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Semester 2, 2010

Faculty: Science; Department: Computing

General Information

Credit points: 4
Convenor: Matt Roberts

Students should read this unit guide carefully at the start of semester. It contains important information about the unit. If anything in it is unclear, please consult one of the teaching staff in the unit.

About This Unit

Modern developments in database driven application development ("on-track" development practices) have transformed the way web applications are created. They have brought large distributed application development within the grasp of small to medium sized development houses. In this course we explore the development and engineering practices that make this possible. Students completing this course will be equipped to build the modern web applications that dominate top web and intranet sites, using state of the art development tools and practices.

Teaching Staff

Role	Name	Email	Room	Office hours
Convener, Lecturer	Matt Roberts	alt.mattr@zoho.com	E6A321	TBA

All emails related to this unit should contain ITEC822 in the subject and must include your full name and your student id number.

Teaching and Learning

Classes

Each week you should attend the evening mixed (combined lecture, tutorial and practical) class. For details of days, times and rooms consult the timetables webpage.

Please note that you are required to attend classes. Failure to do so may result in you failing the unit (see the precise requirements) or being excluded from the exam (see the rule).

Resources to assist your learning

Readings

There will be a set of freely available reading released for each week's work. You are required to read and process these before the lecture for that week.

Websites

The web page for this unit can be found at Moodle. Note that all of the unit materials are publicly available.

Discussion Boards

The unit makes use of discussion boards hosted within Moodle. Please post questions there, they are monitored by the staff on the unit.

Student Support Services

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au.

Topic List

Each topic should be prepared by the student before the week's class, thus material is offset by one week in this table.

Week	Topic	Reading
1	Technology Review, Course Outline	TBA
2	Lift intro, basic and tutorial	TBA
3	Templates	TBA
4	Snippets	TBA
5	Forms	TBA
6	Site Map	TBA
7	Object Relational Mapping	TBA
8	Javascript	TBA
9	Ajax/Comet	TBA
10	Widgets	TBA
11	Web Services	TBA
12	Lift Architecture	TBA
13	Review	None

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Readings are used to introduce new material and Lectures to generate discussion about that material, driving the class to correct conclusions about the material. 822 lectures are a mixed lecture/discussion/practical format. You must come to class prepared to discuss the topic of the week via the readings. Indeed, you will be marked on you ability to do this (see Assesment)

ITEC822 is a technology driven course. You will be creating programs to better learn the technology at every stage.

Practical sessions are an opportunity for you to work on your projects and to get hands-on help from unit staff with any problems you are having with the project.

You have many opportunities to seek and to receive feedback. During lectures, you are encouraged to ask the lecturer questions to clarify anything you might not be sure of.

Each week you should:

• Read all assigned material for the week. Explore interesting topics related to it and develop questions, ideas and opinions ready for the lecture.
• Attend lectures and get involved in the discussion
• Work on your project.
• Start working on any assignments immediately after they have been released.

Learning outcomes

It is expected that on completion of this unit/topic, students will

1. Understand and be a proficient user of the tools required for "on track" development.
2. Understand the workings, pros and cons of at least two, "on track" application development technology stacks.
3. Be able to operate as an effective and contributing member of a "on track" application development team.
4. Understand the theory underpinning "on track" application technology.
5. Be able to communicate clearly and effectively, be able to argue your opinion effectively and exchange ideas.
6. Be able to understand and consolidate new information, which you find by yourself, about new technologies.

Graduate Capabilities

All academic programs at Macquarie University seek to develop a range of graduate capabilities. One of the aims of this unit is that students develop their skills in the following:

• Discipline Specific Knowledge and skills
• Effective Communication
• Problem Solving and Research Capability
• Creativity and Innovativity

 

Assessment

The new assessment policy of Macquarie University implies the use of standards based assessment. In this context, the learning outcomes are aligned with the assessment tasks and the performance of each student is evaluated against a set of predefined criteria and standards.

Assessment tasks

The following tables summarizes the different aspects of the assessment in this unit. In particular, it links each task to the learning outcomes of the unit and provides the corresponding weight as well as the split regarding each learning outcome. For instance, lecture and tutorial participation assesses learning outcomes #5 and #6 and they account for 30% of your final mark (5% for L.O.#5 and 25% for L.O.#6).

Task	Due Date	Feedback	Learning outcomes assessed	Total Weight and Split
Class participation	Weekly	N/A	LO5, LO6	30% 5% + 25%
Initial Program	Week 3	10 working days	LO2	5% 5%
Major Project	Week 10	10 working days	LO1, LO3	30% 15% + 15%
Extension/Comparison	Week 13	10 working days	LO1,LO3,LO5/LO2,LO5	20% 7.5%+7.5%+5%/15% + 5%
Final Examination	TBA	NA	LO4	15% 15%

Note that a certain number of requirements must be fulfilled in order to pass this unit.
If you cannot complete a piece of work please see the convenor before the due date. Check also the special consideration policy.
A more detailed description of each task is given below.

Class Participation

Equal for the most important assesment item in the cource is "class participation". This does not refer to attendance. At the start of the course you will pick a competing "on-track" development stack and each week will compare lift's approach to the question at hand with that stack. To get your marks for this assesment you then have to bring this knowledge to bear in contributing to our class discussion each week.

Major Project

The practical work in this course is driven by one major project. You will be expected to apply the concepts covered in lectures and practicals to your work in the project. The project may be in teams, depending on class size. In any case, your own contribution is marked individually, rather than each member of the group getting the same mark.

All assessments should be handed in online via Moodle by the time specified in the assignment description.

You are encouraged to:

• set your personal deadline earlier than the actual one
• keep backups of all your important files
• make sure that no-one else picks up your printouts.

