Computer Studies subjects are offered by the Mathematics and Computer Science Division in the School of Science and Mathematics Education. A student undertaking first-year studies in computing is able to gain a general overview of computer usage in teaching, while two years of study (a sub-major) will enable students to teach junior and middle-level computing studies. Three years of study (a major) in Computer Studies will equip graduates to teach Computer Science or Information Technology at all levels of the secondary school, and should qualify graduates to obtain work in the computer industry if they desire. Further information is available from the Mathematics and Computer Science Division, Level 7, Science Education Building.
Computer Studies subjects are available to students in all undergraduate courses except BEd (Secondary)
132 The University of Melbourne Prospectus and Handbook 1992 — Volume Four Environmental Science. The first-year subject,
Computer Studies A10, does not assume any prior computing studies at secondary school.
Practical Computer Work
Computer Studies subjects normally require students to undertake at least three hours each week of practical work. See individual subjects for specific details.
References
Detailed references will be given in lectures.
Table of subjects offered in 1992
Subject First Second Points
Semester Semester
A-level A10 A10 25.0
B-level B10 B10 22.2
B7 B8 11.1 each
C-level C5 C6 or C7 11.1,11.1
(see notes) C2 C3 11.1, 13.9
Notes:
Computer Studies C2, C5, C6 and C7 are only available to third-year students.
Computer Studies C7 is available as a link study only.
Computer Studies C3 is a link study and is only available to Year 4 students in BEd (Secondary) and BScEd.
486-118 COMPUTER STUDIES A10:
COMPUTER SCIENCE 1 Credit points: 25.0
Staff: Gail Hood.
Prerequisite: Year 11 Mathematics.
Contact: Lectures, tutorial and practical sessions equivalent to 4 to 5 hours a week. (Two semesters.) Content: Introduction to computers and computing.
Work on a variety of computers using application packages and programming languages including Pascal and Logo. Topics include: hardware, system software; algorithms; data structure and data management; issues relating to information management and technology.
Assessment: Two 2-hour examinations; practical work including tutorial and programming exercises and assignments. Attendance at practical sessions is required. Students must perform satisfactorily in the practical work and obtain at least 40 per cent on the examinations. Results will be graded.
486-241 COMPUTER STUDIES B7:
INFORMATION SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING AND TECHNOLOGY
Credit points: 11.1 Staff: John Murnane.
Prerequisite: Computer Studies A10.
Contact: Two 1-hour lectures and a 1-hour tutorial/
practical class each week. (First semester.)
Content: Knowledge representation and the organisation of data; relational, hierarchical and network models operations on data. Database management systems; query languages; intelligent databases; information systems; networking retrieval systems; systems analysis; system development life cycle; aspects of data security; social implications of information technology.
Assessment: A 2-hour examination; tutorial sheets and programming assignments. Students must obtain a result of at least 40 per cent in each area of assessment. Results will be graded.
486-242 COMPUTER STUDIES B8:
IMPLEMENTATIONS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Credit points: 11.1 Staff: John Swales.
Prerequisite: Computer Studies A10. Credit will not be granted for both this subject and Sociology B14.
Contact: Two 1-hour lectures and a 1-hour tutorial/
practical class each week. (Second semester.) Content: The information revolution; the nature of information and information systems; emerging trends; information systems; the characteristics of computers; systems analysis management information services; computer networks; topologies;
the OSI reference model; localtalk; computers in society; technological development history; security issues; human rights issues; health and safety.
Assessment: A 2-hour examination; tutorial sheets and programming assignments. Students must obtain at least 40 per cent in each area of assessment.
Results will be graded.
486-243 COMPUTER STUDIES B10:
COMPUTER SCIENCE 2 Credit points: 22.2
Staff: John Warner.
Prerequisite: Computer Studies A10.
Contact: Two 1-hour lectures and a 1-hour tutorial/
practical class each week for one semester. (Two semesters.)
Content: The six-level architecture of the modern computer; assembly language programming: digital logic; computer architecture and organisation:
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computer design consideration; data structures and fundamental algorithms; algorithm analysis; stacks, lists, trees; operating systems; aims, functions and structure of the operative system level; resource management.
