SH2005 Project Work in Physics, Smaller Course 15.0 credits

The project work consists of an independent work focusing on a specific problem, decided by the examiner. The project should normally be a focused study within the chosen subject area, at advanced level, The project work should correspond to 10 weeks of full time study. The work should be presented in a written report as well as orally at an open seminar.

After finishing the course, the students should be able to:

• apply knowledge and skills acquired in the subject area in order to solve a specified project task.
• within the given framework, independently analyze and discuss complex questions and handle larger problems at an advanced level within the subject area.
• reflect on, evaluate, and critically review and compare his/her own others scientific results.
• document and present the work, for a given audience, with high demands on structure, form, and language, both orally and in writing.
• Identify the need for acquiring additional knowledge and continously develop his/her skill set.

As a general rule, the majority of the study programme should be finished before the project work is started. The examiner should make sure that the individual student has a suitable subject background and that the student has finished a sufficient part of the study programme before starting the project.

Självständig litteratursökning och litteraturstudier inom det givna problemområdet förväntas. Kurslitteraturen kan även föreslås av examinator eller handledare.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• PRO1 - Project, 15.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

The project work should be performed individually or, in exceptional cases, together with another student. In the case with two students, separate individual tasks within the project should be well defined and the examiner should make sure that the partition and interface between the students is realistic, and that the work for each student correpsonds to the proper requirements. The work should be presented individually, both orally and in writing, in English or Swedish. Depending on the study programme of the student, opposition of another project work could be required to fulfill the criteria for passing the project course.

The project work will be evaluated according to the criteria below, within the evaluation areas process, scientific content, and presentation. The grade is decided by the examiner as an overall assessment after a check for plagiarism has been performed of the written report. For passing the project work course, none of the three evaluation areas can be failed. The criteria for grading can also be seen as a tool for supporting the student in working towards a high target, through a clarification of requirements and expectations.

A student who has not finished the projct work withing eight months run the risk of failing the course. Such a decision is taken in consultation between the examiner and the programme coordinator.

Process

Excellent:
Independently plan and implement the work within the agreed time frames, show a good power of initiative, be open for supervision and critisism, independently identify his/her own need of new knowledge, be able to acquire that knowledge, show good ability in understading other's work, and formulate relevant and constructive critisism.

Good
Plan and implement the work within the agreed time frames, show power of initiative, be open for supervision and critisism, be able to acquire new knowledge, show ability in understading other's work, and formulate relevant critisism.

Sufficient
Implement the work within the agreed time frames, show some power of initiative, be open for supervision and critisism, be able to acquire new knowledge, show some ability in understading other's work, and formulate critisism.

Failed

Lacking respect for agreements, considerable lack of independence or  disobedience in supervision. Inabaility or unwillingness to acquire new knowledge.

Scientific content

Excellent
From the problem at hand, and with a relevant methodology, show a very good ability to, in a systematic way, apply engineering- and scientific skills in formulating the problem, modelling, analysis, development, and evaluation. When it is relevant for the problem at hand show awareness of social and ethical aspects, including economical-, social-, and ecologically sustainable development.

Good
From the problem at hand, and with a relevant methodology, show a good ability to, in a systematic way, apply engineering- and scientific skills in formulating the problem, modelling, analysis, development, and evaluation. When it is relevant for the problem at hand show awareness of social and ethical aspects, including economical-, social-, and ecologically sustainable development.

Sufficient
From the problem at hand, and with a relevant methodology, show some ability to apply engineering- and scientific skills in modelling, analysis, development, and evaluation. When it is relevant for the problem at hand show awareness of social and ethical aspects, including economical-, social-, and ecologically sustainable development.

Failed

Major shortcomings in engineering- and scientific skills, or considerably lacking methodology despite requests.

Presentation

Excellent
Present a well disposed report, with a clear presentation of the work and the results, a clear analysis and substantiated argumentation, as well as good language, form, and scientific accuracy. Show a good ability to orally present the project with clear argumentation and analysis, and good ability to discuss the work.

Good
Present a well disposed report, with a clear presentation of the work and the results, an analysis and argumentation, as well as good language and form. Show a good ability to orally present and discuss the work.

Sufficient
Present a written report, with an acceptable structure, form and language. Show ability to orally present the work.

Failed

Remaining shortcomings in the written report despite requests, or considerable inability to orally present or discuss the work.

No

Tommy Ohlsson

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.