PE7043 - AI and Digital Technology

Each module session follows a similar structure of Learn, Explore Further and Apply. All learning materials and resources are accessible via our virtual learning environment.

Through the e-learning portal you will be provided with resources in the form of articles, links of books/articles/journals, PowerPoint lectures, word document, video lectures etc. relevant to your module. You will be given an on-line reading list, but will also be required to create your individual reading resource as well. You will be using a discussion board to share your work and create a knowledge base for your peers. You will be also using Wiki (a learning tool on e-learning portal) to form focus groups on module submission and assessment criteria.

The module will be delivered using a range of approaches. Core knowledge will be delivered via using online recorded lectures with supported learning activities. The recorded lectures will impart to you a holistic high level understanding of modern digital technology that is powered by AI technologies, to help you to develop a comprehensive understanding of the technological background to the subject matter.

The subsequent online learning activities will be used to reinforce your learning from the lectures through the use of examples, case studies, and research papers which you will research and use online forums to discuss with your peers and tutor. Indeed, these online activities will enable you to develop your ability to think independently and make judgements on matters relating to AI and other enabling digital technologies. The rationale for the problem solving tasks is to support your learning by finding AI solutions for real-world scenarios that are summarised from the industry projects that Northumbria University has taken in the past years. You may also draw on your own experience.
The aim is to broaden and deepen your understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of the subject, which in turn will help broaden your professional skills and abilities. The online activities also form a significant opportunity to work in groups and apply the concepts taught in lectures on a selected industry project scenarios that form the basis of the assessments.
You will also conduct independent study, as it forms an important element of the module. Independent learning will centre upon identification and pursuit of areas of interest, by providing deeper/broader knowledge and understanding of the subject through a range of learning activities that might include extended reading, reflection, research etc.

At key points throughout the module you will access virtual classrooms (available on the e-learning portal) for live discussions and virtual taught sessions, which will be recorded and stored on the e-learning portal. These online sessions are timetabled and will deliver relevant knowledge, information and direction for you to fulfil the learning outcomes.

A range of approaches are adopted to accelerate your learning in this module.

During the first week of this module, you will receive information about the module and Teaching & Learning Plan. The teaching and learning plan (TLP) sets out
• Learning outcomes and overall module and programme aims
• Teaching, learning and assessment strategy
• Teaching schedule
• Directed reading references (text and journals) and core texts for the module

During this module your module tutor will provide academic support including:
• Delivering on—line materials
• Providing guidance in relation to assignments
• Development of key resources, made available through the VLE
• Assessing assignments and assess or review any other agreed summative or formative outputs as appropriate

You will be supported by a team of academic experts and will have the opportunity to discuss your ideas and methods through project supervision. You will engage in a rich dialogue with tutors (and fellow students) and receive feedback on on-going work giving you the opportunity to respond directly and as part of your process.

Where appropriate, students may also be directed to engage with Study Skills +, or other resources offered through the University Student Support Services such as Dyslexia Support.
The Library is open 24 hours a day and E-Learning Portal houses all your module documents including your timetable. These services can be accessed on a range of devices

The module will also have an e-reading list which directs learners to specific reading for each session. This includes direct access to repositories, journal articles and other academic sources. You will also be provided with access to a significant set academic research sources via the Northumbria University library portal.

You will also have opportunities to receive formative feedback from your tutor in response to opinions you express and issues you raise during workshop sessions and face-to-face or online tutorials. These formative feedback sessions are formally scheduled at key points throughout the module.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. Understanding of the basic concepts regarding AI and the enabling digital technologies

2. Able to articulate a broad awareness of the social aspects of AI and digital technologies

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

3. Ability to design and recommend AI solutions with the support of the enabling digital technologies for projects in your field

4. Ability to review literature to find, present and proof the solutions for real-world scenarios


Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

5. Developing and reinforcing the ethical characteristics of a Northumbira graduate as you consider the values that underpins ethical approaches to applying AI and digital technologies (the students will have the opportunity to reflect on how these are linked to their own values).

The summative assessment will be through individual coursework. Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 will be assessed by both assessment components. The individual coursework will take the form of a technical report or an academic paper.

You will have the opportunity to discuss your own solution to problems related to your assessment which do not directly count towards your final marks but test and check you understanding of key subjects. Accordingly during seminars you will also solve problems and engage in discussion. The intention is to present an open learning forum where you are safely challenged to explore the boundaries of the discussed topic within the subject area. Verbal formative feedback will be provided by your tutor during seminar sessions.

You will be given written feedback on the summative assessments which you can feed forward into future assessment in this subject area.

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This on-line module will provide a general introduction to the subject matter relating to the applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to different fields, such as business, finance, manufacturing, health, and energy. Indeed, successfully completing the module will provide you with the holistic understanding of the capability of AI with the support of other digital technologies to empower various real-world applications. In particular, you will have a high-level understanding of the enabling technologies of AI, such as the basic computing network and communication technologies, the clouds, and the Internet of Things, which jointly provide the fundamental architecture for data collection and information gathering. In addition, what are the common artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data algorithms and what they can do in relating to real-world applications will also be covered.

From this, you will also be introduced to the technologies that work on top of these fundamentals, such as robotics, computer vision and other operational research or decision making tasks. Some of the social aspects of these digital technologies and AI, such as privacy and security will also be covered. The module will use case studies to support the online learning activities which are developed from the consultancy, knowledge transfer and other industry projects that Northumbria University has conducted in the past years. There will be opportunity throughout the delivery of the module to gain feedback from your module tutors. This feedback will help prepare you for the module’s formally marked coursework that will be a paper style technical report or literature review and a presentation.