FIT1008 Computer science - Semester 1, 2009

Unit leader

Lecturer(s) :

Tutor(s) :

Additional communication information

The preferred communication method for questions regarding the unit's material and/or organisation is through the on-line discussion forum (that way, everyone can benefit from it). For more in-depth help, students can either talk to the lecturer during consultation hours, or through the "Help Room" sessions.

If a student has a personal matter that they wish to notify the lecturer about then they should email cl-fit1008-admin@infotech.monash.edu.au.

Notices related to the unit during the semester will be placed on the News of the Unit's Website.Please, check this regularly. Failure to read the Notices newsgroup is not regarded as grounds for special consideration.

IMPORTANT: forany e-mail contact regarding this unit, please make sure your subject line starts with "FIT1008:". Otherwise, the e-mail might go undetected.

The main teaching mechanisms are through the material covered in lectures, and the questions and discussion promoted during tutorials. Learning is also expected to occur through discussions with the prac partner, interaction with the demonstrator, participation in the on-line discussion forum for the unit, and through the reading of the book chapters recomended for each topic in the lecture slides.

Timetable information

For information on timetabling for on-campus classes at Sunway Campus please refer to http://www.monash.edu.my/timetables/infotech.html

Tutorial allocation

For tutorial and prac allocation please register using Allocate+

Communication, participation and feedback

Monash aims to provide a learning environment in which students receive a range of ongoing feedback throughout their studies. You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This may take the form of group feedback, individual feedback, peer feedback, self-comparison, verbal and written feedback, discussions (on line and in class) as well as more formal feedback related to assignment marks and grades. You are encouraged to draw on a variety of feedback to enhance your learning.

It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem that is affecting your study. Semesters are 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.

The main source of feedback  for the unit is the  feedback that you will get from the demonstrators at the pracs. During the first 1 and 1/2 hours the demonstrator will answer any questions you have regarding the prac and will advise you on the quality of your current solution. During the last 1 and 1/2 hours, the demonstrator will tell you the mark you have achieved in every question and the reasons for that mark.

Each demonstrator carries a marking guide given by the lecturer with clear specifications regarding how to mark each question. You can ask the demonstrator to show you the guide. However, note that any  decisions made by the demonstrator at the prac are final. If you have a (reasonable) problem, you must take it up with the lecturer.

Unit Schedule

Week	Topic	Key dates
1	Revision FIT1002
2	Sorting & Array Data Structures
3	Linked Data Structures
4	Object Oriented Basics
5	Advanced OO
6	Testing/Debugging	22nd August Mid-Semester Test
Mid semester break
7	Recursive Sorts & Trees
8	Trees
9	Architecture, number representation
10	MIPS
11	Translating to assembler
12	Function call/return
13	Revision

Prescribed text(s) and readings

There are no required texts for this subject. The lecture slides are designed to be self sufficient. However, we strongly encourage students to read the appropriate parts of the recommended texts, which complement the slides.

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.

Recommended text(s) and readings

(1) Data Structures and Algorithms in Java. Second Edition. Robert Lafore, SAMS.  This book provides a very simple approach to understanding data structures and algorithms.  While the book uses Java to illustrate the implementation, its focus is on the actual data structures and algorithms, rather than on Java, which is very useful for first year students.

(2) Absolute Java.Second Edition. Walter Savitch. Addison Wesley. This book also contains some data structures and algorithms, but it uses them to illustrate the use of Java. It is useful for students who have questions about the Java language.

(3) Algorithms in Java. Third Edition. Robert Sedgewick. Parts 1-4. This book is a more in-depth book. It is recommended for advanced students who want to learn more about the complexity of the algorithms and data structures used.

(4) Data Structures and Algorithms in Java.  Adam Drozdek, Brooks/Cole. More advanced.

Required software and/or hardware

Eclipse Platform. This is the recomended platform (although BlueJ is also allowed). It can be downloaded from http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/

BlueJ, Version 2.1.2 Programming Development Environment. It can be downloaded from
http://www.bluej.org

Java Development Kit, Version j2sdk-1_5_0_06 or later, Sun Microsystems, Inc. You should download the freeware version. You have no need for the fuller facilities provided in JCreatorPro, and would have to pay for it as well.

