Students

COMP1000 – Introduction to Computer Programming

2026 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convener and lecturer
Ansgar Fehnker
ansgar.fehnker@mq.edu.au
Lecturer
Michael Lay-Kujiraoka
michael.lay@mq.edu.au
Senior Teaching Assistant
Samantha Kuhn
samantha.kuhn@mq.edu.au
Senior Sessional Assistant
Aaron Chakerian
aaron.chakerian@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit is an introductory computer science unit, providing a practical introduction to basic computing and programming concepts. Students gain an understanding of, and practical experience in, computer programming; practical experience in implementing informal prose descriptions of problem solutions using an high-level language; an understanding of, and practical experience in, designing, coding, testing and debugging simple algorithms; and an understanding of the principle of incremental development. Other topics include the concept of program correctness; the differences between high-level languages, assembly languages and machine languages; the role played by compilers; and the execution of programs by computer hardware.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: apply problem solving skills to develop algorithms that solve small to medium-sized computational problems  
  • ULO2: design and write code to implement a program description in a high-level programming language
  • ULO3: use standard software engineering practices and tools to document, debug, test and manage their programs
  • ULO4: understand and apply appropriately the taught concepts such as variables, loops, functions, conditionals and compound data in the implementation of well-designed programs
  • ULO5: identify and describe ethical issues to academic and professional practice, and demonstrate active engagement in the learning process

General Assessment Information

Programming Skills Demonstration

You will have to attend a live coding exercise demonstrating basic programming skills. It will carry 30 out of 100 marks. You will be asked to use the IDE to create, modify, change, extend, test, and debug a basic program.  This is an in-person invigilated assessment, and the use of AI tools is not permitted. The assessment will take place during the workshops in week 6. 

Please check iLearn for the exact dates, as dates may change if circumstances require it.

Before the Programming Skills Demonstration, there will be an online Diagnostic Test. It's highly recommended that you complete this formative assessment. If your Diagnostic Test mark is higher than your mark for the invigilated Programming Skills Demonstration, your final mark will be calculated using 10% of the Diagnostic Test mark and 90% of the mark for the Programming Skills Demonstration.

Programming Exam

There is one summative programming exam worth 30 out of 100 marks, assessing your understanding and application of the programming concepts covered in the unit. This is an in-person invigilated assessment, and the use of AI tools is not permitted. The assessment will take place during the workshop in week 11. This is an in-person invigilated assessment, and the use of AI tools is not permitted.

Before the Programming Exam, there will be an online Practice Exam. It's highly recommended that you complete this formative assessment. If your Practice Exam mark is higher than your invigilated Programming Exam, your final mark will be calculated using 10% of the Practice Exam mark and 90% of the Programming Exam mark.

Project Handover and Review

Each week during your scheduled SGTA sessions, a teaching assistant will guide you through exercises related to the lecture topics. In addition to these exercises, your SGTA will also support you with your Handover Project. You are encouraged to submit your work-in-progress regularly to receive formative feedback. In Week 7, you are expected to submit a program for the formative Mid-Session Checkpoint. We will provide written formative feedback on your project’s progress.

In Week 12, you will participate in an invigilated in-class Handover Review session. You will have to submit your Handover Project before this activity. The Handover Review is a closed-book, invigilated in-class activity.  During this activity, you will complete a self-assessment of your submission against the minimum requirements. This self-assessment is intended to demonstrate your familiarity with the submitted Handover Project. It is an invigilated in-person assessment that will take place during your regular workshop hours.

Your grade for this assessment will be based on two components:

  • The quality of your self-assessment during the handover
  • The quality of the program you submit

Together, these components will contribute 40 marks out of 100 for the course.

If you fail to achieve a passing mark in the handover, you will have the opportunity to complete a viva (oral examination), covering the same topics. Unless a special consideration applies, a cap of 20 marks will be applied to the mark of the viva.

The use of AI during the Handover Review or second‑chance vivas is not permitted. The use of AI tools to create the original submission is not explicitly prohibited. Students are, however, expected to be able to explain and answer questions on all aspects of their submission, including any parts that may have been generated with assistance.

The description of the project will be released before 27 April 2026.

