School of Computer Science and Software Engineering

Staff/Student Meeting - Clayton Campus

Mr Sudad Abbas, Dr David Albrecht, Ms Nadejda Antanovskii, Ms Nandita Bhattacharjee, Mr Stanley Breskin, Mr Tim Conrad, Prof John Crossley, Ms Tania Dastres, Mr Michael Derakhshan, Assoc Prof Trevor Dix (Chair), Dr Alan Dorin, Mr Tim Evans, Mrs Leeanne Evans, AssocProf Graham Farr, Mrs Karen Fenwick, Dr Tim Ferguson, Ms Kymberly Fergusson, Ms Kirsten Frederiksen, Mr Charles Greif, Prof Gopal Gupta, Mr Michale Ha, AssocProf John Hurst, Mr Karan Juneja, Dr Carlo Kopp, Mr Martin Laskowski, Dr Hiam Hiok Lim, Mr Gordon Lowe, Mr KunalSingh Mamik, Mr Jon McCormack, Ms Caroline McGreor, Dr Linda McIver, Dr Bernd Meyer, Ms Kerri Morgan, Ms Debbie Pickett, Dr Ronald Pose, Dr Sita Ramakrishnan, Mr Lindsay Rattray, Dr Sid Ray, Mr Joel Reicher, Dr Kanagaratnam Sathananthan, Ms Nadia Silvestre, Prof Bala Srinivasan, Mr Hayden Stainsby, Dr Peter Tischer

Apologies:
Professor David Abramson, Ms Kymberly Fergusson, Dr Maria Garcia de la Banda, Mr Nicholas Imrei, Mr Ognjen Jovanovic, Ms Su Rogerson

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

HONOURS -

Computer Science student reps have received complaints about the computers and software in the Honours Lab in building 75 and are in the process of compiling a list of missing software to forward to TSU to negotiate what is possible. ACTION: Mr Tim Conrad (CompSc Hons Rep)

Honours students are concerned that the quota on disk space is not enough to cope with requirements and asked if the quota could be increased. Feedback is that machines do not have enough memory which limits the way students complete their work. Students choosing to use their own laptops have found there are not enough laptop ports. ACTION: Technical Services Unit

Students advised that the chairs are not good for long term use. AssocProf Dix advised that the University encourages everyone not to sit for too long and to periodically get up and move around. ACTION: Mrs Linda Smeaton to examine the state of chairs.

There were concerns from some students about agreement between supervisors of projects and second examiners on project requirements. Students were advised to speak to the Honours Co-ordinator about individual cases for clarification.

CSE454 - There were concerns about lecture style and notes. Students will be meeting with the lecturer this week.

CSE4431 - There were problems with Assign1 software not being available. The lecturer advised that around 31 March, students tried to acces the MUSEPortal and there was some subnet problem which was resolved that day or within a couple of days.

CSE457 - The assignment was not clear but this has now been sorted out with the lecturer.

CSE458 - Students reported that this module is pretty good.

DigSys honours rep also reported complaints about the software available in the honours lab and asked about the possibility of installing their own software. Students would like a burner for cds and decent speakers or headphones for projects on sound. ACTION: Technical Services Unit

Dig Sys students reported all subjects, supervisor and admin assistance was good apart from the compuer facilities.

FOURTH YEAR -

Students reported problems with software in the MUSE lab in building 26. In CSE4002 Studio Project, each client wants different software. ACTION: Dr Sita Ramakrishnan

There were some major concerns with CSE4431. Many people think the unit is taking too much time, with the first assignment having vague specifications and software not being available for the first two weeks.

Students asked for swipe card access to the ground floor, east end of building 26. ACTION: Ms Mandy Cheng

THIRD YEAR -

Digital Systems third year students are not happy that Digital Systems electives in second semester have been cancelled as they were promised that discontinuation of the course would not affect their completion of the degree. Students asked if Robotics II and Microprocessor could be offered. ACTION: Prof Bala Srinivasan/Mr Gordon Lowe

Students asked about access to the Digital Systems Project Lab in building 63 after 8pm and on weekend. ACTION: Mr Gordon Lowe

Third year Software Engineering students complimented last year's second year lecturers on the exams which they said were very fair.

