in a range of formats, collaboration, and the use of tools like version control
- reflect on their own learning and identify areas of improvement
- design, plan and implement in a range of technical, practice-based situations, such as data analysis, AI models, or human-centred and accessible interfaces
- demonstrate critical thinking, including in the social, ethical, and professional contexts of technology
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Critical,Computing,Profession,Practice |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr James Garforth
Tel:
Email: james.garforth@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Kendal Reid
Tel: (0131 6)50 5194
Email: kr@inf.ed.ac.uk |
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