It's highly recommended that you make a submission for the Week 7 formative Mid-session Checkpoint. If your mark for the  Mid-Session Checkpoint is higher than the mark for the Handover Project and Review, your final mark will be calculated using 10% of the mark for the Mid-Session Checkpoint and 90% of the mark for the   Handover Project and Review.

Late Submission for Assessments

In this unit, all assessments are in-person and in class. There are no separate submissions or submission deadlines.

As such, the following applies with respect to late submissions: 

  • Project Handover and Review: NO, unless Special Consideration is Granted
  • Summative Exam: NO, unless Special Consideration is Granted
  • Programming Skills Demonstration: NO, unless Special Consideration is Granted

Short extensions are not offered for any assessments in this unit.

The programming project must be submitted before or at the start of your in-class handover. You will not be permitted to participate in the handover review unless your program has been submitted beforehand.

Late Submission Penalties

All assessments in this unit are conducted in person during scheduled class sessions. There are no standalone take‑home submissions and no separate submission deadlines. Accordingly, late submission penalties do not apply. 

Special Consideration

If you need extra time for an assessment due to serious or unexpected circumstances, you can apply for Special Consideration. Please keep the following in mind:

  • For the Programming Skills Demonstration and the Programming Exam, students have the option to take part in a second round without needing to apply for Special Consideration.
  • You should treat the first round as your main opportunity. The second round is there as a backup if you miss the first round due to unforeseen circumstances, or if you would like to try to improve your result.
  • If you complete an attempt in any round, you will not be eligible for Special Consideration for that assessment.
  • Before applying for Special Consideration for these two assessments, please check whether you are eligible for the second attempt. You should only submit a Special Consideration application if you were unable to complete both the first and second rounds. If this applies to you, make sure your application clearly explains why you could not take part in either opportunity.
  • To apply for Special Consideration, visit the Special Consideration page HERE

Requirements to Pass

  • Must obtain a mark of 50 (50% of 100) overall.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Project Handover and Review 40% No In week 12, during the registered SGTA Individual No Observed
Programming Exam 30% No In week 11, during the registered SGTA Individual No Observed
Programming Skills Demonstration 30% No In week 6, during the registered SGTA Individual No Observed

Project Handover and Review

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 28 hours
Due: In week 12, during the registered SGTA
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

Formative programming tasks during the session will contribute to a final programming project, submitted during an invigilated in-class handover. Students must demonstrate their understanding of and familiarity with the project. Both the quality of the submitted program and the student's performance during the handover will be assessed. Students who do not pass the handover will have the opportunity to complete a viva, covering the same topics as the handover, for a passing mark.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • apply problem solving skills to develop algorithms that solve small to medium-sized computational problems  
  • design and write code to implement a program description in a high-level programming language
  • use standard software engineering practices and tools to document, debug, test and manage their programs
  • understand and apply appropriately the taught concepts such as variables, loops, functions, conditionals and compound data in the implementation of well-designed programs
  • identify and describe ethical issues to academic and professional practice, and demonstrate active engagement in the learning process

Programming Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: In week 11, during the registered SGTA
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

This is a summative assessment of the unit's content. Students will have an opportunity to retake the assessment to improve their marks.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • apply problem solving skills to develop algorithms that solve small to medium-sized computational problems  
  • design and write code to implement a program description in a high-level programming language
  • use standard software engineering practices and tools to document, debug, test and manage their programs
  • understand and apply appropriately the taught concepts such as variables, loops, functions, conditionals and compound data in the implementation of well-designed programs
  • identify and describe ethical issues to academic and professional practice, and demonstrate active engagement in the learning process

Programming Skills Demonstration

Assessment Type 1: Experiential task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: In week 6, during the registered SGTA
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

Weekly tasks during the SGTAs prepare students for an in-lab exercise where they must demonstrate programming skills, such as using standard software engineering tools to create, modify, debug, test, and manage programs. Students will have an opportunity to retake this task to improve their mark.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • apply problem solving skills to develop algorithms that solve small to medium-sized computational problems  
  • design and write code to implement a program description in a high-level programming language
  • use standard software engineering practices and tools to document, debug, test and manage their programs
  • understand and apply appropriately the taught concepts such as variables, loops, functions, conditionals and compound data in the implementation of well-designed programs
  • identify and describe ethical issues to academic and professional practice, and demonstrate active engagement in the learning process

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

WEEK 1

Note that lectures commence in week 1. Workshops scheduled on Monday after the lecture and from Tuesday to Friday will also commence in week 1. Workshops scheduled before the lecture on Monday will commence in week 2.

