School of Computer Science and Software Engineering

Staff/Student Meeting - Clayton Campus

Mr Sudad Abbas, Dr David Albrecht, Dr Peter Atkinson, Mr Stanley Breskin, Ms Amanda Crawford, AssocProf Trevor Dix (Chair), AssocProf Graham Farr, Mrs Karen Fenwick, Ms Kym Fergusson, Ms Kirsten Fredriksen, Mr Charles Greif, AssocProf John Hurst, Mr Karan Janeja, Mr Ashwini Kimar Alluri, Dr Carlo Kopp, Dr Kevin Korb, Mr Kunal Mamik, Ms Kerri Morgan, Mr Oliver Ng, Dr Ann Nicholson, Dr Andrew Paplinski, Ms Debbie Pickett, Dr Ronald Pose, Dr Sita Ramakrishnan, Dr Sid Ray, Mr Joel Reicher, Ms Su Rogerson, Mr Stewart Smith, Mr Hayden Stainsby, Dr Peter Tischer

Action items:

CSE2318/CSE3318 Data Communication and Computer Networks - The lecturer has reported that he has gathered the submissions for students concerned and will be remarking the work. The students will be advised by the end of next week.

CSE2302 Operating Systems - Concerns about the marking scheme were addressed by an announcement at the lecture following the last meeting, and via the newsgroup.

BSE Honours - A presentation workshop was organised for these students.

MUSE lab lockers - Half of the available lockers were left in building 26 for the BSE Hons students.

CSE1402 Technical Documentation for Software Engineers - Concerns about equipment and the network were addressed and some measures were taken by ITS staff which appear to have fixed the problems. Except for one occasion, pracs have been released on time as promised. Random marking is continuing.

Reports - AssocProf Dix asked for reports from all student reps, in year level order.

FIRST YEAR -

The following suggestions were put to the meeting -

No pracs in week 13. Students were advised that with the amount of material needing to be covered, there was little room to delete a week of pracs. AssocProf Dix advised that the University is currently putting a proposal around Faculties suggesting no lectures in week 13. If this went ahead it may carry through to pracs.

The need for two mid-semester tests in CSE1303. Lecturers advised that the early test was necessary as a early indication for students who need to improve. The second test was necessary to cover more material.

Lecture feedback sheets - students queried why the lecture feedback sheets were given out at lectures as they felt that students who didn't like lectures didn't go to them. Debbie Picket reported that an on-line survey was trialled in the past. The response from the student body was less than when taken in lectures. The meeting was advised that in an effort to lessen the load on both students, lecturers and staff, the School is also working towards doing lecture surveys every second year.

Students reported they were very happy with the running and organisation of CSE1303. They also wanted to pass on their thanks concerning Mathematics units to Dr Christina Varsavsky.

CSE1402 Technical Documentation for Software Engineers - Students reported that they were now reasonably satisfied with the running of CSE1402 but would prefer if marks could be returned to students earlier. The lecturer advised that the move to the new building and getting the cheater checker operational had caused a delay. However, provisional marks were released subject to their being checked. Pracs are continuing to be marked in blocks. Common mistakes are being brought to the attention of students in pracs. The lecturer advised that the prac exam will be discussed at the lectures in week 13. Assoc Prof Dix advised that these issues will be noted and we will look for a way forward next year. Students wished to thank both Caroline McGregor and Carlo Kopp for their efforts.

CSE1434 Web Programming with Java Applets - The ordering of pracs/lectures has improved since the last meeting.

SECOND YEAR -

The BDigSys second year rep reported that he had not received any complaints about the digital systems subjects.

CSE2302 Operating Systems - Students reported a number of concerns. Pracs were released to students too late to allow proper preparation for students scheduled to have their pracs first. The AL advised that the situation has now changed and submission time has changed to the following prac. Students felt that the later chapters were being skimmed over in lectures. The lecturer advised that he is indicating to students what material will be examinable. Some pracs were ahead of lectures - students asked if something can be done to fix this situation. Tutorials were being released too late as well. Students asked if guidelines for the subject could be available in advance. AssocProf Dix advised that all courseware pages for subjects should be online before the start of semester.

There were concerns from BSE students that they had four assignments due this week, with two core units on the same day. AssocProf Dix advised that we try to schedule assignments so this doesn't happen and we will endeavor to do this in the future. Action: Leeanne Evans

CSE2325/CSE3325 Multimedia Programming and WWW - students reported that the lecturer Alan Dorin was very good and there were no complaints about the unit.

CSE2305 Object Oriented Software Engineering - In the first assignment, students who failed to include a disclaimer, weren't marked. The lecturer is looking into this and they are now being remarked. The issue was with students not knowing how to produce PDFs, especially on Windows machines. A simple measure which would provide a large part of the solution is to install a generic postscript printer driver on all lab machines. Action: Jon McCormack/Debbie Pickett

THIRD YEAR -

The third year rep reported overall a pain-free semester for third year.

CSE2316/CSE3316 Database Management Systems - The assignment is not on the web and there were typos in the assignment.

CSE3322 Programming Languages and Implementation - Compliments all round and marks for effort.

CSE3120 Digital Systems Project - Complaints of computers playing up have now been taken care of. Thanks to those involved, in particular Peter Atkinson.

CSE3132 Digital Signal Processing - Students reported that this unit was difficult.

FOURTH YEAR -

The Honours rep reported that many issues previously raised have been addressed and thanked the School.

Students were concerned about the lack of privacy .

Students felt that the move to the new building was disruptive and at an inappropriate time in the honours year.

Lack of mobile phone coverage is a problem.

There were still complaints about the chairs. AssocProf Dix advised that honours students were asked to clearly label faulty chairs, list actual faults and to move them to one side of the lab. Action: Honours students

Whiteboards - Students were advised that the whiteboards will be installed this week.

General lab issues -
Some machines need more RAM Action: Technical Services Unit
Move the honours phone to the common room. Action: M Cheng
Still no CD writers - AssocProf Dix advised that the School has a portable one they can borrow.

Balance of workload - Students felt that coursework was much more than 50% of the workload for honours. Students also felt that the workload of two 3 point units is greater than one 6 point unit. AssocProf Dix suggested that students raise these issues with the Honours Co-ordinators in a debriefing session at the end of the year. Action: Ann Nicholson/Nandita Bhattacharjee

Separation between CS/DGS and SE - With the move of CS/DGS to the new building the separation both physical and conceptual is greater and it is now really had to collaborate on common subjects. It was also suggested that SE students be given CSSE accounts. AssocProf Dix advised that the current position is that lecturers or supervisors are responsible for arranging CSSE accounts for SE students if they consider them necessary.

Postgraduate information sessions - Students who attended the information sessions organised by the Postgraduate Centre advised that they weren't of much value.

BSE with Hons students reported that they hadn't received any assignment feedback from the core level 4 units. Action: Ronald Pose/Sita Ramakrishnan

The meeting closed at 2.00pm. The next Student/Staff Meeting will be held in semester 1 2004.