In this unit, students are encouraged to engage actively in their learning through a multifaceted approach. Attending lectures consistently, taking comprehensive notes, and actively participating in discussions are vital components of this active participation. Regular attendance at workshops and practical sessions is emphasized, and students are advised to seek instructor feedback to enhance their understanding of assignments. Pursuing excellence in assignments is a fundamental expectation, requiring thorough preparation to showcase a firm grasp of the content and meet prescribed standards. Additionally, students are urged to engage actively with assigned readings, supplementing their notes and formulating thoughtful questions for further clarification during discussions with lecturers. Thoughtful responses to workshop questions, demonstrating a deep understanding of the material, and contributing meaningfully to discussions are also highlighted. Furthermore, timely completion of assigned tasks or simulation projects within given timeframes is essential for successfully and punctually fulfilling unit requirements. Overall, this holistic approach aims to ensure students actively contribute to and excel in various aspects of their learning experience in the unit.

Participation Guidelines:

• Active Engagement: Attending most classes is strongly recommended, actively participating in discussions by asking and answering questions and contributing perspectives from personal backgrounds and workplaces.
• Utilization of Supplementary Resources: Supplementary resources, including lecture materials and digital recordings available through Echo360 via iLearn login, are accessible for review purposes and in case of missed lectures. However, it is essential to note that these recordings should not be solely relied upon, and copyrighted material may be excluded.
• Effective Out-of-Class Communication: iLearn is the primary platform for effective out-of-class communication and engaging in discussions on various topics. Accessible at http://learn.mq.edu.au, iLearn provides forums for active participation and is a valuable resource for information dissemination. Regularly reviewing iLearn and conducting background reading before each class is highly encouraged to enhance your overall learning experience. 

Assignment Submission

Your assignment is to be submitted online using iLearn.

Release Dates

• Assignment 1 (Applications of Real-Time Operating Systems): To be released no later than 10th August..
• Assignment 2 (Data Processing in Real-Time Operating Systems): To be released no later than 14th September.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark of the task) will be applied for each day a written report or presentation assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. The submission time for all uploaded assessments is 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical concern.  For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, please apply for Special Consideration. 

For example, if the assignment is worth 8 marks (of the entire unit) and your submission is late by 19 hours (or 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds), 0.4 marks (5% of 8 marks) will be deducted. If your submission is late by 24 hours (or 47 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds), 0.8 marks (10% of 8 marks) will be deducted, and so on.

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted

• Assignment 1 (Applications of Embedded IoT Hardware) - YES, Standard Late Penalty applies
• Assignment 2 (I/O Data Processing in Embedded IoT Hardware) - YES, Standard Late Penalty applies
• Lab report - YES, Standard Late Penalty applies

Supplementary Exam

If you receive Special Consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled after the normal exam period, following the release of marks. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. Approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

Requirements to Pass this Unit

In this unit, the final mark will be calculated by combining the marks for all assessment tasks according to the percentage weightings shown in the assessment summary. Concretely, in order to pass the unit, you must obtain an overall total mark of 50% or higher. Students obtaining a higher grade than a pass in this unit will (in addition to the above): have a total mark of 85% or higher to obtain High Distinction; have a total mark of 75% or higher to obtain Distinction; have a total mark of 65% or higher to obtain Credit. This unit does not have hurdle assessments.

Special Consideration

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable, and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through connect.mq.edu.au/.  

Delivery Time

COMP8294 consists of both lectures and workshop sessions. Lectures are held every Wednesday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, commencing in Week 1. Workshop sessions take place onsite every Wednesday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, starting in Week 2.

Lectures

COMP8294 lecture sessions explore embedded IoT hardware systems in-depth, blending theoretical concepts, embedded design, mobile programming, and hands-on applications. The focus extends to practical implementation, particularly embedded IoT simulator software and embedded IoT hardware based on NodeMCU8266 microcontroller, intelligent sensors, and IoT platform, to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of conceptual and design principles. The unit emphasizes applying this knowledge in designing embedded IoT systems across various real-world scenarios. The IoT-embedded simulation software tools, including Wokwi, Blynk, ThingSpeak, and ThingsBoard, will support the learning process. Lecture sessions form the foundation for grasping conceptual knowledge, with practical application during workshops that involve tasks such as intelligent sensor development, mobile programming, and IoT platforms.

