Monash University

Leader: Dr. John McCormack

Offered

Berwick First semester 2008 (Day)
Berwick Second semester 2008 (Day)
Caulfield First semester 2008 (Day)
Caulfield Second semester 2008 (Day)
Clayton First semester 2008 (Day)
Clayton Second semester 2008 (Day)
South Africa First semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit is a research unit and an elective unit for the Honours degrees of the Faculty of IT. Due to the nature of the area of IT, a wide range of reading unit types can be offered to students. Some project components are of a practical nature and may involve some software development and/or experimentation, while other components are of a more theoretical nature.

Objectives

On completion of the unit students should :

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the area of their chosen topic.

Each prospective Honours student should reach an agreement with a potential supervisor about a research area for, and feasibility of, the reading unit before enrolling in the course. The student and supervisor will agree on a project which is interesting for both parties. After completing this unit, students should have developed attitudes of:

2. Confidence in their ability to undertake independent and individual research.

After completing this unit, students should have the skills to:

3. Identify open problems in the chosen research topic.
4. Identify promising new research directions based on previous results.
5. Define feasible projects based on such problems.
6. Communicate research results in a variety of forms, including informal oral presentations, written reports, seminar presentations and poster presentations.

Although the projects are carried out separately as individuals, the students are allocated computers and offices in a shared, common area (for the group of honours students). The students are encouraged to communicate, discuss problems and difficulties among themselves. The honours students also get the opportunity to mix with and communicate with PhD and Masters research students of the faculty.
After completing this unit, students should be able to:

7. Communicate reseach ideas effectively in oral and written form.
8. Collaborate effectively with their supervisor

Assessment

Assessment is determined by the supervisor. Assessment can include a written report or written formal exam. The student may also be required to present the findings of the research undertaken.

Contact hours

12 hrs/week for 13 weeks. The precise subdivision of the hours will be determined by the supervisor.

Prerequisites

Admission to the Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) or Bachelor of Business Information Systems (Honours) or Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems (Honours) program. Enrollment in FIT4008 is subject to the approval of the ADE on the advice of the relevant Honours program leaders.