Computer Science 2 Tutoring Jobs

Type (Tut/Demo/Other ...):  Tutor

Time in Year:  CS2Ah: October-January; CS2Bh: February-May; tutors often take both.

Number of Posts: 20 tutor jobs per half-course.

Description:  CS2 is the second-year computer science degree course. Although it consolidates and builds upon core material learnt in CS1, it is nonetheless pretty much self-contained. The only real prerequisite for tutors is a small amount of Java knowledge.

The course is split into two half-courses:

CS2Ah (term 1 week 1 to term 2 week 3)

• Language processing (state machines, grammars, parsing)
• Computer systems (instruction sets, logic circuits, processor structure)
• Software engineering (methodology, requirements engineering, verification, validation)

CS2Bh (term 2 week 4 to term 3 week 5)

• Algorithms and data structures (algorithm analysis, graph algorithms, algorithm applications)
• Java programming (inheritance, concurrency, collection classes, inner classes)
• Current technologies (Web applications using HTML and PHP. Databases and SQL)

Each of the half-courses can be tutored independently. However, it is also possible, indeed encouraged, to take the same tutorial group throughout the year for both half-courses

The tasks associated with taking 1 tutorial group for 1 half-course are:

• Tutorials There are 8 one hour tutorials spread over the 13 week semester in which the half course takes place. In 2000-2001, tutorial groups typically contained 10 students. A tutor bulletin, containing suggestions for tutorial material, is circulated to tutors in the week before the tutorial is due to take place. There are CS2 tutorials timetabled from 2-3pm every weekday. Tutorials may be held either in King's Buildings or in the central area.

• Marking There are 4 practical exercises per half-course, either programming exercises, paper and pencil exercises or a combination of the two. Tutors are provided with clear marking guidelines and sample answers for each practical. Programming exercises are often marked in part by automatic test suites provided for you.

• cs2help PhD students and RA tutors are also asked to contribute to an email helpline for students.

For PhD students, the rate of pay is

• 2 demonstrator hours per tutorial = 16 hours per half-course (this includes preparation time).
• Time spent marking practicals is claimed at demonstrator rate. Expect to spend roughly 5 hours per practical per tutorial group = 20 hours per half-course.
• Time spent manning cs2help is claimed at demonstrator rate. Expect to spend roughly 4 hours per half-course.

For academic staff, taking one tutorial group for one half-course counts as a single tutoring credit.

Contact:  To apply, register your interest with the Informatics Teaching Office ito@dcs.ed.ac.uk