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Monash University

FIT1039 Web systems - Semester 1, 2013

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.

Mode of Delivery

Caulfield (Day)

Contact Hours

2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs lab/tutorials/wk

Workload requirements

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.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

FIT1011, FIT2053

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Caulfield

Dengsheng Zhang

Tutors

Caulfield

Ali Alammary

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit, students will:
  • know the technological capabilities and limitations of the world-wide web and understand their impact on the development process for web-based application systems;
  • know the main processes and tasks required in the development of IT-based systems;
  • recognise and understand the need for formalisation of development processes and techniques to address the issues arising during the development of an IT-based application;
  • be able to specify an appropriate development process to meet the needs of a given application development problem;
  • understand the principles of good practice with respect to the management of information systems development projects;
  • recognise the range of skills and competencies required in the development of web-based application systems;
  • be able to identify the range of technical and systems expertise needed in the development of a web-based system for a given set of circumstances;
  • be able to perform the basic information analysis and design tasks required during development of a web-based application system;
  • be able to interact with system users and with other members of a team in the tasks involved in the development of an application system.

Unit Schedule

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  
4 HTML and CSS II  
5 The world of CMS Assignment 1 due
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 2 due
12 Why building systems is so hard.  
  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 learning system.

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%

Assessment Task Value Due Date
Building a personal web site from a template and Creating an on-line form to collect data. 15% Week 5
A complete web site in Joomla and Technology evaluation. 35% Week 11
Examination 1 50% To be advised

Teaching Approach

Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
This teaching and learning approach provides a strong focus on facilitated practical learning, practical exploration and peer learning.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)

Academic Integrity - Please see the Demystifying Citing and Referencing tutorial at http://lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/

Assessment Tasks

Participation

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    Building a personal web site from a template and Creating an on-line form to collect data.
    Description:
    A client - who is an IT consultant - has asked you to create a personal web site to advertise their services. The site will need to explain who they are, what skills they have, their work history and how they can be contacted - a bit like an on-line CV. You will use a (free) template-based web site generator. Your submission will include a link to the site and a brief report about the strengths and weaknesses of the web site generator you used.

    You will create a set of forms for a client - using a 3rd party tool - to allow customers to add and remove their names to a mailing list for an electronic newsletter. These forms will use the client's custom CSS.

    Further details are available on the unit web site.
    Weighting:
    15%
    Criteria for assessment:

    The submission will be assessed by examining if the required functionality has been implemented.

    Further details are available on the unit web site.

    Due date:
    Week 5
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    A complete web site in Joomla and Technology evaluation.
    Description:
    You will create a fully functioning Joomla web site for an on-line business. You will also submit a short report comparing a handful of technology options that a client might need to choose from for a web project.

    Further details, including a detailed case study describing the client, are available on the unit web site.
    Weighting:
    35%
    Criteria for assessment:

    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.

    Due date:
    Week 11

Examinations

  • Examination 1
    Weighting:
    50%
    Length:
    3 hours
    Type (open/closed book):
    Closed book
    Electronic devices allowed in the exam:
    None

Learning resources

Reading list

The unit content has been drawn in part from:

  • Kramer, J. (2010) Joomla! Start to Finish: How to Plan, Execute, and Maintain Your Web Site Wrox.

Each week, on the unit web site, students will be provided with relevant readings and other resources.

Monash Library Unit Reading List
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html

Feedback to you

Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
  • Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
  • Graded assignments with comments
  • Solutions to tutes, labs and assignments
  • Other: Comments on reflective journal entries from staff and fellow students..

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Assignment submission

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).

Online submission

If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Recommended Resources

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.

Recommended text(s)

Kramer, J.. (2010). Joomla! Start to Finish: How to Plan, Execute, and Maintain Your Web Site. () Wrox.

Other Information

Policies

Graduate Attributes Policy

Student services

Monash University Library

Disability Liaison Unit

Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis.

Your feedback to Us

Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

The unit was run in semester 1, 2012. 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

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