Print View: CSSE4603 - Sem 1 2008 - St Lucia

2. Aims, Objectives & Graduate Attributes

2.1 Course Aims

This course introduces students to a number of formalisms for the modelling of software systems and reasoning about those models. The formalisms are discussed and explored, so that students can choose the appropriate formalism for a particular system and context, model the system, and demonstrate that the model satisfies certain properties.

2.2 Learning Objectives

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

1  Understand the strengths and weaknesses of certain models and logics, including state machines, algebraic and trace models, and temporal logics.
2  Apply this understanding to select and develop abstract formal models for certain classes of systems.
3  Reason formally about the elementary properties of modelled systems.

2.3. Graduate Attributes

Successfully completing this course will contribute to the recognition of your attainment of the following UQ (Undergrad Pass) graduate attributes:

GRADUATE ATTRIBUTE	LEARNING OBJECTIVES
*A. IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF THE FIELD OF STUDY*
A1. A comprehensive and well-founded knowledge in the field of study.	1, 2, 3
A4. An understanding of how other disciplines relate to the field of study.
A5. An international perspective on the field of study.
*B. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION*
B1. The ability to collect, analyse and organise information and ideas and to convey those ideas clearly and fluently, in both written and spoken forms.	2, 3
B2. The ability to interact effectively with others in order to work towards a common outcome.
B3. The ability to select and use the appropriate level, style and means of communication.	2, 3
B4. The ability to engage effectively and appropriately with information and communication technologies.	1, 2, 3
*C. INDEPENDENCE AND CREATIVITY*
C1. The ability to work and learn independently.
C3. The ability to generate ideas and adapt innovatively to changing environments.
C4. The ability to identify problems, create solutions, innovate and improve current practices.	2, 3
*D. CRITICAL JUDGEMENT*
D1. The ability to define and analyse problems.
D2. The ability to apply critical reasoning to issues through independent thought and informed judgement.	1, 2, 3
D3. The ability to evaluate opinions, make decisions and to reflect critically on the justifications for decisions.
*E. ETHICAL AND SOCIAL UNDERSTANDING*
E1. An understanding of social and civic responsibility.
E2. An appreciation of the philosophical and social contexts of a discipline.
E4. A knowledge and respect of ethics and ethical standards in relation to a major area of study.
E5. A knowledge of other cultures and times and an appreciation of cultural diversity.

Successfully completing this course will contribute to the recognition of your attainment of the following Engineers Australia graduate attributes:

GRADUATE ATTRIBUTE	LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals	1, 2, 3
2. Ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers, but also with the community at large	2, 3
3. In-depth technical competence in at least one engineering discipline	1, 2, 3
4. Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution	1, 2, 3
5. Ability to utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance
6. Ability to function effectively as an individual and in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, with the capacity to be a team leader or manager as well as an effective team member
7. Understanding of the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of the professional engineer, and for the need for sustainable development
8. Understanding of the principles of sustainable design and development
9. Understanding of and commitment to professional and ethical responsibilities
10. Expectation and capacity to undertake life-long learning	1, 2, 3

3. Learning Resources

3.1 Required Resources

J. Magee and J. Kramer. Concurrency - State Models and Java Programs, second edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2006.

The course Blackboard site (http://blackboard.elearning.uq.edu.au) will be used to make announcements and to provide electronic copies of all course handouts. Note that only students officially enrolled in CSSE4603/7032 will have access to the course Blackboard site.

3.2 Recommended Resources

J. Woodcock and J. Davies. Using Z: Specification, Refinement, and Proof, Prentice-Hall International, 1996. This book is available on-line at http://www.usingz.com.

J.M. Spivey. The Z Notation: A Reference Manual, second edition, Prentice-Hall, 1998. This book is available on-line at http://spivey.oriel.ox.ac.uk/~mike/zrm.

M. Huth and M. Ryan. Logic in Computer Science, Modelling and Reasoning about Systems, 2004.

Additional readings will be made available through the UQ Blackboard site for the course.

3.3 University Learning Resources

Access to required and recommended resources, plus past central exam papers, is available at the UQ Library website (http://library.uq.edu.au/search/r?SEARCH=CSSE4603).

