units

FIT1040

Faculty of Information Technology

Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

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LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Information Technology
OfferedCaulfield First semester 2013 (Day)
Clayton First semester 2013 (Day)
Gippsland First semester 2013 (Off-campus)
Sunway First semester 2013 (Day)
South Africa First semester 2013 (Day)
Clayton Second semester 2013 (Day)
Gippsland Second semester 2013 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This unit will provide students with an overview of the fundamentals required to create programs. Students will learn to develop descriptions of algorithms and program logic using pseudocode which will be implemented as working software programs using in a visual procedural programming language. The unit will explore a variety of application domains including: computer games, business and science applications, computer generated arts, computer-based simulations and the control of simple robots. The topics covered will include the fundamental concepts: data types and structures, basic types of input and output, program control structures, and modular design along with the basics of event-driven programming and objects. These topics will be covered while placing an emphasis on the need to design program code that is easy to maintain, readable, tested, and well documented.

At the end of the unit students will expected to be able to apply to knowledge and skills learned in further units that cover software development using industry strength programming languages.

Outcomes

At the completion of this unit students will have:

An understanding of:

  • the relationship between a problem description and program design;
  • the use of design representations;
  • the sequence of steps that a computer takes to translate source code into executable code; and
  • primitive data types and basic data structures.

Developed attitudes that enable them to:

  • adopt a problem-solving approach;
  • recognise the importance of programming and documentation conventions;
  • act in accordance with best practice, industry standards and professional ethics.

Developed the skills to:

  • use diagrams to design solutions for programming problems;
  • apply problem solving strategies;
  • use pseudo-code to design algorithms;
  • create and test simple computer programs;
  • analyse and debug existing programs; and
  • write a test plan.

Demonstrated the communication skills necessary to:

  • produce documentation for a program; and
  • explain an existing program.

Assessment

Examination (3 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

Chief examiner(s)

Contact hours

2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs laboratories/wk, 1 hr tutorial/wk

Prohibitions

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at: