IMS1906 , Unit Information Guide (Semester 1, 2006)

Basic object-oriented and structured concepts and design techniques; visual development environments; compilers and interpreters; user interface and screen design; the memory model, data types, declarations, expressions and statements, control structures, block structure, modules, parameters, message passing, files, record types, input and output, event handling, text handling and arrays; documentation, testing and debugging techniques.

The unit aims to provide a general coverage of :

• Object-oriented and structured concepts and design techniques using a "hands-on" step-by-step programming approach utilising a commercially relevant programming language.
  
• Strategies for meeting user requirements and for designing solutions to programming problems will be presented.
  
• The fundamental programming concepts of the memory model, objects and classes, data types, declarations, expressions and statements, control structures, modules, parameters, files, input and output, and array data structures will be applied within the context of objects, attributes, event-handling and message-passing in a visual interactive development environment.
• Documentation, testing and debugging techniques will be applied throughout the subject. Compilers and interpreters will be discussed within context.
  

The emphasis throughout the unit will be on giving a broad overview of programming concepts, yet there will be a strong emphasis on practical demonstration of the concepts being studied, and extensive use will be made of practical exercises to highlight aspects of theory.

Required text(s)

• Zak, D., Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Reloaded, 2004, Thomson Learning, ISBN 0-619-21565-8
• Robertson, L. A., Simple Program Design, 4th Edition, 2003, Thomson Learning, ISBN 0-17-010704-3

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:

Visual Basic Express Edition 2005. Will be supplied on CD in Week 1

Hardware requirements:

Students studying off-campus are required to have the minimum system configuration specified by the faculty as a condition of accepting admission, and regular Internet access. On-campus students, and those studying at supported study locations 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 10 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

Study resources for IMS1906 are:

The unit's web site at http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/courseware/ims1906 (subject to change)

Visual Basic Express Edition (supplied by lecturer in week 1)

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

Assessment for the unit consists of 3 assignments with a weighting of 40%, Unit Tests in Week 6 and 11 worth 10% each and an examination with a weighting of 40%.

To pass this unit you must:

1. Recieve a cumulative mark of at least 40/100 on the assignments.
2. Receive a cumulative mark of at least 40/100 on the tests.
3. Receive a total mark higher than 50/100
   

Your score for the unit will be calculated by:

Assignment 1 (10%) + Assignment 2 (15%) + Assignment 3 (15%) + Unit Test 1 (10%) + Unit Test 2 (10%) + Exam (40%)

Assessment Requirements

Assignment specifications will be made available in the tutorials and on the Web site. Information about assignments will be published on the Unit's Notices Newsgroup.

Assignments will be submitted by paper and disk submission at the beginning of the appropriate tutorials, with the appropriate cover sheet correctly filled out and attached.

Late submission of assignments

Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty of 2% per day up to one week. Assignments received later than one week after the due date will not normally be accepted.

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 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.

Post general queries on the IMS1906 web site discussion forum. Email the lecturer directly at dan.eaves@infotech.monash.edu. au

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

Tuesday, 10-12, Wednesday 2-4 in H6.39. Other times by appointment.

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 Daniel Eaves
Lecturer
Phone +61 3 990 32079
Fax +61 3 990 55157

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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.