COMP SCI 7081 - Computer Systems
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code COMP SCI 7081 Course Computer Systems Coordinating Unit Computer Science Term Semester 1 Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 2.5 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Corequisites COMP SCI 7082 Assumed Knowledge Mathematics as taught in MATHS 1012 or MATHS 1008 Assessment written exam, assignments Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Alfred Fred Brown
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
After completing this course you will be able to:
1. Explain how a program is stored in computer memory.2. Explain how a computer executes a program.3. Translate high-level language constructs into machine instructions.4. Explain how programs are stored in object-files.5. Explain how Input/output is implemented on a computer, and describe some basic I/O devices6. Explain the operation of basic software tools such as assemblers, locators, and linkers.University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 2,3,5,6 An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 2,3,5,6 Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 1,4,6,7 A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 1,4,5,7 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
The textbook for the course is: Elements of Computing Systems, by Noam Nisan and Shimon Shocken (MIT Press).
It is highly recommended that you buy this book. It is available from the book store in soft cover form and available electronically as an e-book.
The first six chapters of are on the Nand2Tetris website used by the course but we will be using materials in chapters beyond this.Online Learning
There is an online forum, managed by Moodle, which can be found here:
http://forums.cs.adelaide.edu.au/
(search for Computer Systems, under this semester's second year classes)
We will use the forum to announce any changes to the course, exercises, or tutorials.
You are therefore strongly advised to read all mail that comes from this source — do not ignore it! -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
The course will be taught using a variation of team-based learning, with lecture/demonstration sessions
There will also be regular tutorial classes, and four practical programming exercises.
You are expected to read the book before and after each lecture, and to actively participate in class activities.
To get the most out of the tutorial sessions you must attempt the questions before the session --- there is often not time to do all questions in these sessions and the sessions will sometimes be run as workshops that assume you have already submitted your solutions.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
You are expected to attend all scheduled classes.
In addition to the scheduled contact hours, you are expected to spend an additional 1-2 hours per week as lecture preparation.
You will need to allocate 2-5 hours per week to work on the assignment and tutorial work.Learning Activities Summary
There is an approximate schedule of the topics that will be covered on the course website (see forums.cs.adelaide.edu.au to locate the online content of the course).
The exact timing will depend on the times of public holidays and quizzes. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
The assessment will comprise four parts:
Exam (50%) (CBOK areas* abstraction, design, hardware and software, data and information, and programming)
Four Assignments (30%) (CBOK areas* abstraction, design, hardware and software, data and information, and programming)
Ten Quizzes (10%) (CBOK areas* design, hardware and software)
Five marked tutorials (10% total) (CBOK areas* abstraction, design, hardware and software, data and information, and programming)
*For the CBOK See: http://www.acs.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/7792/The-ICT-Profession-Body-of-Knowledge.pdfAssessment Related Requirements
To pass the course you must:
Score at least 40% for the final exam
score at least 50% overall.
If you fail to achieve the 40% requirement, you mark will be capped at 44F (a fail).Assessment Detail
The written exam is held in the end-of-semester exam period. The exam will test your understanding of the assignment, tutorial and lecture material.
All practical assignments requre you to write programs, which will be partly marked by an automatic testing script.
You are strongly encouraged to begin the exercises early, to allow time for seeking help when needed. In all practical assignments you will be required to submit a pdf of a log-book/journal that you maintain during your development of your solution to the assignment. This log-book is a vital part of your assessment - a lack of a log-book with a narrative of your development process will result in a mark of zero for the assignment.
Assignment details:
Assignment 1 - Due end of Week 3 - Hardware Introduction 7.5%
Assignment 2 - Due during Week 5 - Sequential Logic 7.5%
Assignment 3 - Due end of Week 9 - Machine Language Programming 7.5%
Assignment 4 - Due end of Week 13 - Assembler Implementation 7.5%
The last five tutorials are worth 2% each: 1% for your preparation - handed in in the form of a PDF in the moodle forums and 1% for your attendance and active participation in the tutorial session itself.
There will be 10 quizzes (primarily online) held during the semester.Submission
All practical assignments must be submitted using the School of Computer Science online Submission System.
Details are included in each assignment description on the course website.
If you hand in your work late, your mark may be capped, based on how many days late it is, as follows:
1 day late — mark capped at 75%
2-3 days late — mark capped at 50%
4-5 days late — mark capped at 25%
More than 5 days late — no marks available.
We expect to be able to return final marks of each exercise within two weeks after
the exercise late deadline.
Tutorial submissions will be submitted via the Courses moodle forum.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- International Student Support
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
- YouX Student Care - Advocacy, confidential counselling, welfare support and advice
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Elder Conservatorium of Music Noise Management Plan
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
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