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Introduction to Class Setup and Expectations

• The class structure is introduced with emphasis on timing and group interactions.

  • Clarification that students are not lost; guidance will be provided on timing.

  • Importance of understanding class expectations in a large classroom setting.

Developmental Areas and Professional Graduate Attributes

• JSU focuses on specific professional graduate attributes categorized as GA 6 to GA 11.

  • Activities throughout the course are designed to develop these attributes subtly.

  • These developmental aspects will be integrated into all class activities, although announcements won't be made explicitly about them.

  • The attributes are listed in students' study guides.

Consultation and Team Introduction

• The instructor provides information about consultation hours:

  • Apologies for not being available during certain hours due to scheduling conflicts.

• Introduction of teaching staff responsible for the course:

  • Dr. Isabella Swart: Focus on technical report writing in the second term.

  • Mr. Kevin Brown: Available for civil engineering lectures.

  • Miss Miyasha Demof: Engaged in a PhD study, not present during the introduction.

  • Clarification that there are additional teaching assistants who the students won't interact with directly.

Communication and Group Participation

• Quickest method for communication is through group emails:

  • Shared responsibility among teaching staff for checking emails.

  • Advice against sending unnecessary emails and guidance on when it's appropriate to send one.

• Structure of student groups: Students can attend any group session based on their schedule.

  • Examples provided for flexibility in group attendance, especially for industrial engineering students.

  • Class activities today require discipline-specific groupings, but generally, attendance at any group is allowed.

Class Expectations

• Key expectations laid out for student behavior:

  • Respect: Importance of respecting classmates and teaching staff, including oneself.

  • Punctuality: Acknowledgment of efforts made by most students to arrive on time; requests for improvement from specific groups.

  • Zero tolerance for disruptive noise: Explained the impact of noise on the learning environment. Failure to adhere may lead to removal from class.

Email Etiquette and Resource Utilization

• Implementation of the rule of three for emails:

  1. Check the study guide for information before emailing.

  2. Check ClickUp for updates or announcements.

  3. If still uncertain, ask peers for clarification.

• Encouragement for peer-to-peer assistance, leveraging collective resources in the class setting.

Assessment Structure

• Overview of the assessment methodology:

  • Continuous assessment approach with no exams; total marks accumulate to 100.

  • Breakdown of how marks will comprise:

  • Module participation (10 marks): Involves attendance, participation in class activities, and preparation.

  • Overview of the three main study areas:

  1. Introduction to engineering.

  2. Personal development skills.

  3. Sustainability and sustainability reporting.

  • Emphasized that students must pass all three areas to pass the module.

  • Warning regarding failure due to lack of participation rather than assessment difficulty; mentioned the fail code 992 that indicates unmet assessments.

Assignment Deadlines and Scheduling

• Deadlines typically set for Sunday evenings at 8 p.m.; explanation for specific timing to allow student rest before Mondays.

• Students encouraged to print and refer to study guides.

• Procedure for assignment availability discussed:

  • Assignments released at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays to ensure all groups are treated equally.

  • Assignment submission strictly through designated ClickUp with no emailed submissions.

Knowledge Check and Engineering Introduction

• Introduction to the first lecture topic: The engineering profession.

  • Definition and discussion of engineering:

  • Application of science, math, and technology to design, build, and improve various infrastructures.

  • Importance of creativity and critical thinking in problem-solving to enhance daily life.

• Key aspects of engineering covered:

  • Problem-solving, innovation, design and construction, and societal impact.

  • Introduction of sustainability as a core element in modern engineering practices.

Activity and Reflection

• Instruction for an activity reflecting on chosen engineering disciplines:

  • Students reflect for five minutes on:

  1. Their chosen discipline and reasons for selection.

  2. Typical workplaces for professionals in that field.