The University offers a range of resources and services to support student learning. Details are available on the myServices website (https://student.my.uq.edu.au/).

3.4 School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering Learning Resources

Students enrolled at St Lucia who wish to retain a hard copy of this profile can use the free print quota provided each semester to students enrolled in courses in the School of Information Technology & Electrical Engineering. For information on how to use this print quota, see the School Policy on Student Photocopying and Printing (St Lucia) (http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/about_ITEE/policies/copy-print.html). Students enrolled at the Ipswich campus will either be provided with a hard copy or given directions in class on how to obtain a free copy.

ITEE course websites can be found at http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~COURSECODE. Many ITEE courses also have Usenet newsgroups, named uq.itee.COURSECODE. Instructions for accessing newsgroups are available at http://studenthelp.itee.uq.edu.au/faq/1stYearFAQ.html#accessnews.

3.5 Other Learning Resources & Information

Lectures

A DVD with the lectures for the course will be distributed at the first tutorial session.

Facilities

ITEE computing laboratories where you can work on weekly homework assignments and projects are normally open (accessible using swipe card) 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Note that only students officially enrolled in CSSE4603/7032 will have accounts and disk space created for them. External access is provided - see the link "Remote Access" on http://studenthelp.itee.uq.edu.au/.

Consultation

Consultation times for the course will be advised at the first tutorial and on the course Blackboard site (http://blackboard.elearning.uq.edu.au). Note that only students officially enrolled in CSSE4603/7032 will have access to the course Blackboard site.

Handouts

Electronic copies of all handouts will be made available on the course Blackboard site.

Distribution of notices

Announcements will be made in the tutorial sessions, on the course Blackboard site and via e-mail as necessary. You are expected to read the notices on the Blackboard site regularly.

5. Assessment

5.1 Assessment Summary

This is a summary of the assessment in the course. For detailed information on each assessment, see 5.5 Assessment Detail below.

Assessment Task	Due Date	Weighting	Learning Objectives
Problem Set/s Weekly homework assignments	29 Feb 08 16:00 - 30 May 08 16:00	30%	1, 2, 3
Mid-semester exam Mid-semester examination	14 Apr 08 - 17 Apr 08 16:00	20%	1, 2, 3
Exam - during Exam Period (Central) Final examination	Examination Period	50%	1, 2, 3

5.2 Course Grading

Grade 1, Fail: Fails to demonstrate most or all of the basic requirements of the course: -

Grade 2, Fail: Demonstrates clear deficiencies in understanding and applying fundamental concepts; communicates information or ideas in ways that are frequently incomplete or confusing and give little attention to the conventions of the discipline: -

      The minimum percentage required for a grade of 2 is: 20%

Grade 3, Fail: Demonstrates superficial or partial or faulty understanding of the fundamental concepts of the field of study and limited ability to apply these concepts; presents undeveloped or inappropriate or unsupported arguments; communicates information or ideas with lack of clarity and inconsistent adherence to the conventions of the discipline: -

      The minimum percentage required for a grade of 3 is: 45%

Grade 4, Pass: Demonstrates adequate understanding and application of the fundamental concepts of the field of study; develops routine arguments or decisions and provides acceptable justification; communicates information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline: -

      The minimum percentage required for a grade of 4 is: 50%

Grade 5, Credit: Demonstrates substantial understanding of fundamental concepts of the field of study and ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; develops or adapts convincing arguments and provides coherent justification; communicates information and ideas clearly and fluently in terms of the conventions of the discipline: -

      The minimum percentage required for a grade of 5 is: 65%

Grade 6, Distinction: As for 5, with frequent evidence of originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and in creating solutions; uses a level, style and means of communication appropriate to the discipline and the audience: -

      The minimum percentage required for a grade of 6 is: 75%

Grade 7, High Distinction: As for 6, with consistent evidence of substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critically evaluates problems, their solutions and implications: -

      The minimum percentage required for a grade of 7 is: 85%

5.3 Late Submission

No extensions will be granted except in exceptional personal circumstances (documented medical reason or family emergency). Personal hardware or computer failures are not grounds for extension.