The MIPS R2000 simulator SPIM S20. This, and all the other above, are included as part of the Standard Operating Environment used in Faculty computer Labs.

Equipment and consumables required or provided

Students may use the facilities available in the computing labs.  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 4 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

Study resources

Study resources we will provide for your study are:

found at the FIT1008 site, including:

• lecture slides,
• code for the lectures in Java class format,
• weekly tutorial exercises,
• weekly assignment specifications,
• weekly tutorial solutions (available after the tutorial), and
• supplementary material.

Library access

The Monash University Library site contains details about borrowing rights and catalogue searching.  To learn more about the library and the various resources available, please go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au.

The Educational Library and Media Resources (LMR) is also a very resourceful place to visit at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/library/

Monash University Studies Online (MUSO)

All unit and lecture materials are available through MUSO (Monash University Studies Online). Blackboard is the primary application used to deliver your unit resources. Some units will be piloted in Moodle. If your unit is piloted in Moodle, you will see a link from your Blackboard unit to Moodle (http://moodle.monash.edu.au) and can bookmark this link to access directly. In Moodle, from the Faculty of Information Technology category, click on the link for your unit.

You can access MUSO and Blackboard via the portal: http://my.monash.edu.au

Click on the Study and enrolment tab, then Blackboard under the MUSO learning systems.

In order for your Blackboard unit(s) to function correctly, your computer needs to be correctly configured.

For example:

• Blackboard supported browser
• Supported Java runtime environment

For more information, please visit: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/downloadables-student.html

You can contact the MUSO Support by phone : (+61 3) 9903 1268

For further contact information including operational hours, please visit: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/contact.html

Further information can be obtained from the MUSO support site: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/index.html

Unit assessment policy

To pass this unit you must:

• attend at least 7 out of the 11 pracs;
• attend at least 7 out of the 11 tutorials;
• score 50% or better in pracs
• score 50% or better in the exam, and
• score at least 50% overall.

If these four hurdles are met, your score for the unit will be calculated by:

0.7*(Total Exam Mark) + 0.2*(Total Prac Mark) + 0.1*(Total Test mark)

Otherwise, the maximum score is 44N

Assignment tasks

• Assignment Task

  Title : Mid Semester Test (1 hour)

  Description :

  This test will evaluate your understanding of the material provided during the first five weeks of semester,  your capability to code simple algorithms given a clear specification, and to analyse the behaviour and complexity of simple fragments of code.

  Weighting : 10%

  Criteria for assessment :

  See previous paragraph (Description).

  Due date : 9 April

• Assignment Task

  Title : Pracs (1 and 1/2 hours each)

  Description :

  Each week you will need to complete a prac assignment together with another student. Prac assignments are long and are designed to take a significant part of your 6 ``home study hours'' (usually, up to 4 hours). This means that you must have a significant proportion of the prac completed before attending the scheduled computer lab. The aim of the 1 and 1/2 hour computer lab practical is to iron out any bugs, ask any questions about the prac you have not been able to solve on your own, and improve the parts that your demonstrator points out as lacking (including comments, algorithms, etc). If you do nothing before the1 and 1/2 hours scheduled,  you will soon realise that you do not have enough time to complete it.

  The prac sheets will be released every Thursday morning and made available in the unit's web page.

  Weighting : 20%

  Criteria for assessment :

  Every prac sheet contains the assessment criteria used to assess that prac. In addition, demonstrators carry with them a marking guide prepared by the lecturer which indicates how exactly to mark each prac question. You can request the demonstrator to show you the marking guide after he/she has marked your prac.

  Due date : Each prac will be marked during the hour-and-a-half immediately after the first hour-and-a-half of that prac session. You must remain in the prac session until your prac is marked.

  Remarks ( optional - leave blank for none ) :

  There are two hurdles associated to the pracs. First, you must attend at least 7 out of the 11 pracs. Second, you must score at least 50% of the prac mark.

  There is one hurdle associated with tutorials.  You must attend at least 7 out of the 11 tutorials.

   A student who does not meet all these hurdles can get a maximum of 44 N for the unit.

