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http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html) and strives for the highest possible quality in teaching and learning.

To monitor how successful we are in providing quality teaching and learning Monash regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through Unit Evaluation Surveys. The University’s Unit Evaluation policy (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/unit-evaluation-policy.html) requires that every unit offered is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys as they are an important avenue for students to “have their say”. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.

Faculties have the option of administering the Unit Evaluation survey online through the my.monash portal or in class. Lecturers will inform students of the method being used for this unit towards the end of the semester.

Student Evaluations

If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/cheq/evaluations/unit-evaluations/

Improvements to this unit

The unit now includes hands-on practicals and a mid-term (unit) test. The coursework contents have been revised with emphasis on network design and industry practices.

Unit staff - contact details

Unit leader

Dr Asad Khan

Lecturer(s) :

Dr Asad Khan

Teaching and learning method

FIT1005 uses a lecture-tutorial teaching approach.

The lectures will discuss the weeks theoretical concepts and will also go through specific examples and demonstrations.

In tutorials students will discussin-depth fundmental aspects about networks and data communications and apply their understanding to practical examples. The tutorials are critical in helping student consolidate concepts andpractise their problem solving skills. Some tutorials will also contain a hands-on laboratory element.

Communication, participation and feedback

Monash aims to provide a learning environment in which students receive a range of ongoing feedback throughout their studies. You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This may take the form of group feedback, individual feedback, peer feedback, self-comparison, verbal and written feedback, discussions (on line and in class) as well as more formal feedback related to assignment marks and grades. You are encouraged to draw on a variety of feedback to enhance your learning.

It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem that is affecting your study. Semesters are short, so we can help you best if you let us know as soon as problems arise. Regardless of whether the problem is related directly to your progress in the unit, if it is likely to interfere with your progress you should discuss it with your lecturer or a Community Service counsellor as soon as possible.

Unit Schedule

Week Topic Key dates
1 Introduction to Data Communications  
2 Data Transmission  
3 Transmission Media  
4 Signal Encoding 1  
5 Signal Encoding 2  
6 Digital Data Communication Techniques Assignment One due
Mid semester break
7 Data Link Control Protocols  
8 Multiplexing  
9 Local Area Networks  
10 High-Speed LANs  
11 Internetworking  
12 Internetworking and Transport Protocols Assignment Two due
13 Revision  

Unit Resources

Prescribed text(s) and readings

William Stallings, Data and Computer Communications, Prentice Hall, 8th Edition, 2007

Textbooks are available to purchase from Campus bookshops.

Recommended text(s) and readings

Behrouz A. Forouzan, Data Communications and Networking, 4th edition, 2007, McGraw-Hill.

David Stamper et al, Business Data Communications, 6th Edition, 2003, Prentice Hall.

Fred Halsall, Data Communications, Computer Networks, and Open Systems, 4th Edition, 1998, Addison-Wesley.

Required software and/or hardware

Web Browser is needed to access study and tutorial material.

Email Client is required.

Equipment and consumables required or provided

Students may use the facilities available in the computing labs. Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook. You will need to allocate up to 2 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

Study resources

Study resources we will provide for your study are:

(i) Study resources we will provide for your study are:
  • The FIT1005 web site on Moodle, where lecture slides, weekly tutorial requirements, assignment specifications, sample solutions and supplementary material will be posted.
  • Newsgroups/discussion groups that can be linked to from the Unit Homepage

(ii) Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) will be available to students enrolled for FIT1005:

The Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) scheme is a program of weekly group study sessions open to all students enrolled in FIT1005.  Each 50-minute session is run by a trained PASS Leader, a more experienced student who has previously studied the unit.  PASS sessions run from Weeks 2 – 12.

The PASS program in FIT1005 has five main objectives:

  • To provide a comfortable environment where students can assist one another to revise and discuss coursework and therefore, achieve better results
  • To promote deeper understanding and learning of the concepts in the unit
  • To allow students to build a network of friends, whom they can turn to for support
  • To offer students extra support to aid in the successful transition from high school to university and;
  • To demonstrate to students effective learning and study techniques that can be extended to private study and other subjects and promote the development of students as independent learners, including note taking, questioning techniques, vocabulary acquisition, problem solving, and exam preparation.

