Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Michael Johnson
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
200cp at 1000 level or above including (COMP2050 or COMP255) and (COMP3010 or COMP333)
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit integrates prior learning in a specialist area of engineering with problem solving, emerging technology and aspects of engineering application, technical reporting and self-management to prepare students to work at a professional capacity. The unit aims to address the application of fundamental principles and methods at an advanced level in the context of standards and practices, modelling, analysis, design and practical implementation. The unit also develops skills in the critical evaluation of information, software and sources of error, and experimental methods. Learning will be achieved using case studies, laboratories, presentations, group work and traditional lecture format. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
Note that each student is expected to complete satisfactorily all three components of the assessment. This is a highly integrated unit and attempts to merely accumulate marks in a component without utilising material from the others would be destined to fail.
This unit, like the workplace you will soon be in, requires active involvement and, like the workplace, you will be being judged throughout the semester.
There will be regular feedback during the semester, so students should have an idea of how they are progressing (and if you don't have a clear idea, be sure to ask!).
But it's really important to realise that this unit, the culminating unit in software engineering linking your degree to the workplace, is not like many (probably any) of the units you have studied before. You need to attend all classes and be actively involved. You need to work between classes and prepare for the following week's classes. You need to plan and manage carefully your own individual tasks. And you need to take all this seriously and complete it in a business like and conscientious manner.
It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, that there are no recorded lectures or web-based Powerpoint presentations for you to use if you miss things. The unit has lectures, but the unit is about you and your participation is essential.
As with all software engineering, timely submission is essential. Late submissions will not be accepted. If you are seriously affected by unavoidable and unforeseeable circumstances, you should email the unit convenor as early as possible, and certainly before the due date of piece of work. In any case, be sure to submit by the due date whatever work you have available for submission. (If after application for for Special Consideration as a result of unavoidable disruption to studies the university deems you to be eligible to complete further work on the assessment item you may be given an opportunity to add to your submission or you may be given a substitute task.)
Software engineering frequently requires written reports, and such reports need to be, as far as possible, of professional quality. Students need to strive to present work which is written clearly, with good grammar, correct word usage, correct punctuation and correct spelling. Wherever required, all written work must be properly referenced and conform to standard stylistic conventions.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.
Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
This unit emphasises a dynamic combination of lecture, practical and laboratory work, group and individual assigned task work, and a high degree of self-learning. The overall goal is to be a "finishing school" for software engineers, and the unit includes highly technical work as well as deep reflection on the nature of the discipline and its state in Australia and internationally.
Research "in the library" as to the state of the art in software engineering will be required as the student develops his or her own understanding in identified areas as part of the assigned task work.
There are no set texts, but a wide range of sources will need to be consulted and reading lists developed.
This unit is different each year because the content is tailored to the individual experiences of each of the students that arise from their particular choices of electives in the software engineering program and any work experience, and it is also tailored to the students' medium term career goals. The exact nature of the change from year to year depends of course upon the exact nature of the individual experiences and the goals of the enrolled students in each year.
Delivery of material not previously seen by the students or material which will be presented in a differenct context with regard to graduate capabilities. There may be some review material, but this is minimal
Develop skills based competencies in experimentation with overlap/application to theory and simulation
Students plan and execute a combination of group and individual work to execute a project of substance, possibly with real world application. This activity leads to assessments that may be of both a group and individual nature as well as formal reports and a presentation
This activity is used widely in this unit to engage students and encourage deep learning. At this advanced level, as well as technical material there is a need for students to develop their own internalised understanding of matters such as ethics, the nature of the profession, their approach to professional development, and their career goals. There aren't simple answers, and there is a strong need for detailed student engagement with the issues.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
Week commencing |
Topic |
24 February |
Intro and raison d'etre for 4060 |
2 March |
The nature of the discipline |
9 March |
The role of professional societies |
16 March |
How to develop individual projects |
23 March |
How to present individual projects |
30 March |
How to contract for individual projects |
6 April |
Progress reports on individual projects |
13 April |
Break from classes (work on projects) |
20 April |
Possible break from classes (work on projects) |
27 April |
Software engineering disasters |
4 May |
Software assurance and operating systems |
11 May |
Software security and low level analyses |
18 May |
Systems security |
25 May |
Mobile systems |
1 June |
Software verification |
10 June |
Final Reporting / Examination if required |
Please note that this is the initial plan for arranging unit content, but it is subject to change. Our goal is to best serve student learning and depending on the distribution of Joint Board competencies already attained by the incoming students material may be rearranged and relative timings reallocated (in consultation with the enrolled students).
Individual projects will cover many areas including CASE tools, process methodologies, testability and formal verification as well as project specific technical material. The precise combination will vary based on the nature of each individual project.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
As noted above, COMP4060 is different every year because it is tailored to the varied experiences of the enrolled students and because assessment weightings are negotiated with students during the unit.
As we've said, COMP4060 is a very different unit from the other kinds of units you will have studied in your software engineering (SE) program. So, we want to be explicit about the unit's goals. They are:
These are the goals that lie behind the learning outcomes.