Note: This unit is an archived version! See Overview tab for delivered versions.
ELEC1601: Foundations of Computer Systems (2011 - Semester 2)
| Unit: | ELEC1601: Introduction to Computer Systems (6 CP) |
| Mode: | Normal-Day |
| On Offer: | Yes |
| Level: | Junior |
| Faculty/School: | School of Electrical & Computer Engineering |
| Unit Coordinator/s: |
A/Prof Levy, David
|
| Session options: | Semester 2 |
| Versions for this Unit: | |
| Site(s) for this Unit: |
| Campus: | Camperdown/Darlington |
| Pre-Requisites: | None. |
| Brief Handbook Description: | This unit of study introduces the fundamental digital concepts upon which the design and operation of modern digital computers are based. A prime aim of the unit is to develop a professional view of, and a capacity for inquiry into, the field of computing. Topics covered include: data representation, basic computer organisation, the CPU, elementary gates and logic, peripheral devices, software organisation, machine language, assembly language, operating systems, data communications and computer networks. |
| Assumed Knowledge: | HSC Mathematics extension 1 or 2 |
| Lecturer/s: |
A/Prof Levy, David
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Timetable: | ELEC1601 Timetable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time Commitment: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T&L Activities: | Tutorial: Weekly tutorial on course materials. Follows the weekly lecture Project Work - in class: Design, build and test a project working in a team. Independent Study: Preparation for tutorials, labs and project Laboratory: Hands on lab work on computer systems, digital hardware and MIPS Assembler programming |
Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.
| Attribute Development Method | Attribute Developed |
| Design software in a team project environment | Design and Problem Solving Skills (Level 1) |
| Detailed study of computer system fundamentals | Fundamentals of Science and Engineering (Level 2) |
| Writing of assignments and reports. Oral presentation of project outcomes. | Professional Communication (Level 2) |
| Team based laboratories with individual and group assessment components including oral examinations. | Professional Values, Judgement and Conduct (Level 1) |
| The team project assignment introduces students to teamwork and project management in an engineering context | Teamwork and Project Management (Level 2) |
For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering/IT Graduate Attribute Matrix 2009.
Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.
Design and Problem Solving Skills (Level 1)
1. Ability to apply concept, principles and techniques to configure a basic system.
2. Ability to scope, build and test an engineering artefact.
3. Proficiency in applying computer engineering knowledge in the design, construction and testing of commensurate solutions for specific engineering problems.
Fundamentals of Science and Engineering (Level 2)
4. Ability to demonstrate understanding of the concepts and principles of computer architecture, digital logic design and microprocessor assembly language.
5. Ability to demonstrate understanding of the concepts, principles and relationship for computers, the internet and clients and servers.
6. Ability to demonstrate fundamental knowledge of computer engineering issues.
Professional Communication (Level 2)
7. Ability to write reports to present design specific information and results concisely and accurately.
Professional Values, Judgement and Conduct (Level 1)
8. An appreciation of the professional practice, standards and responsibilities in working with hardware and software to the limit afforded by lab sessions and exercises.
Teamwork and Project Management (Level 2)
9. Ability to engage in team-based design, drawing on the knowledge, skills and creative talent of all members to deliver a solution to a particular engineering problem.
| Assessment Methods: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assessment Description: |
Quiz: Quiz 1 - students will, under exam conditions, complete quizzes testing their knowledge of any material previously covered in lectures, tutorials and labs. Final Exam: End of semester exam Report: Assignment 1 Initial report. Students are required to have analysed the overall problem and present an initial design and project plan for solving it. Report: Team project - Detailed Design. This is a group assignment, due in week 7. Each group must present a final design, indicating how each member will contribute to the project. At this stage, groups must also submit a draft acceptance test report, outlining the tests that the finished project is intended to be able to pass at the final demonstration. At this stage, groups must also submit a draft acceptance test report, outlining the tests that the finished project is intended to be able to pass at the final demonstration. Project: Team project demonstration and design walkthrough. This is a group assessment, due in the laboratory in week 12. For the demonstration, groups must make a presentation to the tutor, showing how their design addresses the problem. Presentations must be accompanied by a poster. Groups must demonstrate their prototype to the tutor in the laboratory. The design must be shown to operate successfully several times. Students are expected to be able to intelligently answer questions about design and implementation choices made by the group. Assignment: Assignment 4 Evaluation report. After the completion of the assignment, students are expected to reflect on their own contribution to the assignment, and evaluate the progress of their group. Quiz: Quiz 2 Lab Skills: Three labs over 9 sessions |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assessment Feedback: | Assessment feedback will be provided face to face in the labs and tutes, and via BlackBoard for assignments submitted online | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grading: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Policies & Procedures: | Policies regarding academic honesty and plagiarism, special consideration and appeals in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies can be found on the Faculty's policy page at http://www.eng.usyd.edu.au/policies Faculty policies are governed by Academic Board resolutions whose details can be found on the Central Policy Online site at http://www.usyd.edu.au/policy/ Policies regarding assessment formatting, submission methods, late submission penalties and assessment feedback depend on the unit of study. Details of these policies, where applicable, should be found above with other assessment details. |
| Prescribed Text/s: |
Note: Students are expected to have a personal copy of all books listed.
|
| Online Course Content: | Notes and discussions will be provided on BlackBoard. |
| Note on Resources: | ELEC1601 Course Notes. Purchase at Copy Shop |
Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp
| Week | Description |
| Week 1 | Introduction and overview |
| Week 2 | Data representation |
| Week 3 | Digital logic |
| Week 4 | Architecture of a simple computer |
| Week 5 | Instruction Set Architectures |
| Assessment Due: Report | |
| Week 6 | Computer Memory |
| Assessment Due: Quiz | |
| Week 7 | Computer Memory |
| Week 8 | Input/Output and Storage |
| Assessment Due: Report | |
| Week 9 | System software |
| Week 10 | Alternative Architectures |
| Week 11 | Performance Measurement |
| Week 12 | Network Organisation |
| Assessment Due: Quiz | |
| Assessment Due: Project | |
| Week 13 | Review |
| Assessment Due: Assignment | |
| Exam Period | Final exam |
| Assessment Due: Final Exam |
Course Relations
The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.
Course Goals
This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:
| Attribute | Practiced | Assessed |
| Design and Problem Solving Skills (Level 1) | Yes | 3% |
| Discipline Specific Expertise (Level 2) | No | 0% |
| Fundamentals of Science and Engineering (Level 2) | Yes | 76.49% |
| Information Skills (Level 2) | No | 0% |
| Professional Communication (Level 2) | Yes | 5% |
| Professional Values, Judgement and Conduct (Level 1) | Yes | 3% |
| Teamwork and Project Management (Level 2) | Yes | 12.5% |
These goals are selected from Engineering/IT Graduate Attribute Matrix 2009 which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering/IT Graduate Attribute Matrix 2009 for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.