It is important to understand that PASS sessions are not tutorials and therefore the leader does not simply offer answers to problems, but promotes a coordinated group effort to find the solution.

How do I sign up for PASS?
To sign up, visit the FIT1005 Blackboard/Moodle site on MUSO in Week 1 to view the schedule of PASS sessions.  Choose a session that fits in with your timetable, and sign up.  PASS will be most beneficial to you if you attend your session each week, so please try to make it to all your sessions.  Remember, PASS sessions start in Week 2.

Library access

The Monash University Library site contains details about borrowing rights and catalogue searching.  To learn more about the library and the various resources available, please go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au.

The Educational Library and Media Resources (LMR) is also a very resourceful place to visit at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/library/

Monash University Studies Online (MUSO)

All unit and lecture materials are available through MUSO (Monash University Studies Online). Blackboard is the primary application used to deliver your unit resources. Some units will be piloted in Moodle. If your unit is piloted in Moodle, you will see a link from your Blackboard unit to Moodle (http://moodle.monash.edu.au) and can bookmark this link to access directly. In Moodle, from the Faculty of Information Technology category, click on the link for your unit.

You can access MUSO and Blackboard via the portal: http://my.monash.edu.au

Click on the Study and enrolment tab, then Blackboard under the MUSO learning systems.

In order for your Blackboard unit(s) to function correctly, your computer needs to be correctly configured.

For example:

  • Blackboard supported browser
  • Supported Java runtime environment

For more information, please visit: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/downloadables-student.html

You can contact the MUSO Support by phone : (+61 3) 9903 1268

For further contact information including operational hours, please visit: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/contact.html

Further information can be obtained from the MUSO support site: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/index.html

Assessment

Unit assessment policy

The minimum requirements that need to be satisfied to pass the unit are:

  • a minimum result of 40% in the Unit Exam
  • a pass in the Non-Exam Component of the unit that ensures the final result for the unit is 50% or greater

Failure to meet the minimum requirements will result in a fail grade, with a maximum achievable final result of 44 N.

It is also a requirement that students attend at least 80% of tutorials. Failure to do so may preclude the student achieving a pass in this subject.

It is recommended that students attend at least 80% of lectures, as success in this subject requires good understanding of the material which cannot be gained by reading lecture notes alone.

Assignment tasks

  • Assignment Task

    Title : Assignment 1

    Description :

    This assignment tests your theoretical understanding of the introductory data communications concepts through a series of short answer questions.

    Weighting : 15%

    Criteria for assessment :

    Criteria for assessment will be given on the website along with the Assignment specification

    Due date : Thu 09 April

  • Assignment Task

    Title : Assignment 2

    Description :

    This is a group assignment. It provides an opportunity for you to apply data communications concepts to a practical networking example. You will be required to analyse a case study and make networking recommendations based on the user requirements. This assignment will also allow you to present your solutions in a formal report format.

    Weighting : 20%

    Criteria for assessment :

    Criteria for assessment will be given on the website along with the Assignment specification

    Due date : Mon 25 May

  • Assignment Task

    Title : Hands-on Lab Practical

    Description :

    Students will be asked to perform a set of networking tasks in the lab and note their results. The results will be assessed.

    Weighting : 5%

    Criteria for assessment :

    Criteria for assessment will be given on the website along with the Assignment specification

    Due date : During the week starting from 20-April-2009 (Semester teaching week 07)

Examinations

  • Examination 1

    Weighting : 50%

    Length : 2 hours

    Type ( open/closed book ) : closed book


  • Examination 2

    Weighting : 10%

    Length : 1 hour

    Type ( open/closed book ) : Closed book

    Remarks ( optional - leave blank for none ) :

    This will be the mid-term (unit) test. It will be conducted on Thu 30-April-2009 during the lecture (Semester teaching week08).


Assignment submission

  1. The parts of the assignments that require written submission must be delivered to the labelled mailbox at the offices of your home school on or before the nominated submission date and time, with the appropriate cover sheet correctly filled out and attached. 
  2. In addition, the assignments must be submitted as PDF documents via a website that will be provided for that purpose.

