MMS9405 Developing Multimedia Systems , Unit Information Guide (Semester 1, 2006)

This unit will examine the activities integral to the development of a multimedia systems, detailing the techniques of systems analysis and design used in the development process. Students will be involved in a mixture of individual and group-based work which will require application of the theoretical knowledge gained in lectures to a series of practical problems in multimedia systems development. The major focus of this unit will be to give a broad and balanced coverage of the traditional and object-oriented approaches to systems analysis and design.

• Knowledge of a range of systems analysis and design methodologies and their associated tools that can be used in the development of multimedia systems
• Knowledge of the main participants in the development of multimedia systems and the roles which they perform
• Knowledge of the key tasks in the multimedia systems development process
• Knowledge of quality assurance techniques for the analysis, design, implementation and maintenance of a quality multimedia system

• An appreciation of the importance of a thorough understanding of the principles of systems analysis and design so as to support successful development of multimedia systems
• Broadminded awareness of the the advantages and disadvantages of alternative approaches in systems analysis and design

• Undertake a requirements analysis for a business application
• Convert requirement analysis models to design models that represent a workable solution system
• Prepare analysis and design documentation for a Multimedia System

• Develop skills to work as part of a project team

This unit is only available to students enrolled in the Master of Multimedia or Master of Applied Information Technology

Required text(s)

To be advised

Text books are available from the Monash University Book Shops. Availability from other suppliers cannot be assured. The Bookshop orders texts in specifically for this unit. You are advised to purchase your text book early.

Software requirements:

All software will be provided in computer laboratories. Alternatively, students may use their home computer with their own copies of the software installed.

Hardware requirements:

Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook. You will need to allocate up to 8 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

England & Finney, Managing Multimedia: Project Management for Web and Convergent Media (3rd Edition, Book 1), Addison Wesley, 2001, ISBN 0201728982

Study resources for MMS9405 are:

The MMS9405 web site on MUSO, where lecture slides, weekly tutorial requirements, assignment specifications, sample solutions and supplementary material will be posted.

The timetable for on-campus classes for this unit can be viewed in Allocate+

Assessment for the unit consists of two group assignments with a weighting of 40% and an examination with a weighting of 60%. Read this section VERY carefully.

To pass this unit you must:

• Attend 80% of the tutorials (or have a medical certificate to excuse further absence).
• Achieve an overall mark of 50% or above.

Your score for the unit will be calculated by:

Final grade = (R*A*E)/(((R-1)*A)+E)
Where A = overall assignment percentage
E = examination percentage
R = 100/assignment weighting (100/60 = 1.67)

This formula means you need to achieve a good mark in both the assignments and the examination to perform well overall.

Assessment Requirements

Assignment specifications will be made available on MUSO. Information about assignments will be published on the Unit's Notices Newsgroup.

The method of assignment submission will be advised in the lectures.

Late submission of assignments

Penalties are incurred from the due date at the rate of a 10% reduction in grade for each day (including weekends) if the assignment is late.

This policy is strict because comments or guidance will be given on assignments as they are returned, and sample solutions may also be published and distributed, after assignment marking or with the returned assignment. 

Extensions

It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are seldom regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions. 

Requests for extensions must be made by email to the unit lecturer at least two days before the due date. You will be asked to forward original medical certificates in cases of illness, and may be asked to provide other forms of documentation where necessary. A copy of the email or other written communication of an extension must be attached to the assignment submission.

Grading of assessment

Assignments, and the unit, will be marked and allocated a grade according to the following scale:

We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt.

You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This feedback may be provided through your participation in tutorials and class discussions, as well as through your assignment submissions. It may come in the form of individual advice, marks and comments, or it may be provided as comment or reflection targeted at the group. It may be provided through personal interactions, such as interviews and on-line forums, or through other mechanisms such as on-line self-tests and publication of grade distributions.

You will be asked to provide feedback to the Faculty through a Unit Evaluation survey at the end of the semester. You may also be asked to complete surveys to help teaching staff improve the unit and unit delivery. Your input to such surveys is very important to the faculty and the teaching staff in maintaining relevant and high quality learning experiences for our students.

It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem with your study. The semester is short, so we can help you best if you let us know as soon as problems arise. Regardless of whether the problem is related directly to your progress in the unit, if it is likely to interfere with your progress you should discuss it with your lecturer or a Community Service counsellor as soon as possible.

Plagiarism and cheating are regarded as very serious offences. In cases where cheating  has been confirmed, students have been severely penalised, from losing all marks for an assignment, to facing disciplinary action at the Faculty level. While we would wish that all our students adhere to sound ethical conduct and honesty, I will ask you to acquaint yourself with Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Faculty regulations that apply to students detected cheating as these will be applied in all detected cases.

In this University, cheating means seeking to obtain an unfair advantage in any examination or any other written or practical work to be submitted or completed by a student for assessment. It includes the use, or attempted use, of any means to gain an unfair advantage for any assessable work in the unit, where the means is contrary to the instructions for such work. 

When you submit an individual assessment item, such as a program, a report, an essay, assignment or other piece of work, under your name you are understood to be stating that this is your own work. If a submission is identical with, or similar to, someone else's work, an assumption of cheating may arise. If you are planning on working with another student, it is acceptable to undertake research together, and discuss problems, but it is not acceptable to jointly develop or share solutions unless this is specified by your lecturer. 

Intentionally providing students with your solutions to assignments is classified as "assisting to cheat" and students who do this may be subject to disciplinary action. You should take reasonable care that your solution is not accidentally or deliberately obtained by other students. For example, do not leave copies of your work in progress on the hard drives of shared computers, and do not show your work to other students. If you believe this may have happened, please be sure to contact your lecturer as soon as possible.

Cheating also includes taking into an examination any material contrary to the regulations, including any bilingual dictionary, whether or not with the intention of using it to obtain an advantage.

Plagiarism involves the false representation of another person's ideas, or findings, as your own by either copying material or paraphrasing without citing sources. It is both professional and ethical to reference clearly the ideas and information that you have used from another writer. If the source is not identified, then you have plagiarised work of the other author. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that is insulting to the reader and grossly unfair to your student colleagues.

Communication from the unit lecturer/tutor and class will be sent to your Monash student email address. Make sure you check this address regularly for specific information about lectures, tutes and assignment dates.

When emailing your lecturer/tutor, begin the subject line with the subject code (FIT1012 or MMS9401) for easy identification.

Notices related to the unit during the semester will be placed on the Notices Newsgroup in the Unit Website. Check this regularly. Failure to read the Notices newsgroup is not regarded as grounds for special consideration.

Consultation Times

To be advised.

If direct communication with your unit adviser/lecturer or tutor outside of consultation periods is needed you may contact the lecturer and/or tutors at:

Mr Matthew Coller
Lecturer
Phone +61 3 990 47216

All email communication to you from your lecturer will occur through your Monash student email address. Please ensure that you read it regularly, or forward your email to your main address. Also check that your contact information registered with the University is up to date in My.Monash.