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Monash University

FIT9020 Data communications - Semester 2, 2012

The unit will introduce students to fundamentals of data and computer communications method and techniques. It covers: ISO and TCP/IP layered protocols; physical layer concepts: data transmission methods, signal encoding and digital data communication techniques; data link control protocol, multiplexing methods; WAN and LAN networking fundamentals; internetworking and transport protocols.

Mode of Delivery

Caulfield (Day)

Contact Hours

2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs laboratories/wk

Workload

Students will be expected to spend a total of 12 hours per week during semester on this unit as follows:

  • Lectures: 2 hours per week
  • Tutorials/Lab Sessions: 2 hours per week per tutorial
  • and up to an additional 8 hours in some weeks for completing lab and project work, private study and revision.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

CSE9801, BUS3150, CSE2318, CSE3318, FIT1005

Prerequisites

FIT9018

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Caulfield

Joarder Kamruzzaman

Academic Overview

Outcomes

At the completion of this unit students will:
  • understand layered ISO and TCP/IP protocols;
  • have knowledge of data transmision technology, signal encoding techniques and data link control protocols;
  • understand multiplexing methods and technologies;
  • understand the functions and architectures of LAN and WAN.

Graduate Attributes

Monash prepares its graduates to be:
  1. responsible and effective global citizens who:
    1. engage in an internationalised world
    2. exhibit cross-cultural competence
    3. demonstrate ethical values
  2. critical and creative scholars who:
    1. produce innovative solutions to problems
    2. apply research skills to a range of challenges
    3. communicate perceptively and effectively

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

Assessment Task Value Due Date
Assignment 1 20% Friday, 31 August 2012, midnight
Assignment 2 20% Monday, 8 October 2012, midnight
Examination 1 60% To be advised

Teaching Approach

Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
This teaching and learning approach provides facilitated learning, practical exploration and peer learning.

Feedback

Our feedback to You

Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
  • Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
  • Graded assignments with comments
  • Solutions to tutes, labs and assignments

Your feedback to Us

Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.

For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html

Previous Student Evaluations of this unit

Previous feedback indicated that students' found the practical excercises in the labs useful to their study.

If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp

Required Resources

Please check with your lecturer before purchasing any Required Resources. Limited copies of prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library, and prescribed software is available in student labs.

Wireshark, Packet Analysis Software freely available from http://www.wireshark.org/

Prescribed text(s)

Limited copies of prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library.

Jerry FitzGerald and Alan Dennis. (2009). Data Communications and Networking. (10th) Willey.

Unit Schedule

Week Activities Assessment
0   No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
1 Introduction to Data Communications  
2 Application Layer  
3 Physical Layer  
4 Data Link Layer  
5 Network and Transport Layers - Part 1  
6 Network and Transport Layers - Part 2 Assignment 1 due Friday, 31 August 2012, midnight
7 Local Area Networks  
8 Wireless Local Area Networks  
9 Metropolitan and Wide Area Networks  
10 Backbones Networks  
11 The Internet Assignment 2 due Monday, 8 October 2012, midnight
12 Network Security  
  SWOT VAC No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC
  Examination period LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/
academic/education/assessment/
assessment-in-coursework-policy.html

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)

Academic Integrity - Please see the Demystifying Citing and Referencing tutorial at http://lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/

Assessment Tasks

Participation

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    Assignment 1
    Description:
    Assignment 1 will include the material covered in Weeks 1 - 5. In particular questions will be related to components of networks, type of networks, internet models, message transmission using layers, application layer architectures, physical and data link layers.
    Weighting:
    20%
    Criteria for assessment:

    The criteria used to assess submissions are:

    • Correctness and understanding - there may be more than one "right" answer in many cases.
    • Completeness - that you have answered all parts of each question.
    • Presentation - that you have presented your answers using the appropriate method. 
    • Use of evidence and argument - you are able to explain your position by using logical argument.
    Due date:
    Friday, 31 August 2012, midnight
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    Assignment 2
    Description:
    Assignment 2 will include the material covered in Weeks 6 - 10. In particular, the questions will be related to network and transport layers, structures and functions of local area, backbone and wide area networks.
    Weighting:
    20%
    Criteria for assessment:

    The criteria used to assess submissions are:

    • Correctness and understanding - there may be more than one "right" answer in many cases.
    • Completeness - that you have answered all parts of each question.
    • Presentation - that you have presented your answers using the appropriate method. 
    • Use of evidence and argument - you are able to explain your position by using logical argument.
    Due date:
    Monday, 8 October 2012, midnight

Examinations

  • Examination 1
    Weighting:
    60%
    Length:
    3 hours
    Type (open/closed book):
    Closed book
    Electronic devices allowed in the exam:
    None

Assignment submission

It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).

Online submission

If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the VLE site for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Other Information

Policies

Student services

The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students. For Sunway see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/

The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Sunway, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.

Academic support services may be available for students who have a disability or medical condition. Registration with the Disability Liaison Unit is required. Further information is available as follows:

  • Website: http://monash.edu/equity-diversity/disability/index.html;
  • Email: dlu@monash.edu
  • Drop In: Equity and Diversity Centre, Level 1 Gallery Building (Building 55), Monash University, Clayton Campus, or Student Community Services Department, Level 2, Building 2, Monash University, Sunway Campus
  • Telephone: 03 9905 5704, or contact the Student Advisor, Student Commuity Services at 03 55146018 at Sunway
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