Late work will not be accepted. If you cannot submit on time because of illness or other circumstances, please contact the lecturer before the due date.

Final Examination

For this unit, a final examination is fully appropriate to test learning outcome #4. The final examination accounts for 15% of the final mark.
Regarding the examination process, note that

• you must attend all required classes and submit all required assessment, otherwise the Executive Dean of the Faculty or delegated authority has the power to refuse permission to attend the final examination
• you are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the University Examination Timetable
• the timetable will be available in Draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in Final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of examinations
• no early examinations for individuals or groups of students will be set. All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester, that is the final day of the official examination period
• the only exception to not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you may wish to consider applying for Special Consideration.

Standards

Four standards, namely Developing, Functional, Proficient, and Advanced, summarize as many different levels of achievement. Each standard is precisely defined to help students know what kind of performance is expected to deserve a certain grade. Typically, Developing corresponds to F and PC, Functional is for P, Proficient for Cr, and Advanced covers D and HD. The standards corresponding to the learning outcomes and criteria of this unit are given below:

	Standards
	Developing	Functional	Proficient	Advanced
L.O.#1	Inability to use the tools at all or an inability to use them in a team.	Able to use tools with a little guidance every now and then.	Able to effectively use the tools with no outside help.	Able to take a leadership role in the team regarding the use of the tools.
L.O.#2	Is unable even to correctly give information about the technology.	Is able to parrot facts about the technology but not to put those in any context.	Is able to identify and discuss the consequences of the characteristics of the technology.	Is able to work beyond the immediate consequences and work around the downsides of the technology as well as correctly capilatise on the upsides.
L.O.#3	Did not contribute anything at all or made only minimal contributions to the team.	Contributed correct, useful and necessary material to the project at an appropriate scale.	Made significant contributions that were correct, necessary and useful.	Demonstrated an ability to achieve a proficient level in more than one role within the team.
L.O.#4	Could not demonstrate a knowledge of 50% of theoretical material.	Demonstrated a knowledge of more than 50% of the theoretical material.	Demonstrated a knowledge of more than 65% of the theoretical material.	Demonstrated a knowledge of more than 85% of the theoretical material.
L.O.#5	Poor written/oral presentation and lack of self-awareness of impact on others	Use basic skills and techniques to present ideas (elementary formatting techniques, spell-checker,...)	Use improved skills and techniques to present ideas (e.g. text sizes/fonts, colors, figures, tables, equations,...)	Evaluate the requirements of a task and select relevant skills and techniques to communicate under these constraints
L.O.#6	Limited ability to listen/read and express poorly.	Can listen/read and answer in an understandable way.	Can listen/read actively and express ideas clearly.	Synthetise inputs, evaluate and elaborate on ideas.

Grading

For each task, those standards translate into a mark and the different component marks are added up. You will then be given a grade that reflects your achievement in the unit. The following description of the different grades is still in draft form and therefore not official as yet

• Fail (F): does not provide evidence of attainment of all learning outcomes. There is missing or partial or superficial or faulty understanding and application of the fundamental concepts in the field of study; and incomplete, confusing or lacking communication of ideas in ways that give little attention to the conventions of the discipline.
• Conceded Pass (PC): provides limited evidence of attainment of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of varying levels of basic knowledge, skills and application in the field of study; and elementary communication in ways that attempt to address the conventions of the discipline. However, the learning attainment does not provide a basis for further progression in a unit for which that unit is a prerequisite.
• Pass (P): provides sufficient evidence of the achievement of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of understanding and application of fundamental concepts of the field of study; and communication of information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline. The learning attainment is considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in relation to the specified outcomes.
• Credit (Cr): provides evidence of learning that goes beyond replication of content knowledge or skills relevant to the learning outcomes. There is demonstration of substantial understanding of fundamental concepts in the field of study and the ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; plus communication of ideas fluently and clearly in terms of the conventions of the discipline.
• Distinction (D): provides evidence of integration and evaluation of critical ideas, principles and theories, distinctive insight and ability in applying relevant skills and concepts in relation to learning outcomes. There is demonstration of frequent originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and providing solutions; and the use of means of communication appropriate to the discipline and the audience.
• High Distinction (HD): provides consistent evidence of deep and critical understanding in relation to the learning outcomes. There is substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critical evaluation of problems, their solutions and their implications; creativity in application.

In a nutshell, you are expected to perform consistently at a Functional, Proficient, Advanced level, to obtain respectively a Pass, a Credit, a Distinction or High Distinction.

Policies

Macquarie is developing a number of policies in the area of learning and teaching. Approved policies and associated guidelines and procedures can be found at Policy Central. There you will find the University's policy and associated procedures on:

• Assessment
• Special Consideration
• Plagiarism
• Grade Appeal

Assessment

The procedure implementing the new assessment policy can be found here.

Special Consideration

Special Consideration is intended for a student who is prevented by serious and unavoidable disruption from completing any unit requirements in accordance with their ability.
In this case, you should follow the procedure implementing the policy available here.

The actual application form is available here.

If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the Special Consideration process the examination will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period. For details of the Special Consideration policy specific to the Department of Computing, see the Department's policy page.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one's own. The Department, in line with University policy, treats all cases seriously. In particular, the Department, and the University, keeps a record of all plagiarism cases. This record is referred to so that an appropriate penalty can be applied to each case.
More details are available here.

The convener of this unit is particularly vigilant against plagiarism and there will be no flexibility in enforcing the university policies.

Grade Appeal

In case of problems arising from the final unit grade with the academic staff members, the first step is to request a review of your grade. The Department recommends that you submit a request in writing to the convenor of the unit in order to arrange a review session. If this review does not resolve the problem, a formal Grade Appeal can be lodged.
A draft version of the policy explaining the process can be found here.