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MEEN40820

Academic Year 2024/2025

Technical Comms (Online) (MEEN40820)

Subject:
Mechanical Engineering
College:
Engineering & Architecture
School:
Mechanical & Materials Eng
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Mr Barry Brophy
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

See sample lesson

What will I study?
This module focuses on making presentations. To do this an understanding of the entire communication chain is required (eg. handouts, questions, follow-up meetings etc.) It works off the assumption that you already have the skills necessary to make a presentation – your conversational skills. The challenge is to set out your material in an audience-friendly so that you can deliver it with the same style, and as easily, as if you were talking to a friend.

How will I study? (delivery methods e.g., online videos, live lectures, tutorials etc)
The module will include:
• Extensive set of videos demonstrating best practice and conversational techniques.
• Themed podcasts edited from interviews with people who present as part of their jobs.
• Small-group work for preparing for each presentation task.
• Discussion boards and several scheduled live group/class discussions.
• 2 sessions, on UCD campus, during the term to deliver group presentations.
• Online feedback sessions on presentations.

Expected Commitment
Students are not required to attend lectures on the UCD campus. However they are expected to view all of the 14 online lessons (in place of lectures) that have been posted.
Also, to deliver each of the presentation tasks, students are required to attend 2 separate sessions during the term to make group presentations and receive feedback. These dates are not fixed and there may be more than one date for each deliverable (different groups present on different days) to facilitate participants’ varied commitments.
Finally there will be a 1-hour in-term theory exam at 1-2pm on the Saturday of week 9 or 10 (TBC) at UCD, Belfield. This isl worth 20% of the total marks.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module I will be able to:
• Adapt your personal conversational style to the task of presenting.
• Analyse your presentation task and set realistic goals.
• Learn design principles of effective visual aids.
• Use of communication tools – examples, analogies, stories, demo’s, infographics, videos, visuals, interaction.

Indicative Module Content:

As outlined in module descriptor, above.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Conversation Class

6
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Online Learning

14
Total

120

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Group presentations
Video review of group presentations
In-class short group exercises
In-class theory exam

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
MEEN40670 - Technical Communication


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (Online): In-class exam administered through Brightspace. Week 9 Graded No
20
 No
Group Work Assignment: Communication Exercise 2: Each group choosing both a static (newspaper, magazine, journal, book) and a dynamic (ag. video) communication and appraising each via short presentation & 2000-word report. Week 7 Graded No
30
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Communication plan submitted by email outlining strategy for a presentation with sample material. This is an INDIVIDUAL assignment done by each person in the class. Week 3 Graded No
20
 No
Group Work Assignment: Communication Exercise 3: Give a 6-minute group presentation on a technical topic and submit a 2000-word reflective report on how this was created. Week 11 Graded No
30
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

After each of three group presentations, each group gets specific feedback on their assignment before proceeding to the next assignment.

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