Examinations

• Examination 1

  Weighting : 70%

  Length : 3 hours

  Type ( open/closed book ) : Closed book

  Remarks ( optional - leave blank for none ) :

  There is a hurdle associated with the exam mark: you must score at least 50% of the exam mark. Furthermore, you must score at least 50% overall (i.e., for the mid semester test, pracs and exam).
  
  

Assignment submission

The solution provided by each student (or pair of students) for the weekly prac will be reviewed and marked by a Lab demonstrator at the weekly prac during the last 1 and 1/2 hours of the prac. This is done in front of the students and at the student's computer. Demonstrators are obliged to tell students the mark obtained in each question and the reasons for giving such mark.

The code marked during the prac must be submitted by electronic submission to the FIT1008 MUSO site right after being marked. Failure to do this will result in the prac being given 0 marks. 

Assignment coversheets

When submmitting your assignment, make sure you include an assignment coversheet. An electronic version of the  coversheet can be found at the unit's site.

Due dates and extensions

The due dates for the submission of assignments are given in the previous section. Please make every effort to submit work by the due dates. 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. Students are advised to NOT assume that granting of an extension is a matter of course.

If for any valid reason you cannot attend your usual pracand would like to attend a different prac, you need to emailcl-fit1008-admin@infotech.monash.edu.au and ask for permission. In doingthis you must provide:

• Your name:
• Your ID number:
• Regular Prac: (time and room)
• The reason you cannot attend your usual prac.
• The details (time and room) of the prac you would like to attend,
• The name of your prac partner, and
• Evidence that thepartner knows of the change (an email message is acceptable) and will also be able attend thealternative prac.

Late assignment

If you miss a prac or tutorial class for any reason you must do the following to obtain an exemption for the missed class:

• Submit a special consideration form no more than one week after you return to University. These forms are available from and should be handed in to the General office (Clayton) in building 63.
• Attach any documentary evidence, for example, medical certificate covering the date of your missed class, letter of explanation, police report or plane boarding pass.

Failure to do the above will result in you being marked absent for the class and receiving zero marks. Exemptions will not be granted automatically, and will be considered on a case by case basis. 

Return dates

Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later.

Assessment for the unit as a whole is in accordance with the provisions of the Monash University Education Policy at http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/assessment/

Since the pracs are marked weekly during the lab session, feedback will be provided immediately during the marking.

The mid semester test will be returned within two weeks of the test date.

Plagiarism, cheating and collusion

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 the University Plagiarism policy and procedure (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) which applies to students detected plagiarising.

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.

Register of counselling about plagiarism

The university requires faculties to keep a simple and confidential register to record counselling to students about plagiarism (e.g. warnings). The register is accessible to Associate Deans Teaching (or nominees) and, where requested, students concerned have access to their own details in the register. The register is to serve as a record of counselling about the nature of plagiarism, not as a record of allegations; and no provision of appeals in relation to the register is necessary or applicable.

Non-discriminatory language

The Faculty of Information Technology is committed to the use of non-discriminatory language in all forms of communication. Discriminatory language is that which refers in abusive terms to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or nationality, ethnic or language background, physical or mental ability, or political or religious views, or which stereotypes groups in an adverse manner. This is not meant to preclude or inhibit legitimate academic debate on any issue; however, the language used in such debate should be non-discriminatory and sensitive to these matters. It is important to avoid the use of discriminatory language in your communications and written work. The most common form of discriminatory language in academic work tends to be in the area of gender inclusiveness. You are, therefore, requested to check for this and to ensure your work and communications are non-discriminatory in all respects.

Students with disabilities

Students with disabilities that may disadvantage them in assessment should seek advice from one of the following before completing assessment tasks and examinations:

• Faculty of Information Technology Student Service staff, and / or
• your Unit Coordinator, or
• Disabilities Liaison Unit

Deferred assessment and special consideration

Deferred assessment (not to be confused with an extension for submission of an assignment) may be granted in cases of extenuating personal circumstances such as serious personal illness or bereavement. Information and forms for Special Consideration and deferred assessment applications are available at http://www.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html. Contact the Faculty's Student Services staff at your campus for further information and advice.