Assessment: Tutorial work and programming assignments; a 2-hour examination at the end of each semester. Students must obtain at least 40 per cent in each area of assessment. Results will be graded.
486-325 COMPUTER STUDIES CZ: COMPILERS AND LANGUAGE TRANSLATORS
Credit points: 11.1 Staff: John Murnane.
Prerequisite: Computer Studies B10.
Contact Two 1-hour lectures and a 1-hour tutorial/
practical class each week. (First semester.)
Content: Language; syntax and semantics; syntax diagnosis; computer languages; use, suitability;
structure and language design; educational applicability: history of computing languages: finite state machines; grammars; language acceptors, generators; operators and parsing. Language translation; assemblers, interpreters, compilers;
stages; translation methods and algorithms.
Assessment Tutorial sheets and assignments; a 2- hour examination. Students must obtain at least 40 per cent in the examination. Results will be graded.
486-326 COMPUTER STUDIES C3:
COMPUTERS IN SCHOOLS Credit points: 13.9
Staff: Marie Smyth.
Prerequisite: At least 22.2 pointsof Computer Studies subjects at Group 2 level, or approved equivalent.
This subject qualifies as a link study.
Contact Two 1-hour lectures and a 1-hour tutorial/
practical class each week. (Second semester.) Content: Computer uses in industry; the social implications of such uses. Strategies for using a computer in a classroom, and associated methods and goals. Aspects of computer science needed to underpin these strategies, both for teaching with computers and teaching about computers.
Management of a computer laboratory. Ethical and equity issues in computing in schools.
Assessment An essay of approximately 1500 words;
an individual project equivalent to approximately 2500 words, under the direction of the lecturer;
seminar presentation; tutorial sheets. Results will be graded.
486-327 COMPUTER STUDIES CS:
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND LOGIC PROGRAMMING
Credit points: 11.1 Staff: John Swales.
Prerequisite: Computer Studies BI0.
Contact: Two 1-hour lectures and a 1-hour tutorial/
practical class each week. (First semester.)
Content:Topics include: the history and applications of artificial intelligence; the nature of intelligence;
problem-solving; the codification of logic; knowledge based systems; knowledge representation; network language processing; robotics including speech recognition and visual recognition; neural networks.
Assessment: A 2-hour examination; tutorial sheets and programming assignments. Students must obtain at least 40 percent for each component of assessment.
Results will be graded.
486-328 COMPUTER STUDIES C6:
COMPUTER GRAPHICS Credit points: 11.1
Staff: John Swales.
Prerequisite: Computer Studies BIO. Credit will not be granted for both Computer Studies C6 and C7.
Contact: Two 1-hour lectures and a 1-hour tutorial/
practical class each week. (Second semester.) Content: Topics include: the role of graphics in human communication, interactive computer graphics; hypercard including user interfaces, objective-oriented programming languages; graphics programming techniques; 2D and 3D systems and algorithms; graphics engines and interfaces; advanced graphics techniques; image processing.
Assessment: A 2-hour examination; tutorial sheets and programming assignments. Students must obtain at least 40 per cent for each component of assessment.
Results will be graded.
486-329 COMPUTER STUDIES C7:
COMPUTER GRAPHICS - LINK STUDY Credit points: 11.1
Staff: John Swales.
Prerequisite: Computer Studies BI0. This subject qualifies as a link study. Credit will not be granted for both Computer Studies C7 and C6.
Contact: Two 1-hour lectures and a 1-hour tutorial/
practical class each week. (Second semester.) Content: Topics include: the role of graphics in human communication, interactive computer graphics; Hypercard including user interfaces, object oriented programming languages; graphics engines and interfaces; graphics programming techniques;
134 The University of Melbourne Prospectus and Handbook 1992 — Volume Four 2D and 3D systems and algorithms, fractal geometry;
graphics programming in the educational context.
Assessment: A 2-hour end-of-semesterexamination at the end of the semester; tutorial sheets and programming assignments; a special assignment equivalent to 1000 words. Students must obtain at least 40 per cent in both the examination and the practical component. Results will be graded.