Lectures play a key role, and well- organised small seminar classes are provided to support each unit. The broader range of abilities of Applied Computing students is recognised, and additional support is provided through enhanced class contact. Permeating the Laboratory's ethos is a clear belief that good teaching facilitates good learning, and that both result in students enjoying the courses, attaining real understanding and developing a professional interest in the subject area. It is the extent of achievement of these objectives that the Laboratory uses as an indication of the quality of its provision. The assessors were impressed by the Laboratory's expectation that teaching by research and support staff should be to a high standard.
Academic support is excellent.
Personal tutors offer both academic and personal support and 'year directors' oversee courses and monitor students' progress. The staff's open-door policy and the extensive use of electronic mail and bulletin boards by students and staff allow problems to be discussed as soon as they arise, and students are provided with very rapid responses. Students welcome the availability of pre-printed lecture notes and copies of transparencies for most course units. This is augmented by much on-line information, some in hypertext format, for example, course notes, course assignments, and specimen answers to previous assignments. This allows students to progress at their chosen pace.