Assignment coversheets

Cover sheets must be provided with all assignments. The Faculty cover sheet is available from    http://infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/assignments/ , or through the Blackboard Assessment link.

University and Faculty policy on assessment

Due dates and extensions

The due dates for the submission of assignments are given in the previous section. Please make every effort to submit work by the due dates. It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are seldom regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions. Students are advised to NOT assume that granting of an extension is a matter of course.

Requests for extensions must be made to the unit lecturer at your campus at least two days before the due date. You will be asked to forward original medical certificates in cases of illness, and may be asked to provide other forms of documentation where necessary. A copy of the email or other written communication of an extension must be attached to the assignment submission.

Late assignment

Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty of 5% per day or part thereof including Saturday and Sunday.

Assignments received later than one week after the due date will not normally be accepted.

Return dates

Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later.

Assessment for the unit as a whole is in accordance with the provisions of the Monash University Education Policy at http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/assessment/

We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt.

Plagiarism, cheating and collusion

Plagiarism and cheating are regarded as very serious offences. In cases where cheating  has been confirmed, students have been severely penalised, from losing all marks for an assignment, to facing disciplinary action at the Faculty level. While we would wish that all our students adhere to sound ethical conduct and honesty, I will ask you to acquaint yourself with the University Plagiarism policy and procedure (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) which applies to students detected plagiarising.

In this University, cheating means seeking to obtain an unfair advantage in any examination or any other written or practical work to be submitted or completed by a student for assessment. It includes the use, or attempted use, of any means to gain an unfair advantage for any assessable work in the unit, where the means is contrary to the instructions for such work. 

When you submit an individual assessment item, such as a program, a report, an essay, assignment or other piece of work, under your name you are understood to be stating that this is your own work. If a submission is identical with, or similar to, someone else's work, an assumption of cheating may arise. If you are planning on working with another student, it is acceptable to undertake research together, and discuss problems, but it is not acceptable to jointly develop or share solutions unless this is specified by your lecturer. 

Intentionally providing students with your solutions to assignments is classified as "assisting to cheat" and students who do this may be subject to disciplinary action. You should take reasonable care that your solution is not accidentally or deliberately obtained by other students. For example, do not leave copies of your work in progress on the hard drives of shared computers, and do not show your work to other students. If you believe this may have happened, please be sure to contact your lecturer as soon as possible.

Cheating also includes taking into an examination any material contrary to the regulations, including any bilingual dictionary, whether or not with the intention of using it to obtain an advantage.

Plagiarism involves the false representation of another person's ideas, or findings, as your own by either copying material or paraphrasing without citing sources. It is both professional and ethical to reference clearly the ideas and information that you have used from another writer. If the source is not identified, then you have plagiarised work of the other author. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that is insulting to the reader and grossly unfair to your student colleagues.

Register of counselling about plagiarism

The university requires faculties to keep a simple and confidential register to record counselling to students about plagiarism (e.g. warnings). The register is accessible to Associate Deans Teaching (or nominees) and, where requested, students concerned have access to their own details in the register. The register is to serve as a record of counselling about the nature of plagiarism, not as a record of allegations; and no provision of appeals in relation to the register is necessary or applicable.

Non-discriminatory language

The Faculty of Information Technology is committed to the use of non-discriminatory language in all forms of communication. Discriminatory language is that which refers in abusive terms to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or nationality, ethnic or language background, physical or mental ability, or political or religious views, or which stereotypes groups in an adverse manner. This is not meant to preclude or inhibit legitimate academic debate on any issue; however, the language used in such debate should be non-discriminatory and sensitive to these matters. It is important to avoid the use of discriminatory language in your communications and written work. The most common form of discriminatory language in academic work tends to be in the area of gender inclusiveness. You are, therefore, requested to check for this and to ensure your work and communications are non-discriminatory in all respects.

Students with disabilities

Students with disabilities that may disadvantage them in assessment should seek advice from one of the following before completing assessment tasks and examinations:

Deferred assessment and special consideration

Deferred assessment (not to be confused with an extension for submission of an assignment) may be granted in cases of extenuating personal circumstances such as serious personal illness or bereavement. Information and forms for Special Consideration and deferred assessment applications are available at http://www.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html. Contact the Faculty's Student Services staff at your campus for further information and advice.

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