While weekly lecture notes will be provided, students are encouraged to view them as a guide rather than a substitute for their own personal notes or the recommended reading list. Active engagement with the material is encouraged, supplementing understanding through provided lecture notes, personal notes, and suggested readings. This proactive approach is crucial for a robust comprehension of the syllabus topics and contributes to an enriched learning experience in real-time operating systems.

Assignments

Students will complete two major assignments, each designed to assess their ability to conceptualize, design, and implement embedded IoT hardware systems in various application contexts. To support a structured and in-depth approach, students are given four weeks to complete each assignment. Assignment 1, due by 11:55 PM on Sunday, 14th September (end of Week 7), contributes 40% to the overall course grade. This includes 20% for the design and implementation of a programming application, 10% for answering assignment-specific theoretical questions, 5% for the written project report, and 5% for the presentation and discussion, which evaluates students' ability to articulate and communicate their project work. Assignment 2, due by 11:55 PM on Sunday, 26th October (end of Week 11), contributes 30% to the total grade, consisting of 15% for the programming application, 5% for theoretical questions, 5% for the project report, and 5% for the presentation and discussion. This comprehensive assessment structure is intended to develop both the technical and communication skills essential for success in embedded system design and IoT programming.

Workshop

The workshop sessions will be conducted onsite across 12 meetings, from Week 2 to Week 13. During Weeks 2 to 11, students will engage in practical modules designed to develop their skills in embedded IoT systems. Weeks 12 and 13 are allocated for make-up sessions, which are available only to students who were unable to attend earlier workshops, with a limit of two make-up classes per student. These sessions provide essential hands-on experience, and students are required to submit a report summarizing the lab work completed during each session. The workshop component contributes 20% to the overall course assessment.

Course Reading Material Information

Please be aware that there isn't a single textbook covering all the content for this unit. However, your lecturer will provide comprehensive reading materials and detailed notes corresponding to each week's lecture topics. These resources will be provided every week for your convenience. It's essential to note that purchasing these books is not obligatory; their inclusion is based on individual preferences and needs. Students are encouraged to evaluate their requirements and determine whether acquiring these supplementary resources aligns with their learning preferences and objectives.

1. Oner, Vedat Ozan, "Developing IoT Projects with ESP32 : Unlock the Full Potential of ESP32 in IoT Development to Create Production-Grade Smart Devices," 2nd ed. Birmingham : Packt Publishing, Limited 2023.
2. Zulfiqar, Asim, "Hands-On ESP32 with Arduino IDE : Unleash the Power of IoT with ESP32 and Build Exciting Projects with This Practical Guide," First edition. Birmingham, UK : Packt Publishing Ltd. 2024.

Methods of Communication: 

Our primary means of communication will be through your university email and announcements on iLearn. It is crucial to consistently check your university email for important updates and information related to the course. Additionally, significant announcements will be posted on iLearn, a centralized platform for accessing vital details about the course. Should you have any queries or require assistance from the teaching staff, including the unit convenor, you have two communication channels. Firstly, you can post your queries on the iLearn discussion board, providing an interactive space for instructors and peers to engage in discussions. Alternatively, you may send emails to the corresponding addresses of the teaching staff using your university email address for official communication. Through these communication methods, we aim to ensure effective and timely dissemination of information and provide the necessary support throughout the course.

We value student feedback to be able to continually improve the way we offer our units. As such we encourage students to provide constructive feedback via student surveys, to the teaching staff directly, or via the FSE Student Experience & Feedback link in the iLearn page. Student feedback from the previous offering of this unit was very positive overall, with students pleased with the clarity around assessment requirements and the level of support from teaching staff. As such, no change to the delivery of the unit is planned, however we will continue to strive to improve the level of support and the level of student engagement.