Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The World Wide Web has become the most important computer system. However, designing software for the web is rather different from designing for standalone PC applications. Issues such as response time, portability, scalability and availability become paramount, especially for enterprise critical applications. There is a wide variety of technologies available for developing web applications and they are continuing to evolve at a rapid pace. It is difficult for people new to this area to appreciate the relative advantages and disadvantages of these technologies, to identify common themes and to perceive the direction in which they are heading.

This is an advanced technical unit covering topics related to developing mission critical enterprise web applications for medium to large sized organizations. It goes beyond the ideas introduced in INB271 (¿The Web¿) and focuses on software architecture issues that contribute to scalability, robustness and maintainability.

Aims

This unit will provide you with an understanding of the issues, structure and technologies used for developing web-based systems. The unit will provide you with the theoretical and practical skills needed to develop enterprise critical applications designed with an n-tier architecture using state of the art technologies. A comparative technology approach is taken, including an analysis of how web technologies have evolved to date, in order to identify common themes and to better enable you to comprehend and critically evaluate future web technology offerings.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to design and build sophisticated and effective n-tier web applications (GC1,GC3).
2. Critically analyse and compare new and existing web development technologies (GC2).
3. Direct your own learning of new languages and web-development technologies (GC4).
4. Manage your own software development project (GC5).
5. Understand security issues as they relate to web based applications (GC6).
6. Understand how web development technologies are evolving (GC7).

Key: Graduate Capabilities
GC1 - Knowledge and Skills
GC2 - Critical and Creative Thinking
GC3 - Communication
GC4 - Lifelong Learning
GC5 - Independence and Collaboration
GC6 - Social and Ethical Responsibility
GC7 - Leadership and Change

Content

The web is the most important computer system. However, the web is different from traditional PC systems and this has important effects on software development. For example the web comprises many loosely coupled machines which are heterogeneous in nature and the web is unreliable and is not centrally administered. This unit covers the theory and practice of developing software for web based systems. It will discuss the architecture of web based systems as well as comparing and contrasting a number of different client and server side web technologies including HTML Forms, CGI, ASP and JSP. ASP.NET is studied in detail and used for practical work. The unit also covers the development of cross platform solutions using XML and web service technologies such as SOAP.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Traditional lectures will be complemented by a number of guest lectures from industry experts providing state of the art and industry relevant perspectives. Reference implementations such as Gastix will be used to illustrate best-practice in developing web software, and to provide a more problem-based/student-driven approach to learning. You will work in small groups on a large web-application project of your choosing using ASP.NET. The assignment is designed to give you practical expertise applying the architectures and technologies presented in lectures.

Assessment

The first assessment item, a set of homework exercises, is designed as a gentle lead into the second assessment item - a real world n-tier development project. Thus it is important that students maintain good progress with the homework exercises. The development project is a large single software project typically undertaken in a group setting. This is designed to simulate a real world web development project. The exam focuses on critical thinking and a comparative understanding of web application design and implementation. The exam is designed to ensure that all students have a broad understanding of web application development: both theory and practice.The practical sessions can be used to obtain feedback on both practical exercises and progressive development of the assignment. The lecturer will also discuss common assignment problems in the lecture. The lecturers and teaching staff are also available during consultation hours and via email to answer your queries. Written feedback will be provided on the assignment prior to the final exam.

Assessment name: Laboratory/Practical
Description: Ten small weekly programming exercises to be demonstrated during practical sessions in computer labs.
Relates to objectives: 1,2,3,5 and 6
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Due from weeks 3-13

Assessment name: Project (applied)
Description: Design and implementation of an N-tier web application
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 4 and 5.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: week 12

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: Final written exam
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 5 and 6.
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam period

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

There are no required textbooks or other compulsory costs associated with this unit.
· Online references are provided.
· All required software is freely available.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within campus areas and laboratories.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 24-Oct-2012