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Academic Overview

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this unit students will:

  • understand layered ISO and TCP/IP protocols;
  • have knowledge of data transmision technology, signal encoding techniques and data link control protocols;
  • understand multiplexing methods and technologies;
  • understand the functions and architectures of LAN and WAN.

Graduate Attributes

Monash prepares its graduates to be:
  1. responsible and effective global citizens who:
    1. engage in an internationalised world
    2. exhibit cross-cultural competence
    3. demonstrate ethical values
  2. critical and creative scholars who:
    1. produce innovative solutions to problems
    2. apply research skills to a range of challenges
    3. communicate perceptively and effectively

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

Assessment Task Value Due Date
Assignment 1 20% Week 6
Assignment 2 20% Week 11
Examination 1 60% To be advised

Teaching Approach

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

Feedback

Our 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

Your feedback to Us

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

Previous Student Evaluations of this unit

If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp

Required Resources

Jerry FitzGerald and  Alan Dennis, Business Data Communications and Networking, 10th Edition, Willey, 2009.
Wireshark, Packet Analysis Software freely available from http://www.wireshark.org/

Unit Schedule

Week Activities Assessment
0   No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
1 Introduction to data communications  
2 Application Layer  
3 Physical layer  
4 Data Link Layer  
5 Network and Transport Layers - part 1  
6 Network and Transport Layers - part 2 Assignment 1 due week 6
7 Local area network  
8 Wireless Local Area Networks  
9 Metropolitan and wide area networks  
10 Backbones networks  
11 The Internet Assignment 2 due week 11
12 Network Security  
  SWOT VAC No formal assessment is undertaken in 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.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

To pass a unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:

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

If a student does not achieve 40% or more in the unit examination or the unit non-examination total assessment, and the total mark for the unit is greater than 50% then a mark of no greater than 49-N will be recorded for the unit

Assessment Tasks

Participation

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    Assignment 1
    Description:
    Assignment 1 will include the material covered in weeks 1-5. In particular questions will be related to: components of networks, type of networks, internet models, message transmission using layers, application layer architectures, physical and data link layers.
    Weighting:
    20%
    Criteria for assessment:

    The criteria used to assess submissions are:

    • Correctness and understanding - there may be more than one "right" answer in many cases.
    • Completeness - that you have answered all parts of each question.
    • Presentation - that you have presented your answers using the appropriate method. 
    • Use of evidence and argument - you are able to explain your position by using logical argument.
    Due date:
    Week 6
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    Assignment 2
    Description:
    Assignment 2 will include the material covered in weeks 6-10. In particular, the questions will be related to network and transport layers, structures and functions of local area, backbone and wide area networks.
    Weighting:
    20%
    Criteria for assessment:

    The criteria used to assess submissions are:

    • Correctness and understanding - there may be more than one "right" answer in many cases.
    • Completeness - that you have answered all parts of each question.
    • Presentation - that you have presented your answers using the appropriate method. 
    • Use of evidence and argument - you are able to explain your position by using logical argument.
    Due date:
    Week 11

Examinations

  • Examination 1
    Weighting:
    60%
    Length:
    3 hours
    Type (open/closed book):
    Closed book
    Electronic devices allowed in the exam:
    None

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).

Extensions and penalties

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.

Returning assignments

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

Other Information

Policies

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:

Student services

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 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. 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

READING LIST:

W. Stallings, Data and Computer Communications, 8th ed., Pearson, 2008. ISBN 0-13-139205-0.

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