Units

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Sample subject outline - 13 Week Teaching Period - 1 2013

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

Rationale

There is an enormous spectrum of Information Technologies currently being used and the number of tools continues to grow. Professionals require a good understanding of exactly what these technologies are and what drives the development of new technologies as this knowledge provides a strong foundation for anticipating future technological trends.

Aims

While the underlying principles of computation and communication have largely remained unchanged, increases in the speed of computation and information transmission continues to dramatically alter the way society goes about its business. Computers have become ubiquitous, from simple microprocessors embedded in practically every electronic device to incredibly powerful processors used in games consoles. The speed of communication between networked processors has increased to an extent where users all over the world can interact in a single simulated 3 dimensional environment.

The aim of this unit is to provide you with a conceptual framework so that you clearly identify Information Technologies and their purpose. This task will be fun as it covers a wide spectrum of ideas and allows us to examine some currently popular technologies. Information Technology has become so entwined with everyday life that identifying its scope is difficult, which also makes it difficult to identify opportunities where IT might further infiltrate into our daily lives for work and play. To achieve these aims, the unit introduces you to some of the theories and engineering practicalities that have already resulted in technological advances in the area of information technology. Concepts leading to existing technologies are introduced during lectures, which are followed by laboratory sessions where students will be encouraged to discuss social change, future information tools and explore the concepts required for constructing these technologies.

Objectives

The objective of this unit is to provide students with a general understanding of several popular technologies. The technologies investigated will change each semester to focus on contemporary topics. The objective is to provide a broad understanding of these technologies and their impact.

At the successful completion of this unit students will have been:

1. introduced to the concepts of

1.1.Computing Systems (GC1, GC2, GC3)
1.2.Network Systems (GC1, GC2, GC3)
1.3.Technological Evolution (GC1, GC2, GC3)
1.4.Case Studies for Emerging Technologies such as in-vehicle communication, sensors network, smart services, and next-gen games and interactive entertainment


2. given practical experience in

2.1.Observing how simple programs are executed on a CPU (GC1, GC2, GC3, GC5)
2.2.Designing simple networks (GC1, GC2, GC3, GC5)
2.3. Web services, social computing services, and other emerging technologies (GC1, GC2, GC3, GC5)


3. and critically analysed

3.1.Technological Development in IT(GC1, GC2, GC3, GC5, GC7)

Key: Graduate Capabilities
GC1 - Knowledge and Skills
GC2 - Critical and Creative Thinking
GC3 - Communication
CG4 - Lifelong Learning
GC5 - Independence and Collaboration
GC6 - Social and Ethical Responsibility
GC7 - Leadership and Change

Content

This unit uses several contemporary technologies as case studies. These case studies are critically analysed during the semester to identify

key components that define these as new technologies,

the target audience of the technologies,

user interaction models and

how the technologies are being introduced into the market.

The analysis also looks at existing technologies that are central to the development of the case studies; this analysis examines the theoretical and engineering concepts involved in their development. The core technologies considered are:

computer architecture,

networking.(the Internet)

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit offers a hands-on approach to understanding key concepts in the development of several different technologies by working through steps in a series of laboratory sessions. The unit consists of a single one to two-hour lecture and one two-hour laboratory session per week. The unit aims at providing an introduction to Information Technologies that is accessible to students with different background knowledge. The lecture and associated notes will guide you through some of the scientific discoveries and the engineering required for significant technological achievements in the area of Information Technology. Your understanding of the material covered will be demonstrated during laboratories where you will have the opportunity to work closely with tutors and other students to investigate existing and future technologies.

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

Consultation
The lecturer will be available for consultation from Week 2.

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

Feedback
You will be provided with feedback during weekly laboratories where your active participation will assist you in developing material for exercises. While this participation will provide you with instantaneous feedback, further feedback will be provided to you via a critique of your workshop submissions.

Assessment

Your participation in weekly laboratories work will require understanding the technologies discussed in lectures and this will be assessed during workshops by evaluating whether your work has met predefined criteria. This assessment will provide most of your marks for the unit, with the remaining marks from an assignment due at the end of lectures.

Assessment name: Assignment 1
Description: Tutorial Outputs and Milestone Challenge for Module 1
Relates to objectives: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Week 5

Assessment name: Assignment 2
Description: Tutorial Outputs and Milestone Challenge for Module 2
Relates to objectives: 1.3, 1.4, 2.2, 2.3
Weight: 35%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Week 9

Assessment name: Assignment 2
Description: Tutorial Outputs and Milestone Challenge for Module 3
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 35%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Week 13

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 is no Prescribed Textbook, but there will be some readings from online books (via QUT library), and course material database. Students will be expected to read widely from online resources to gain good understanding of emerging technologies.
Other Resources

Blackboard site

Lecture notes

Simulation software

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

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: 14-Mar-2013