School of Electronics and Computer Science:
COMP1002 Computer Systems and Applications
Basic Information
| School | Dept- Electronics & Computer Science |
|---|---|
| Known as | COMP1002. |
| Session and Semester | Semester One, 2011 - 2012 |
| Credit | 10 Credit Points |
| Unit Leader | Klaus-Peter Zauner |
| Moderators | Dr Adam Prugel-Bennett |
| Study | 100 hours |
| Assessment | Examination 80%, Coursework 20% |
| Coursework | 1 practical assignment |
| Teaching | 33 hours of lectures/tutorials |
| Referral | On referral, this unit will be assessed 100% by examination. |
| Syllabus Approved |
Description
Aims
The aim of the course is to introduce students to essential non-programming background in computer science and software engineering, in order to enable them to progress through the degree regardless of their prior knowledge on entering the degree course.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
Core programme topics:
- Architecture
- Comparative Programming Languages
- Compilers and Syntax Directed Tools
- Computer Networks
- Operating Systems
- Theoretical Computing
Important application areas:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Databases
- Document Processing
Intellectual Skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:
- Evaluate computer components and systems for suitability in particular contexts
- Critically evaluate curent and emerging technologies.
- Explain the use of computers in a number of application areas.
- Place technologies and methods in historical context.
General Transferable (key) Skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:
- Use electronic mail, bulletin boards, the World Wide Web and other Internet resources.
- Carry out essential operations within Unix and Windows.
Topics Covered
- Computer Hardware.
- Operating System Principles.
- Using Unix & Windows
- Electronic mail and bulletin boards, and the World Wide Web
- Assemblers, compilers and interpreters.
- Handling text on computers.
- Spreadsheets.
- Databases and 4th generation languages.
- The evolution of computer languages.
- Artificial intelligence.
- Communications and networks.
- Theory of computation and computability.
- The history of computing and future trends.
Teaching and learning activities
Teaching methods include
Classroom contact is the main means of teaching. The lectures are given with a tutorial feel, and because three sessions are used each week, there is ample time to follow topics raised by the students when they arise. This allows the course to respond to the backgrounds of the students, which changes on a yearly basis.
Where possible, artefacts are taken to the lectures to illustratevarious aspects of the syllabus
Learning activities include
Students are expected to read the indicated parts of the course text, and the structure of the lectures follows the text closely, to facilitate this.
There is a multi-part assignment which requires the students to undertake independent study to complete. They thus need to undertake computer-based searches as well as finding the Department's resources, such as Helpdesk.
Methods of assessment
| Assessment method | Number | % contribution to final mark |
|---|---|---|
| Basic computer use [cwork] | 1 | 20 |
| Exam [exam] | 1 | 80 |
Resources
Core Resources
- Brookshear JG, Computer Science: An Overview (8th Edition), Pearson/Addison-Wesley 2005 [Library] [Shops]
Background Resources
Taught to
COMP1002
Pt I BSc Computer Science (Optional)Pt I MEng Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence (Optional)
Pt I MEng Computer Science (Optional)
Pt I MEng Computer Science with Distributed Systems & Networks (Optional)
Pt I MEng Computer Science with Image and Multimedia Systems (Optional)
Pt I MEng Computer Science with Mobile and Secure Systems (Optional)
ECS Socrates Students (Optional)
Pt I Units offered to other Faculties (Optional)
Pt I BEng Software Engineering (Optional)
Non-existing cohort: "seMEng1" (Optional)
Students who are not registered on an ECS approved programme may take this module subject to meeting its pre-requisites and the availability of resources. To confirm this, please can you contact the module leader (as listed above) in the first instance. They will then refer you on to the appropriate director of studies for formal approval of your selection.