Students

COMP249 – Web Technology

2018 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer
Steve Cassidy
E6A377
By appointment
Tutor
Daniel Sutantyo
Tutor
Ed Moore
Tutor
Nardin Hanna
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
COMP125 and ISYS114
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit covers a range of techniques and concepts that are relevant to implementing systems on the world wide web. From web site development using HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and eXtensible Markup Language (XML), through to complete client–server applications, the unit explores the full spectrum of this technology, providing insight into the standards underlying the web and the programming techniques used to exploit these standards to build web applications.

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:

  • Explain what World Wide Web is and how it works.
  • Critique web design and apply good design principles.
  • Design and develop a database-backed web site using a modern scripting language.
  • Explain the legal and ethical issues relating to web applications.
  • Critically evaluate contemporary and emerging Web technologies.

General Assessment Information

Note that the Web Application assignment is a hurdle, this means that you must meet the pass requirements to pass the unit.  The pass requirement will be to write Python code according to the specification to pass a set of automated tests.  If you do not meet the pass requirements on your first submission, you will be given a second chance to re-submit in Week 10. Support will be available before you re-submit to help you meet this hurdle requirement.

If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the interval between the regular exam period and the start of the next session.  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. You can check the supplementary exam information page on FSE101 in iLearn (bit.ly/FSESupp) for dates, and approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Workshop Tasks 10% No Weeks 1-10
Web Design 5% No Week 4
Web Application 20% Yes Week 7
Front End Web Application 20% No Week 11
Legal and Ethics Report 10% No Week 12
Exam 35% No TBA

Workshop Tasks

Due: Weeks 1-10
Weighting: 10%

Each week there will be a task set during the practical workshop that you will need to complete. You will need to attend the workshop to complete this task and show your work to your tutor.  Each week will be worth 1 mark up to a total of 10.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Design and develop a database-backed web site using a modern scripting language.
  • Critically evaluate contemporary and emerging Web technologies.

Web Design

Due: Week 4
Weighting: 5%

This is a design task on HTML and CSS. You will be asked to write HTML pages and add a CSS style for a sample web application.  The results will be peer-marked - you will be given the chance to see the work of other students and provide marks and feedback.  The final mark will be based on marks given by your peers.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critique web design and apply good design principles.
  • Design and develop a database-backed web site using a modern scripting language.

Web Application

Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

This is the major programming task  for this unit.  You will develop a web application that makes use of a database and allows users to login, carry out some transactions, and logout.   You will be provided with a set of unit tests that your code must pass as well as a set of functional requirements for the application.   

This is a hurdle assessment you must achieve a pass in order to pass the unit.  The pass requirement is to write Python code according to the specifications to pass a set of automated tests.  If you do not meet the pass requirement by the submission date, you will have a further chance to submit a solution in Week 10.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critique web design and apply good design principles.
  • Design and develop a database-backed web site using a modern scripting language.

Front End Web Application

Due: Week 11
Weighting: 20%

This assignment builds on the earlier web application but concentrates on front end development in Javascript. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critique web design and apply good design principles.
  • Design and develop a database-backed web site using a modern scripting language.

Legal and Ethics Report

Due: Week 12
Weighting: 10%

You will write a report on the legal and ethical aspect of web design and development.  This will involve you researching the topic to find sources of information and using them to develop your report.  You will be provided with pointers to resources but will be expected to find more based on your own research. 

You will submit this report online via iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain what World Wide Web is and how it works.
  • Critique web design and apply good design principles.
  • Explain the legal and ethical issues relating to web applications.
  • Critically evaluate contemporary and emerging Web technologies.

Exam

Due: TBA
Weighting: 35%

The final exam will asses your ability to describe and explain the technologies we have covered in the unit. In particular we will ask about the topics covered towards the end of the unit on advanced and emerging web technology topics.   


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain what World Wide Web is and how it works.
  • Critique web design and apply good design principles.
  • Explain the legal and ethical issues relating to web applications.
  • Critically evaluate contemporary and emerging Web technologies.

Delivery and Resources

Classes

COMP249 is taught through a mixture of traditional lectures and online video presentations.  Each week a number of video presentations will be made available on iLearn, you should watch these and follow up on the topics covered before the lecture on Wednesday. The lecture will recap some of the video content and provide a forum for discussion of the topics of the week. Some new material may be presented in the lecture if that format is more appropriate.  

You will also have a two hour workshop each week in the computer laboratory.  This will be used as a combined tutorial and practical class, with tasks each week to engage you in the topics we are discussing.  It is important that you stay up to date on these tasks so that you will be better prepared for the workshop exams and for the major assessment in the unit.  The workshops give you a chance to talk over any problems with your tutor.

Four of the workshop sessions will include an exam with questions related to the tasks that you carry out in the workshops.

Since your tutor will be keeping track of your marks, you should attend the workshop that you enroll in. If you do need to change, make sure your tutor and the tutor in the new class agree.

Required Texts

There is no required text for COMP249 this semester. 

We have written a set of notes for the unit which will be added to through the semester. You can find them here:

We will also provide notes, slides and links to other resources each week.  It is important that you follow up links provided with the video presentations and in the notes on each topic.   

Required Technology

You will be writing server side programs in Python 3.5 . We will use PyCharm as the recommended development environment although you are free to use your own favourite editor if you wish.  You will be making use of a number of different web browsers (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, Opera...) to test web pages.  All of this software will run on Windows, Mac or Linux.

 

Unit Schedule

The schedule below is the planned topic list for the unit but minor changes may be made in response to student feedback or other factors.  See the iLearn unit page for the definitive and more detailed week by week breakdown.

