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Department of Engineering |
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Computing-related Information for CUED Teaching Staff
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The teaching system has Linux machines, a few Windows machines and some dual-boot machines (that can be Linux or Windows). Some of these machines can be used by students without them needing to be on-site. See our Offsite Access page.
C++ is the main programming language taught.
Octave (like Matlab) is being introduced to all 2nd year students too. Setting
coursework that requires students to
use other languages is not
recommended unless the students are well prepared. Short courses on
C++
and fortran are sometimes available during October.
The Languages
page lists available programming languages.
All students are introduced to Pro/ENGINEER.
The Programs
page has links to lists of other programs available.
The Unix Teaching System has
LaTeX and
LibreOffice for document preparation. Many (though
not all) students have access to PCs and Macs in their colleges.
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A CUED-CARET project is underway that aims to provide a CamTools site for
each module that will be pre-populated with the appropriate students.
Some pilot sites might be in operation by October 2011.
- 'start' set-ups -
The start facility provides an easy way to run computer-based
sessions. Files can be copied, menus set up and applications started
to suit your course. See
The "start" command on linux
for information about how to set the
facility up.
- Teaching-related files -
These go under /export/teach. Linux-specific teaching-related files go under /export/teach/linux.
- Unix Groups -
Students can be put into "unix groups". This means that a group of
students can share certain files without other groups having access
to those files. Mail user-admin with your requirements
(the groupings and the amount of disc space they might require).
A user can only belong to 16 unix groups. If that's too restrictive, the administrators can use "ACL" to control file/folder access.
If you want students to choose their own
groups online, a form like
http://www-h.eng.cam.ac.uk/help/tpl/php/grouper/
can be created. Mail tpl@eng.cam.ac.uk with information on the group-size and when you want the
form replies to be processed.
- Shared Filespace - Folders can
be created under /homes/groups that can be accessed only by students
in particular unix groups. This is useful for group project work. Mail your requirements to
teaching-support
- Booking lab session and marking sessions - Noticeboards like those for IIA
experiments in the EIElab can be replaced by web pages. See the instructions for
Lab session booking and
Mark session booking. Mail tpl@eng.cam.ac.uk to have one
set up.
- Multiple Choice Surveys - The Teaching Office run an online survey to cover years 1 to 3. Smaller online surveys can be produced using Swift, a facility within CamTools. For a locally produced alternative, see Multiple Choice Surveys - instructions for staff
- Saving Paper -
Paper can be saved by
- putting handouts on the WWW - a version of Distiller is on the
operators' PC to convert Word files to PDF.
- making instructions on how produce hardcopy clear and easy.
- discouraging students from producing unnecessary amounts of
hardcopy.
See the Printing page for further information.
- Fast Feedback -
A feedback icon can be provided as part of the start set-up
to give users an easy way to offer feedback via our Fast Feedback Facility.
In order to avoid timetable clashes and unexpected loading on the computer
system, a booking system exists for those running computer-based courses
during term time.
Courses should be booked via Viv Bateman
(vgb24). Stephen Mounsey should be
advised of computer loading/software requirements.
Copies of the proposed DPO, and EIE and timetables for the coming
term are posted in the DPO.
Those running computer-based courses this term should check and advise
Viv Bateman if any changes/additions are necessary.
If you anticipate that the load your course will place on the Departmental
Computing System will increase significantly this term, please advise
Stephen Mounsey (e-mail sjm, tel: 48211) as soon as possible.
For conference bookings see the
Use of CUED Computing facilities by conferences page.
Locally,
Also there's
- Jorum - a free online repository service for teaching and support staff in UK Further and Higher Education Institutions
- MERLOT - a free and open resource designed primarily for faculty and students of higher education. Links to online learning materials are collected here along with annotations such as peer reviews and assignments.
- Open Source Advisory Service (JISC)
- WebCT ("Aside
from facilitating the organization of
course material on the web, WebCT
also provides a wide variety of tools
and features that can be added to a
course. Examples of tools include a
conferencing system, on-line chat,
student progress tracking, group
project organization, student
self-evaluation, grade maintenance
and distribution, access control,
navigation tools, timed quizzes,
electronic mail, automatic index
generation, course content searches
and much more.")
- TLTP (Teaching and
Learning Technology Programme)
- Ultralab
(Anglia Polytechnic University's learning technology research centre).
- tuning in: infusing media networks into professional writing curriculum (Alex Reid; from Karos 12:2)
- Ed-Cast ("Higher Education Podcast Repository")
- OER Commons
- apple.com/education/mobile-learning
(a link to iTunesU, etc - it's useful to have iTunes installed )
- MIT's
OpenCourseware (according to the Higher, each course costs
over $10k to put online and the site costs $3.5 million/year. 35%
of MIT students say that the site played a part in their choice
of university)
- Open Courseware Consortium
- The Open University's free material
- ccLearn (a division of Creative Commons dedicated to support open learning and open educational resources)
The main lecture theatres have PCs and projection equipment. Contact Audio Visual Service for details.
The PCs have some presentation software installed. By default the machines are likely to start Windows.
Under Windows there's an icon to log into the x-access machine.
This will bring up SuSE Unix which by default will boot into gnome (as on
the DPO terminals).
Users can however use KDE etc. if preferred.
If you use a WWW browser, it's suggested that you use the
Clear private data option (in the Tools menu) at the end
of the session.
Note that the Lecture Room machines have 1024x768 displays (the best the projectors can display) whereas the DPO's screen are 1280x1024. See the Lecture Theatre/Room PCs page for further information.
Note that you'll be able to access past papers, etc., but supervisors and
demonstrators of your courses might not be able to. If they're not CUED
teaching staff they may need to contact jm367 to
be added to the right lists.
teaching-support@eng.cam.ac.uk has been set up to
handle queries about CUED computer based teaching. This address is
intended for use by teaching staff involved in the development and
running of computer based teaching classes in the department.
Teaching staff are encouraged to use this address for technical
queries about the running, maintenance and development of computer
based teaching anywhere in the department. We are expecting queries
about how to update existing practicals, advice on the packages available
on the teaching system, requests for new packages to be installed etc.
As well as advice about existing practicals we are also keen that anyone
considering new developments makes contact with us.