5.4 Other Assessment Information

Return of marked material

Weekly homework assignments and the mid-semester examination will be returned in tutorial sessions.

5.5 Assessment Detail

Weekly homework assignments

Type: Problem Set/s
Learning Objectives Assessed: 1, 2, 3
Due Date:
29 Feb 08 16:00 - 30 May 08 16:00
Weight: 30%
Task Description:

There will be weekly homework assignments. Each homework assignment is worth 3%. To determine the 30% for the homework assignments, we will count your 10 best marks.

The problem sets for the homework assignments will be available from the course Blackboard site. The assignments are due at 4pm on the Friday of each week, except in weeks in which the Friday is a public holiday, in which case they are due on the preceding Thursday.

The weekly homework assignments give you practice using models, logics, and tools on small problems, and to provide you with feedback on your ability and progress in the course.

Criteria & Marking:

Marks for the questions will be indicated on the handouts and will be assigned for correctness of the presented solution. Your homework assignments must be prepared electronically in an appropriate format; hand-written homework assignments will not be accepted.

Submission: You must hand in your homework assignments in the submission box on Level 1 of GP South.

Mid-semester examination

Type: Mid-semester exam
Learning Objectives Assessed: 1, 2, 3
Due Date:
14 Apr 08 - 17 Apr 08 16:00
Weight: 20%
Task Description:

A take-home mid-semester examination will be held in week 7. The examination will be made available on Monday and is due at 4pm on Thursday.

The examination is used to assess both the practical ability of the students on small problems and their understanding of the course material. It will also provide students with feedback on their ability and progress in the course.

Criteria & Marking: Marks for the questions will be indicated on the examination paper and will be assigned for correctness of the presented solution.
Submission: You must hand in your examination in the submission box on Level 1 of GP South.

Final examination

Type: Exam - during Exam Period (Central)
Learning Objectives Assessed: 1, 2, 3
Due Date:
Examination Period
Weight: 50%
Perusal: 10 minutes
Duration: 120 minutes
Format: Problem solving
Task Description:

A two-hour final examination will be held during the final examination period. This exam will be open-book, which means that you may bring any written or printed material into the examination room. Calculators and other computing or communication devices are NOT permitted.

The examination is used to assess both the practical ability of the students on small problems and their understanding of the course material.

Criteria & Marking:

Marks for the questions will be indicated on the examination paper and will be assigned for correctness of the presented solution.

6. Policies & Guidelines

This section contains the details of and links to the most relevant policies and course guidelines. For further details on University Policies please visit myAdvisor and the University Handbook of Policies and Procedures.

6.1 Assessment Related Policies and Guidelines

University Policies & Guidelines

An overview of the University’s assessment-related policies can be found on myAdvisor (http://www.uq.edu.au/myadvisor/index.html?page=2910).

Academic Integrity
It is the University's task to encourage ethical scholarship and to inform students and staff about the institutional standards of academic behaviour expected of them in learning, teaching and research. Students have a responsibility to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity in their work. Students must not cheat in examinations or other forms of assessment and must ensure they do not plagiarise.

Plagiarism
The University has adopted the following definition of plagiarism:

Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting as one's own original work the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of another. These include published and unpublished documents, designs, music, sounds, images, photographs, computer codes and ideas gained through working in a group. These ideas, interpretations, words or works may be found in print and/or electronic media.

Students are encouraged to read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism policy (http://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/index.html?page=25128) which makes a comprehensive statement about the University's approach to plagiarism, including the approved use of plagiarism detection software, the consequences of plagiarism and the principles associated with preventing plagiarism.

Feedback on Assessment
Feedback is essential to effective learning and students can expect to receive appropriate and timely feedback on all assessment. For a detailed explanation of the feedback you are entitled to, you should consult the policy on Student Access to Feedback on Assessment. (http://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/index.html?page=25114&pid=25075)

As a student you have a responsibility to incorporate feedback into your learning; make use of the assessment criteria that you are given; be aware of the rules, policies and other documents related to assessment; and provide teachers with feedback on their assessment practices.