 

Week Topic Assessment
1 Core Web Technology, Python  
2 HTML, CSS, Bottle  
3 Web Servers  
4 Forms Processing, Data Models Web Design
5 Cookies, Sessions, Authentication  
6 Web Application Architectures  
7 Javascript, JSON Web Application
     
8 Front End Architectures  
9 Security on the Web  
10 Testing web applications  
11 Usability and Accessibility Front End Web Application
12 Mobile Web Development  
13 Review Legal & Ethical Report

 

 

Policies and Procedures

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:

Undergraduate 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).

Student Code of Conduct

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

Results shown in iLearn, 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.

Disruption to Studies

The University recognises that students may experience disruptions that adversely affect their academic performance in assessment activities.  Support Services are provided by the University to assist students through their studies.  Whilst advice and recommendations may be made to a student, it is ultimately the student's responsibility to access these services as appropriate.  Please see the Disruption to Studies page for details of what is covered by this policy and how to make a submission.

If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of a Disruption to Studies request, the examination will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period. 

Grade Appeal

In case of problems arising with your final grade, the first step is to organise a review. The Department recommends that you request an appointment with the convenor of the unit in order to review your grade. If the review does not solve the problem, a formal Grade Appeal can be lodged.

See the University Grade Appeal Policy.

Academic Honesty and Plagiarism

University Academic Honesty Policy

Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one's own. The Department, in line with University policy, treats all cases seriously. 

Student Support

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

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

The staff on the unit are here to help you succeed in your study.  Please feel free to contact your tutor or your lecturer at any time if you are having trouble meeting any deadline or staying up to date with the work in the unit.  

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Support Unit who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.  

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

The Science Centre, ground floor in building E7A, is the first point of call for most enquiries relating to your program of study.  

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.

In the first instance, students should contact their tutor if there is a problem with hardware or software during a workshop session.  If they can't resolve the issue, or if the problem occurs outside of a class time, then contact the ScienceIT support desk on level 3 of E6A.  

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Design and develop a database-backed web site using a modern scripting language.

Assessment tasks

  • Workshop Tasks
  • Web Design
  • Web Application
  • Front End Web Application

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Critique web design and apply good design principles.
  • Critically evaluate contemporary and emerging Web technologies.

Assessment tasks

  • Web Design
  • Legal and Ethics Report
  • Exam

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain what World Wide Web is and how it works.
  • Critique web design and apply good design principles.
  • Design and develop a database-backed web site using a modern scripting language.
  • Explain the legal and ethical issues relating to web applications.
  • Critically evaluate contemporary and emerging Web technologies.

Assessment tasks

  • Workshop Tasks
  • Web Design
  • Web Application
  • Front End Web Application
  • Legal and Ethics Report
  • Exam

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Critique web design and apply good design principles.
  • Critically evaluate contemporary and emerging Web technologies.

Assessment tasks

  • Web Design
  • Legal and Ethics Report
  • Exam

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Design and develop a database-backed web site using a modern scripting language.
  • Explain the legal and ethical issues relating to web applications.
  • Critically evaluate contemporary and emerging Web technologies.

Assessment tasks

  • Workshop Tasks
  • Web Design
  • Web Application
  • Front End Web Application
  • Legal and Ethics Report
  • Exam

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain what World Wide Web is and how it works.
  • Explain the legal and ethical issues relating to web applications.
  • Critically evaluate contemporary and emerging Web technologies.

Assessment tasks

  • Legal and Ethics Report
  • Exam

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain the legal and ethical issues relating to web applications.
  • Critically evaluate contemporary and emerging Web technologies.

Assessment tasks

  • Legal and Ethics Report
  • Exam

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Explain the legal and ethical issues relating to web applications.

Assessment tasks

  • Legal and Ethics Report
  • Exam

Changes from Previous Offering

The biggest change this year is to begin introducing some more front-end web development topics. This reflects a change in the web development industry which has been ongoing for the last few years with the development of different architectures for web applications with rich front-end components.  While we will still cover the fundamentals of the web and the architecture of a server-based application, we will also expose students to some aspects of this new architecture. 

Assessment changes are:

  • Removed practical exams, replaced with weekly practical tasks coving similar material
  • Removed the mid-semester test and reverted to a longer final exam - the mid-semester test was difficult to implement and didn't show any significant advantages
  • Split the Web Application assignment into two parts. The first part is a simplified application that is a hurdle assignment, the second part introduces some front end web development skills.  

Grading Standards

Your final grade depends on your performance in each part of the assessment. For each task, you receive a mark that reflects your standard of performance regarding each learning outcome assessed by this task. Then the different component marks are added up to determine your total final mark out of 100.

Pass: you demonstrate a basic understanding of the core technology of the web and are able to implement the main components of a web application.

Credit: all of the above plus shows a sound understanding of web technology, able to provide full solutions to all set assignment work and demonstrate an appreciation of how everything works together on the web.

Distinction: all of the above plus a demonstrated ability to apply the technologies covered to new problems or in new ways. Assignment solutions are excellent and well presented, implementing extended features or displaying high quality work.

High Distinction: very exceptional students who show a complete mastery of web technologies and are able to demonstrate their thorough understanding of the web at large and the issues involved in building modern web applications.

Criteria for passing the different assessment tasks will reflect the above standards and be made clear in the guidelines distributed with the task descriptions.

Late Submission

Unless you have made prior arrangements for late submission due to unforeseeable circumstances, you will be penalised one mark for every day that you submit late.  

If you are unable to attend a workshop and show your work to your tutor in any given week, you may make up the work in the next week and show your tutor at the following workshop.  If you have a disruption lasting longer than one week, you must apply for Special Consideration and an appropriate arrangement will be made if your application is approved.