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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

Some material has been removed from the syllabus (advanced material from meta programming and CLP) in favour of treating the remaining material in more depth.

Unit staff - contact details

Unit leader

Associate Professor Bernd Meyer
Associate Professor
Phone +61 3 990 52240
Fax +61 3 990 31077

Lecturer(s) :

Associate Professor Bernd Meyer
Associate Professor
Phone +61 3 990 52240
Fax +61 3 990 31077
Associate Professor Maria Garcia De La Banda
Head of School
Phone +61 3 990 31058
Fax +61 3 990 55157

Teaching and learning method

Lectures will be used to present new concepts, introduce the fundamental approaches to problem solving with particular paradigms, compare different approaches, analyse their advantages and disadvantages, and propose general questions. The aim is to give students an overview of the concepts and to challenge them to think further. Tutorials and practicals will be used to link the theory with practice and deepen the students understanding and practical abilities. To this end, tutorials and practicals are tightly integrated into sessions where theoretical discussion and practical programming work complement each other. 

Tutorial allocation

On-campus students should register for tutorials/laboratories using Allocate+.

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 Overview, History of Programming Languages  
2 ML I: Expressions, Functions, Basic Datatypes, Lists, Pattern Matching  
3 ML II: Type Definitions, Polymorphism Hurdle Prac 1
4 ML III: Higher order functions, Structures  
5 ML IV: Input/Output, Destructive Update, Binding Mechanisms, Scope and Extent Hurdle Prac 2
6 ML V: Type Inference, Overview of Abstraction Mechanisms  
Mid semester break
7 LP I: Rule-based Programming, Deductive Databases, Basic LP Syntax, Logic Semantics April 24, Assignment 1 due
8 LP II: Deduction, Search & Backtracking, Unification  
9 LP III: Basic Lists and Difference Lists, Cut, Negation by failure, Impure Features (I/O, Arithmetic) Hurdle Prac 3
10 LP IV: Metaprogramming  
11 LP V: CLP basics Hurdle Prac 4
12 LP VI: CLP  
13 Revision June 5, Assignment 2 due

Unit Resources

Prescribed text(s) and readings

  • Jeffrey D. Ullman, "Elements of ML Programming", Prentice Hall. 
  • Leon Sterling and Ehud Shairo: "The Art of Prolog", MIT Press. 
     
  •  Text books are available from the Monash University Book Shops. Availability from other suppliers cannot be assured. The Bookshop orders texts in specifically for this unit. You are advised to purchase your text book early.

    Recommended text(s) and readings

    Kenneth C. Louden "Programming Languages, Principles and Practice", Thomson.

    David A. Watt "Programming Language Design Concepts", Wiley.

    The following technical reports / journal articles may also be helpful and interesting:

    (LP III) K. Knight: Unification: A Multidisciplinary Survey. ACM Computing Surveys 21(1)1989:93-124

    (LP V) T. Fruwirth et al: Constraint Logic Programming - an informal introduction (ECRC Tech Report 93-5)

    (LP V) P. van Hentenryck: Constraint logic programming, The Knowledge Engineering Review 6(3)1991:151-194

    (Tutorial and Labs for LP) D.H.D. Warren: Logic Programming and Compiler Writing. Software - Practice and Experience 10, 1980:97-125

    (Tutorials and Labs for LP) J. Cohen and T.J. Hickey: Parsing and Compiling Using Prolog. ACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems 9(2)1987:125-163

    Required software and/or hardware

    You will need access to

    * SML/NJ (latest version)

    * SICStus Prolog (latest version)

    both are installed in the labs. For home use you can download SML/NJ from http://www.smlnj.org . Several free Prolog Systems are publicly available on the web (unfortunately, SICStus is not free).

    Equipment and consumables required or provided

    Students studying off-campus are required to have the minimum system configuration specified by the Faculty as a condition of accepting admission, and regular Internet access. On-campus students, and those studying at supported study locations 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 n 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:


    • Weekly detailed lecture notes outlining the learning objectives, discussion of the content, required readings and  exercises;
    • Fortnighlty tutorial and laboratory tasks and exercises;
    • Assignment specifications and sample solutions;
    • A sample examination and suggested solution
    • Access to past examination papers when available
    • Discussion groups;
    • This Unit Guide outlining the administrative information for the unit;
    • The unit web site on MUSO (Moodle), where the resources outlined above will be made available.

    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 unit is assessed with two assignments (assessed in the pracs) and a three hour closed book examination. To pass the unit you must:

    • attempt at least one assignment and the examination
    • achieve no less than 40% of the possible marks in the total non-examination assessment
    • achieve no less than 50% of the possible marks in the examination
    • achieve no less than 50% of possible marks overall

    Note that there are also four "Hurdle Pracs" assessed as pass/fail. You will only be eligible to submit Assignment 1 if you pass at least one of the Hurdle Pracs 1, 2 and you will only be eligible to submit Assignment 2 if you pass at least one of the  Hurdle Pracs 3, 4.

    Assignment tasks

    • Assignment Task

      Title : Functional Programming

      Description :

      This will consist of programming tasks in ML including advanced functional concepts, such as higher order functions, list comprehensions, simulated laziness etc.

      Weighting : 15%

      Criteria for assessment :

      Your programs will be marked on correctness, style, efficiency, clarity and documentation. Specific tasks and marking criteria will be distributed at the appropriate time during the semester.

      Due date : April 24

    • Assignment Task

      Title : Logic Programming

      Description :

      This will consist of programming tasks in Prolog/CLP ranging from introductory concepts, such as lists, terms, and unification, to advanced concepts, such as meta-programming, DCGs, constraint solving, extra-logical features etc.

      Weighting : 15%

      Criteria for assessment :

      Your programs will be marked on correctness, style, efficiency, clarity and documentation. Specific tasks and marking criteria will be distributed at the appropriate time during the semester.

      Due date : June 5

    Examinations

    • Examination 1

      Weighting : 70%

      Length : 3 hours

      Type ( open/closed book ) : Closed book


    Assignment submission

    Assignments will be submitted by mixed electronic and paper submission. On-campus Students Submit the assignment in the pracs, with the appropriate cover sheet correctly filled out and attached Off Campus (OCL) students [OCL only] Mail your assignment to the Off-Campus Learning Centre with the cover sheet attached. Do not email submissions. The due date is the date by which the submission must be received/the date by which the the submission is to be posted

    Assignment coversheets

    All assignments must include an assignment coversheet. For the paper submission, the coversheet can be found in  http://infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/students/assignments/  For the electronic submission, the coversheet can be found in MUSO (Moodle).  

    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 any other extension must be made to the unit lecturer or head tutor 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.

    You are, however, generally allowed to submit your work in your allocated laboratory during the week of the due date even if you laboratory is after that due date.

    Late assignment

    Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty of 10% per day of late submission. No submissions will be accepted later than 1 week after the due date.

    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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