There are certain steps you can take if you feel your result does not reflect your performance. Please refer to the myAdvisor web site. (http://www.uq.edu.au/myadvisor/index.html?page=2953&pid=2910)

School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering Assessment Guidelines

Misconduct

Further to the statement on academic integrity and plagiarism above, students are required to read and understand the ITEE policy on Student Misconduct (http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/about_ITEE/policies/student-misconduct.html).

Late Arrival or Non-attendance at Examinations

The policy and procedure for late arrival or non-attendance at centrally controlled examinations is set out in the University's Examinations policy (HUPP 3.30.5), sections 8 and 10.2.

The way in which late arrival at a School-controlled examination is dealt with will be at the discretion of the course coordinator, who may be guided by the policy for centrally controlled exams.

In the case that a student requests a special exam for a School-controlled exam, the request will be considered and, if allowed, the timing shall be determined by the course coordinator, in consultation with the School's Chief Examiner where necessary, and in accordance with HUPP 3.30.5. Unless otherwise indicated in the Course Profile, applications must be made in writing to the Head of School no later than one week after the exam. Late applications will not be accepted.

Examination Feedback

In addition to the advice above, students wishing to view examination answer scripts and/or question papers should consult with the School office (Room 217, General Purpose South Building [78], St Lucia; Room 218, Building 1, Ipswich) regarding arrangements. The ITEE policy on exam script viewing is available at http://study.itee.uq.edu.au/current_students/exam_script_viewing.html.

Supplementary Assessment

If you fail this course you may be eligible for supplementary assessment - see the general award rules and/or your program rules for details. You should note that even though you may be eligible for supplementary assessment under these rules, in some circumstances there may be no practical assessment that can be offered to allow you to meet the minimum passing requirements. These circumstances may include failure based on:

group or team based assessment;
attendance or class participation requirements;
laboratory-based assessment, where laboratories can't practically be made available after classes have finished;
project or thesis-based assessment, where a significant period of time would be required to undertake supplementary assessment;
progressive assessment, where subsequent assessment items build on earlier assessment items; or
multiple assessment items, where it is impractical to offer multiple supplementary assessment items.

If the course coordinator determines that there is no practical supplementary assessment that can be offered to allow you to improve your grade, then you will not be offered supplementary assessment and your grade will remain unchanged.

6.2 Other Policies and Guidelines

University Policies and Guidelines

Placement Courses
Students on a placement course – also known as a work placement, internship, industry study, industry experience, clinical practice, clinical placement, practical work, practicum, fieldwork, teaching practice – should refer to the University policy, Placement Courses (http://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/index.html?page=25120&pid=25075) for detailed information.

Working with Children
Students whose studies include a professional/work placement, internship, clinical practice, teaching practice or other similar activity which involves them in regular contact with children should refer to the University policy, Working with Children Check - "blue card" (http://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/index.html?page=25004&pid=24963) to find out how to apply for a ‘blue card’.

Students with a Disability
Any student with a disability who may require alternative academic arrangements, including assessment, in the course/program is encouraged to seek advice at the commencement of the semester from a Disability Adviser at Student Support Services. Refer to the University policy, Students with a Disability (Disability Action Plan) (http://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/index.html?page=25122&pid=25075) and to the policy on Special Arrangements for Examinations for Students with a Disability (http://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/index.html?page=25111&pid=25075

Where an adjustment is made to an accredited program, it is the responsibility of the relevant Faculty to liaise with professional and registration bodies regarding the acceptability of the change/s.

Occupational Health and Safety
Undergraduate Students (http://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/index.html?page=25055&pid=25015) and Postgraduate Students (http://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/index.html?page=25057&pid=25015) should be familiar with the University policies on occupational health and safety in the laboratory.

Other School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering Guidelines

Ethical Clearance

If your course involves assignment or project work involving human subjects or human-related materials, you must investigate the need for ethical clearance and obtain it when required. Information on ethical clearance can be found at http://www.uq.edu.au/research/orps/index.html?page=5064&pid=5256.

Learning Summary

Below is a table showing the relationship between the learning objectives for this course and the broader graduate attributes developed, the learning activities used to develop each objective and the assessment task used to assess each objective.

Learning Objectives