This unit is the first core unit in the BITS Applications development major, which aims to teach students the technical and development process skills required for the development of IT-based application systems. The unit aims to provide a broad introduction to the process and tasks of applications development by giving students practical experience in the development of a small application system. The unit uses the world-wide web as a development platform for this application.
The unit will introduce students to the key web technologies, and examine the way in which their features and characteristics affect the development processes required to build application systems. It will introduce students to a number of key techniques required in systems development, and the knowledge and skills required to apply them effectively. This examination of the specific features of the web as a development environment will be used to highlight the broader needs and issues in the systems development process which will be addressed in subsequent units in the major.
The emphasis throughout the unit will be on providing a broad overview of a range of topics, rather than examining specific topics in great depth. There will be a strong emphasis on practical demonstration of the concepts being studied, and their use to highlight key aspects of development theory.
2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs lab/tutorials/wk
Students will be expected to spend a total of 12 hours per week during semester on this unit.
This will include:
Lectures: 2 hours per week
Tutorials/Lab Sessions: 2 hours per week per tutorial
and up to an additional 8 hours in some weeks for completing lab and project work, private study and revision.
FIT1011, FIT2053
Peter O'Donnell
Jacob Zhivov
Siavash Alavian
Jason Lu
Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Building a personal web site from a template | 5% | Sunday, 18 March, 2012 |
| Creating an on-line form to collect data. | 5% | Sunday, 1 April, 2012 |
| A complete web site in Joomla | 30% | Sunday, 20 May, 2012 |
| Technology evaluation. Product comparison report and recommendation. | 10% | Sunday, 27 May, 2012 |
| Reflective blog posts | Bonus of 3 marks added to overall assignment mark | Your last blog entry can be made anytime before the exam. |
| Examination 1 | 50% | To be advised |
Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
The unit ran for the first time in semester 1, 2011. The unit was well received by students and the feedback was positive. No major changes to the content or structure of the unit are planned for this semester. The only major difference in the running of the unit this semester compared to last, will be the use of a new version of the content management system Joomla. In the past version 1.5 was used, this semester we will use the latest release (version 2.5).
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp
Students who own a laptop computer are encouraged to bring that computer to classes. Most laboratory classes will be scheduled in a room that allows students to work using their own laptop. A standard laboratory - with University computers - is available for students who don't own their own laptop. For more details see Allocate+.
The unit will make extensive use of a variety of web-based systems and tools. Students will be provided with an account on the studentweb web server.
Kramer, J.. (2010). Joomla! Start to Finish: How to Plan, Execute, and Maintain Your Web Site. () Wrox.
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 | |
| 1 | The world of the web | |
| 2 | Build versus buy | |
| 3 | HTML and CSS I | Assignment 1 due Sunday, 18 March 2012 |
| 4 | HTML and CSS II | |
| 5 | The world of CMS | Assignment 2 due Sunday, 1 April 2012 |
| 6 | Introduction to the Joomla CMS | |
| 7 | Setting up Joomla's menus, adding content | |
| 8 | Using templates in Joomla | |
| 9 | Extending Joomla | |
| 10 | Advanced Joomla tricks | |
| 11 | Web 2.0 and it's impact on systems | Assignment 3 due Sunday, 20 May 2012 |
| 12 | Why building systems is so hard. | Assignment 4 due Sunday, 27 May 2012 |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken SWOT VAC | |
| Examination period | LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/ academic/education/assessment/ assessment-in-coursework-policy.html |
*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)
The report will be assessed for the quality of the evaluation (especially looking at the criteria that are used and the method used to assess and rank the alternatives against those criteria), and also the presentation of the report (Is the report well presented, structured and written?).
Further details are available on the unit web site.
The submission will be assessed by examining if the required functionality has been implemented.
The submission will be assessed by examining the completeness of the functionality, the design of the template and the overall ease of use of the site created. Further details are available on the unit web site.
The submission will be assessed by examining the quality of the assessment (this will involve looking at the criteria used, and the methods used to rate each alternative against those criteria), and the overall presentation of the report (Is the report well presented, structured and written).
To obtain the 3% bonus mark for this task students must complete a minimum of 10 weekly blog entries during the semester. Each blog post will be read and assessed by the chief examiner. To get the 3% bonus 6 of these posts should be assessed as "satisfactory".
Students can gauge what is required from some example blogs - from students in previous years - and from staff feedback. The task is not difficult. It is fun to do and does help your learning. The 3% bonus will be added to the assignment component of the mark available for the unit. Note that that component cannot exceed 50%. So, for example, a student who obtained 46/50 for their assignment work who earns the bonus will get 49%. While a student who got 49/50 would get 50/50 - the maximum available - if they earned the bonus. For more details, please refer to the Moodle-based unit web site.
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them.
You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html
Key educational policies include:
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students. For Sunway see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/
The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Sunway, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.
Academic support services may be available for students who have a disability or medical condition. Registration with the Disability Liaison Unit is required. Further information is available as follows:
The unit content has been drawn in part from:
Each week, on the unit web site, students will be provided with relevant readings and other resources.