Foundation unit for MDataSci and GDDS replacing previously approved unit FIT2103 from Semester 1, 2017/TP1.

21/12/2016: The following components have been changed and the change is to be implemented from Semester 1, 2017.

06/01/2017: Admin - revert RfI to original, remove reading list as per ADE request. Reading list to be included in Unit Guide.

20/9/2019: Admin - updating exam duration to include additional 10 minutes as per University requirement.

19/11/2020: Admin - this unit was disestablished at FEC 5/20 on 12/11/2020 as it is no longer required.

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. design, construct, test and document computer programs using Python;
2. recognised the relationship between a problem description and program design;
3. demonstrate how basic data structures and data types function;
4. investigate different strategies for algorithm development and evaluate these to select an appropriate solution to a given problem.

020109

This unit introduces programming fundamentals and the Python language to students. The unit provides a foundational understanding of program design and implementation of algorithms to solve computational problems. Fundamental programming control structures, built in and complex data types and mechanisms for modularity will be presented in Python.

Topics covered will include basic input and output, program control structures, basic data structures and modular program structures, problem solving strategies and techniques for algorithm development, iteration and recursion.

On-campus, Monash Online

On-campus students: Examination (2 hours and 10 minutes): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%

The final exam for on-campus students is 2 hours with 10-minute reading time.

Monash Online students: In-semester assessment 100%. Monash Online units cannot have exams, therefore all assessment must be in-semester.

To ensure that the students work is authentic, academic staff closely supervise students participation online and communicate with students by email regularly. They also conduct and document student interviews via the phone or online conferencing software throughout the semester. These methods complement our online assessment tools such as Respondus Lock-down browser, Turnitin, as well as the code similarity detection tool, Moss.

Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours per semester comprising:

1. Contact hours for on-campus students:
   • Two hours/week lectures
   • Two hours/week laboratories
2. Contact hours for Monash Online students:
   • Two hours/week online group sessions
   • Online students generally do not attend lecture, tutorial and laboratory sessions, however should plan to spend equivalent time working through resources and participating in discussions.
3. Additional requirements:
   • A minimum of 8 hours per week of personal study (22 hours per week for Monash Online students) for completing lab/tutorial activities, assignments, private study and revision, and for online students, participating in discussions.