FIT3077 Software engineering: architecture and design - Semester 1, 2009

Unit leader

Lecturer(s) :

Additional communication information

There will be two one-hour lectures per week in this unit. During lectures, the lecturer will present the theory underlying the topics in the unit, and illustrate this with concrete examples.

 There will also be a one-hour 'practice class' for the unit. The lecturer and tutors (if any) will be present for the practice class. Students are expected to work on example problems or their assignments during the practice class, and ask the teaching staff for assistance when necessary. Teaching staff may occasionally choose to explain a common problem to the whole class.

 Note that a practice class is not a tutorial. It is time for you to work on the example problems provided, with a staff member present to answer any questions you might have. To get value from the practice class, it is vital that you attempt the example problems provided.

 The practice classes are intended to be the primary mechanism for consultation in this unit.

Tutorial allocation

Students should register for a practice class using Allocate+. It will most likely be listed as a 'laboratory'.

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.

Unit Schedule

Prescribed text(s) and readings

Recommended text(s) and readings

• Fowler M., UML Distilled: A Brief Guide to the Standard Object Modeling Language, Addison-Wesley, 3rd ed., 2003.
• Gamma E., Helm R., Johnson R., Vlissides J. M., Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software, Addison-Wesley, 1994.
• Martin R. C., Design Principles and Design Patterns, 2000.
  • This and other Robert C. Martin articles are made available through the Blackboard site for the unit.
• Fowler M., Analysis Patterns: Reusable Object Models, Addison-Wesley, 1996.
• Fowler M., Beck K., Brant J., Opdyke W., Roberts  D., Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code, Addison-Wesley, 1999.
• Bass L., Clements P. and Kazman R., Software Architecture in Practice, Addison-Wesley, 2nd ed., 2003.
  • full text available electronically through the Monash library
• Allen, P and Schlamann, H., Service Orientation: Winning Strategies and Best Practices, Cambridge University, 2006.
  • full text available electronically through the Monash library

Required software and/or hardware

You will need access to:

• A tool for creating UML diagrams, such as Rational Rose, Visual Paradigm, etc.
• An object-oriented programming language

Equipment and consumables required or provided

Study resources

Study resources we will provide for your study are:

• Weekly detailed lecture notes outlining the learning objectives, discussion of the content, and required readings;
• Regular practice class exercises, with feedback and solutions provided in the practice classes;
• Assignment specifications;
• A sample examination and suggested solutions presented in the week 13 lectures;
• Discussion groups;
• This Unit Guide outlining the administrative information for the unit;
• The unit web site on MUSO, where resources outlined above will be made available.

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

The unit is assessed with two assignments and a three hour closed book examination. To pass this unit, a student must obtain:

• 40% or more in the unit's examination and
• 40% or more in the unit's non-examination assessment, and
• an overall unit mark of 50% or more

Assignment tasks

• Assignment Task

  Title : UML Design Assignment

  Description :

  Students will be provided with software requirements scenarios for which they must produce a conceptual design for an object-oriented solution. This design must be described using UML diagrams. The purpose of this assignment is to reinforce UML knowledge and ensure that students are ready for the large assignment.

  Weighting : 20%

  Criteria for assessment :

  Designs will be assessed for completeness with respect to the specification provided, correct use of UML notation, and design quality.

  Due date : Week 4

• Assignment Task

  Title : Team Software Architecture Assignment

  Description :

  This is a team assignment. Students will work on it in pairs. This assignment will have two stages, each requiring students to analyse a problem, design a solution, and implement it in an object-oriented programming language. The second stage will build on the first, and the ease with which the students' stage one design can be extended for stage two will depend on appropriate use of architecture and design knowledge presented in this unit.

  Weighting : 40%

  Criteria for assessment :

  Teams will be assessed on the basis of their submitted design documentation and code, as well as an interview. Both team members will be required to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of all parts of their design.

   Designs and code will be assessed for quality, including extensibility and appropriate use of design patterns. Completeness of code functionality with respect to the problem requirements  will also be assessed.

  Due date : Week 12

Examinations

• Examination 1

  Weighting : 40%

  Length : 3 hours

  Type ( open/closed book ) : Closed book

  
  

Assignment submission

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.

Requests for extensions must be made to the unit lecturer at your campus 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.

Late assignment

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/

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.