The Peninsula School of Computing and Information Technology has two, inter-related, roles: the provision of quality courses and the conducting of research in the academic discipline of commercial computing. The commercial computing discipline includes the elicitation, analysis and modelling of client requirements, the design of computerised information systems to meet these requirements and the engineering of computer software to implement the designed system. Emphasis is also placed on computer hardware and software technologies such as database management systems, local area networks, and graphical user interface management systems and how these technologies may be used most effectively in the construction of computerised information systems.
The teaching and research aspects of the school's mission complement each other. To teach courses that are both pedagogically sound and relevant to current theory and practice invites avenues of research. The research, in turn, energises the teaching with a freshness and breadth of ideas.
The aim of the school is to provide students with a quality learning environment, which includes not only good teaching from a committed and competent staff, but also, the necessary physical resources and a pastoral and administrative infrastructure which guides and serves its students. The school seeks to develop its students to prepare them for entrance into the computing profession.
The school aims to provide an environment for its staff that will both support and challenge them: support them with the facilities and environment conducive to productive achievement and challenge them with the opportunities to develop themselves professionally.
Teaching
The school offers the Bachelor of Computing with a major in applications development at the pass and honours level. Postgraduate research degrees may be taken at the masters and doctoral levels.
Graduates in a non-computing discipline can enter the computing profession by completing the graduate diploma offered by the school. Flexibility is available in the school's courses with provision for the inclusion of non-computing majors and minors, the availability of double degrees conducted jointly with other faculties, and the acceleration of degrees through summer semesters.
The School Advisory Board, composed of staff and senior computing industry representatives, ensures the relevance of subject offerings to current industry practice. The Education Forum provides a venue for academics to discuss pedagogical ideas and concerns.
Research
The areas of research of particular interest to the school include software engineering, information systems engineering, computer-aided software engineering, database technology, graphical user interfaces, hypertext and multimedia, and computer education. The school's research program is guided and encouraged by its own research committee.
Objectives - Major in applications development
The applications development major is a sequence of subjects available to students studying for a Bachelor of Computing at Peninsula campus. The subjects are also available to students in a range of other courses on other campuses.
The major aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes to enable them to analyse a wide variety of business problems, and to design, construct and implement computerised information systems that can be used to solve these problems. It provides a conceptual framework for understanding computing and the development of computerised information systems. This framework enables students to understand, integrate and use new and emerging methods, tools and technologies.
Students completing this major will have knowledge of:
* the nature of business problems, and techniques for analysis and modelling of user requirements which would lead to a computer-based information system;
* tools and techniques for the design, construction, testing and implementation of a computer-based information system that meets user requirements;
* principles and procedures for the design, construction and testing of computer software using a variety of commercially relevant programming languages and techniques;
* the maintenance of software systems;
* information technology, including the organisation and operating principles of computer hardware, systems software, data communications and database technology.
They will have an understanding of:
* the nature and role of information systems;
* procedures and principles of software development;
* business organisations and their operation;
* the techniques for planning and managing the development of systems.
They will be able to:
* analyse and model user requirements to design computer-based solutions to business problems;
* effectively use computer hardware and software technologies such as CASE technologies, database management systems, and computer networks in the development of computerised information systems;
* communicate effectively with users, clients and other computing professionals;
* identify and document user requirements;
* develop correct, well-structured and well-documented computer programs;
They will have developed the following attitudes:
* self-motivation in their professional activity - to think critically, take responsibility for their own learning, and to be resourceful when solving problems;
* group cooperation which will enable them to work productively in group development of computerised information systems;
* respect for ethical considerations, and an awareness of the personal responsibilities associated with the computing profession, as expressed in the Code of Ethics of the Australian Computer Society;
* a high regard for effective oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.