Module SOC3128 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
SOC3128: Introduction to Open-source Intelligence (OSINT)
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year-to-year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following themes:
- Introduction: What is Open-source intelligence? What is its role in contemporary law enforcement investigations? Preparing your computer for OSINT work.
- OSINT methodology and workflow, documentation, and ethics
- Search engines and online communities
- Social media part 1
- Social media part 2
- Email, usernames, telephone numbers, and search engines
- Online maps, geolocation, and documents
- Images and videos
- Domain names and IP addresses
- Government and business records and virtual currencies
- Data breaches and leaks
- Wrap-up revision, and the future of OSINT
The teaching sessions for this module will take the form of weekly two hour long practical sessions, whereby the students will have short lectures from the module convener on the above subjects accompanied by practical exercises.
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
30 | 120 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 22 | 11 x two hour taught practical sessions |
Guided independent studies | 36 | Course readings and other multi-media content |
Guided independent study | 25 | Reading/research for essay |
Guided independent study | 59 | Group work/research for technical report |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Group presentation to module | 10 minutes | 1,2,3,7,9 | Verbal, written provided to the group |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 x problem sets | 50 | Problem sets (2,000 words in total, 50%) | 1,2,3,7,9 | Written feedback |
Technical report | 50 | 2,000 words | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | Written feedback |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
3 x problem sets | Problem sets (2,000 words in total, 50%) | 1,2, 3,7,9 | August/September re-assessment period |
Technical report | 2,000 words | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | August/September reassessment period |