Some BUS2176 students had concerns about content of the unit being covered in other units. Students were advised that this unit may be replaced with or be an alternative core unit with CSE2203 in the future.

CSE2391/3391 - Students had worries about the assignments being a hurdle requirement but after completing the first assignment agreed that it was fair.

CSE2395/CSE3395 - Students are happy with this unit and are pleased to hear assignment 2 will be short.

CSE3308 - Students reported that the lecturing is good and thanked Joel Reicher particularly for his assistance with the assignments.

Students in a number of third year units had problems earlier in the semester with passwords being reset by ITS. AssocProf Dix asked Assistant Lecturers to collect details of the incident so a report can be made to ITS. ACTION: Assistant Lecturers

Third year Computer Science reps submitted the following reports from semester 2 last year:
CSE2302 - Students reported confusion about the way the unit was structured and assignments not being marked until after the exam. Tutorials were not available until the day before, and students weren't happy with the way pracs were marked, pass or fail.

CSE2307 - Students asked if there could be tutorials in this unit.

Present third year students praised Joel Reicher for his efforts last year.

Third year Computer Science students are generally happy but raised the following for consideration.

CSE3313 - Sould there be pracs in this unit.

Could there be two Student/Staff Meetings per semester. ACTION: Mrs Karen Fenwick

CSE3305 would be better with weekly tutorials rather than fortnightly.

CSE2318/CSE3318 - Students had concerns about the availability of the lecturer for consultation and asked for a newsgroup. They had problems with the assessment at tutorials. ACTION: Mr Charles Greif

FIRST YEAR -

Software Engineering rep reported that students in CSE1301 asked about an advance components in the pracs. The lecturer advised that extra bonus work with bonus marks is available. Some students had a problem with a mathematical component of prac 4. Students asked if solutions to tutorials and pracs could be posted. ACTION: Ingrid Zukerman/Graham Farr

CSE1401 - Students reported that labs are great but there was a problem with Java class paths. Some students were unhappy about the lectures, with prac work and lectures not going together.

MAT1841 - Students raised some concerns which they were asked to take to Dr David Albrecht, the Maths/Computer Science rep to follow up.

CSE1304 - First year students praised the lecturers and passed on their thanks.

Students asked if the School could do anything about reporting the unacceptable hygeine in the toilets in building 19. ACTION: Ms Mandy Cheng

SECOND YEAR -

CSE2304 - Students asked for a discussion page or newgroup. Lectures, tutorial and pracs don't seem to be linked and are like three different subjects. The Assistant Lecturer suggested that perhaps some students are minunderstanding lecture notes. Students reported that lecture notes require students to attend lectures which is a problem when students are absent through sickness. The meeting was advised that there is another link on the courseware web site which is very helpful.

Students asked for extra assistance for CSE2303 and CSE2304 pracs and tutorials and stressed the importance of the assistance given to students by the Assistant Lecturers. Debbie Pickett advised that she is looking in to extra consultation.

CSE2303 - Students are happy with this unit however some students were concerned about the cheater checker only being used on prac1. There were concerns about cheating in other pracs.

Second year Software Engineering student reps reported the following feedback -

CSE2324/CSE3324 - Compliments to Debbie Pickett for the prac component of the unit.

CSE2201 - Students had concerns about the organisation of this unit and lack of consultation or access to the lecturer. ACTION: Mr Andy Blucher

CSE2318/CSE3318 - students were unhappy with the first assignment as it was not specific enough. They thought there should be a component of the marks for delivery of tutorial presentations by students. They expressed concern that the presented material was examinable and that some tutorial groups would be disadvantaged. Students were informed that the tutor's role is to correct any errors of fact and add any missed information.

COURSE RELATED ISSUES -

Bachelor of Digital Systems - as above

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Computer Science - students are frustrated by the lack of course advice at Faculty level. Students are advised to see the Undergradaute Students Officer in the School, Karen Fenwick, for assistance.

AssocProfessor Dix thanked everyone for their attendance and closed the meeting at 2.10pm.

The next Student/Staff Meeting will be held on Wednesday 18August 2004 followed by a second meeting for semester 2 on Wednesday 13 October 2004.