CLASSES

Each week you should attend

  • two-hour lecture
  • two-hour workshop

For details of days, times and rooms, consult the timetables webpage.

You should have selected a practical class during enrolment. You should attend the workshop in which you are enrolled. You won't always get the class of your choice. Check availabilities via eStudent regularly. If ALL workshops are full, only then, contact the convenor.

TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS

Textbook: 

  • Learning Processing: A Beginner's Guide to Programming Images, Animation, and Interaction, by Daniel Shiffman. Second edition, 2015. ISBN: 978-0123944436. IMPORTANT: Online/Digital version is available here on MQ Library. Click on "Elsevier ScienceDirect Books - Single Purchased Titles", log in using OneID credentials, and "Download all chapters".

Technology

Methods of Communication

The unit makes use of forums hosted within iLearn. Please post questions there, they are monitored by the unit staff. For personal questions regarding the unit, please contact the super tutors or unit conveners.

Unit Schedule

Note, that dates and deadlines may change if circumstance requires. Please check iLearn for the latest updates.

Week

Topic

Assessment Activity

1

Getting Started in Processing

 

2

Variables and arithmetic

 

3

Decisions: Ifs, booleans, and boolean algebra

 

4

Iteration: While and for-loops

Formative Feedback: Diagnostic Test

5

Loops and Ifs

 

6

Functions

 Summative Assessment: Programming Skills Demonstration
- Two Week Session Break  

7

 Objects and Classes Formative Feedback: Mid-project Checkpoint

8

 Arrays and array algorithms  

9

 Understanding Data Passing: Value vs. Reference

 

10

Program Design and Problem Solving

 Formative Assessment: Practice Exam

11

Theory, Physics, and Processing Goodies.

Summative Programming Exam

12

Beyond Processing

Summative Assessment: Project Handover and Review

13

Revision

 Summative Assessment: Project Handover and Review - Vivas

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Academic Integrity

Using the work or ideas of another person, whether intentionally or not, and presenting them as your own without clear acknowledgement of the source is called Plagiarism. 

Macquarie University promotes awareness of information ethics through its Academic Integrity Policy. This means that:

  • all academic work claimed as original must be the work of the person making the claim;
  • all academic collaborations of any kind must be acknowledged;
  • academic work must not be falsified in any way; and
  • when the ideas of others are used, these ideas must be acknowledged appropriately.

All breaches of the Academic Integrity Policy are serious and penalties apply. Students should be aware that they may fail an assessment task, a unit or even be excluded from the University for breaching the Academic Integrity Policy.

 

 

Assessment Policy

Students should familiarise themselves with their responsibilities under the Assessment Policy, and notably the  Final Examination Procedure.

Grade Appeals

A student who has been awarded a final grade for a unit has the right to appeal that grade as outlined in the Assessment Policy. Grade appeals apply to the final mark and the grade a student receives for a unit of study. They do not apply to results received for individual assessment tasks.

Grade appeals must be submitted via ask.mq.edu.au within 15 working days from the published result date for the relevant unit. Before submitting a Grade Appeal, please ensure that you read the Assessment Policy and note valid grounds for appeals.

Students are expected to seek feedback on individual assessment tasks prior to the award of a final grade. Students also have the right to request generic feedback from the teaching staff on their overall performance in the unit, including in a final examination. This can be done at any time in the six-month period starting from the day on which the final grade of the relevant unit is published.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

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.

Changes from Previous Offering

We value student feedback to be able to improve the way we offer our units continually. 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 on the iLearn page.

To encourage early engagement, formative assessment is now available for all three assessments and can help improve your mark. Previously, this was only available for the final exam. Note, special consideration is not available for formative assessment tasks. If you miss the formative assessment, you can achieve full marks in the summative assessment.

 

 

Unit information based on version 2026.02 of the Handbook