Units

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Sample subject outline - 13 Week Teaching Period - 1 2012

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

Rationale

Computer systems and communications networks are essential to the activities of modern organisations. When you graduate from a course in Information Technology, employers expect you to have a sound understanding of the terminology and concepts of computer systems, communications networks, and network services. This unit provides you with an introductory study of communications network technologies and network applications. The unit serves as an entry point to further specialised studies in the field of computer network systems.

Aims

The main aim of the unit is to provide a broad introduction to computer networking.

Objectives

The QUT International College has identified a set of graduate capabilities that will prepare you for work in the profession. The development of these skills is embedded in the unit content and assessment of your first year subjects. At this level of study, you are expected to demonstrate early competence in a small number of graduate capabilities (GCs).

On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Have a basic understanding of network concepts and structures of networks (GC1).


2. Explain terminologies in networking (GC3)


3. Configure and troubleshoot simple networks and network operating systems (GC2).


4. Select suitable network devices and server hardware based on user requirements (GC2).


5. Appreciate the need for different types of networks (GC2, GC4)

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 areas, within computer networking, covered in this unit include: Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model, Media used in Networking Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs), Network Devices, Network Applications, Network Operating Systems, IP Addressing and Subnetting, Network Security and Network Management.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Weekly contact will consist of a two hour lecture, a two-hour practical and a one-hour workshop. You will have supervised laboratory sessions every week. Some laboratory sessions will require you to work in small groups, while others will require you to work independently. Your primary source of learning materials is the lectures and the relevant chapters and sections of the textbook. The QUT Blackboard Site contains lecture material and laboratory exercises for each week of the teaching period.

Tutorials:

Tutorials commence in week 2 (covering the previous week's work).

The basic understanding provided in lectures and workshops will be developed through the use of tutorials. To achieve the objectives of the unit it is essential that you complete the assigned tutorial work prior to attendance at the tutorial in the following week.
On a weekly basis, tutorial work is based on lecture material and requires you to work through a series of questions and problems.

Tutors will work through selected questions from the set tutorial work and deal with any problems arising from that material.

In preparation for the tutorial you are required to have completed all the weekly tutorial work, including the practical questions prior to attendance at these tutorials. The practical tutorial questions are designed to further reinforce the work covered in the lecture and the workshop, to show how various issues in the lecture material fit together, and to give students the opportunity to see "how" problems are worked, and discuss with tutors "why" something is done a certain way. Attendance at tutorials is essential to your success in this unit.

Proper attention to the teaching and learning strategies should enable students to meet the assessment requirements of the unit. You will be assessed on your developing knowledge, understanding and skills using a range of inter-related assessment methods.

Late Assignment Policy

Students will be penalised for the late submission of assignments. Refer to the Diploma Course Guide for details.

Review of Grades or Academic Rulings
Late Assignment Policy

Students will be penalised for the late submission of assignments.

Academic Dishonesty

Refer to the Diploma Course Guide for details.

Review of Grades or Academic Rulings

For rules on how to apply for a review of grade, refer to the Diploma Course Guide.

Consultation

The lecturer will be available for consultation from Week 2. Times will be advised in class and will also be displayed in a schedule on the noticeboard, on consultation room doors and on the BSD110 Blackboard site under Announcements section.

Exam Timetable

The exam timetable will be displayed on the Noticeboard on level 3 by Week 11 of the semester.

Assessment

You can obtain feedback on your progress throughout the unit through the following mechanisms:

• ask the teaching staff for advice and assistance during lectures and practical sessions


• your assignment will be returned to you before the end of semester with comments on your progress


• private consultation with teaching staff

Assessment name: Progressive Evaluation
Description: Mid Semester Examination
Relates to objectives: 1 and 2
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 6

Assessment name: Assignment 1
Description: Network case study.
Relates to objectives: 1 to 5
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

Assessment name: Exam
Description: Final written exam
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 4, 5
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam period

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty means that you are expected to exhibit honesty and act responsibly when undertaking assessment. Any action or practice on your part which would defeat the purposes of assessment is regarded as academic dishonesty. The penalties for academic dishonesty are provided in the Student Rules. For more information you should consult the QUT Library resources for avoiding plagiarism.

Resource materials

No extraordinary charges or costs are associated with the requirements for this unit.

Required text:
Business Data Networks and Telecommunications by Raymond R. Panko (Eighth Edition). Publishers: Pearson Education (Prentice Hall), ISBN: 978-0-13-255245-5.

Risk assessment statement

There are no unusual health or safety risks associated with this unit.

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: 27-Jan-2012