School: Engineering

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2023 Units. All assessment changes will be published by 20th February 2023. All students are reminded to check the handbook at the beginning of semester to ensure they have the correct outline.

  • Unit Title

    Computer Fundamentals
  • Unit Code

    ENS1161
  • Year

    2023
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    4
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Ganesh ARULAMPALAM

Description

This unit introduces the fundamental architecture and operating principles of digital computer system. Students will learn how modern computers are organised and operated, and how they can be programmed at an assembly (machine) language level, as well as using higher level languages, and the role of operating systems in this. Students will also learn fundamental concepts related to the interfacing of peripheral components to computer systems, including memory and secondary storage, and explore different types of computer systems including an overview of virtualisation and cloud technologies.

Prerequisite Rule

Must have passed MAT1252.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded ENS4103.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe the fundamental architecture and operating principles of a computer system.
  2. Interpret computer system specifications and standards and how they relate to system function.
  3. Compare different types of computer components and subsystems and their relative impacts on system function and performance.
  4. Make recommendations on the suitability of computer systems and components for a given function.
  5. Explain the interconnection between the software and hardware components of computer systems, and the processes involved in making them work together.

Unit Content

  1. Overview of computer organisation and operation – processors, primary memory, secondary memory, I/O, system bus, fetch-decode-execute cycle.
  2. CPU architecture, registers, instruction sets, flags, addressing modes.
  3. Fundamentals of assembly language programming, assembler vs high-level programming; roles of assemblers, compilers and linkers.
  4. Basic computation in computers - binary addition, interpretation of flags in in computation, multiplication and division by shifting.
  5. I/O interfacing – I/O modes (unconditional, polled, interrupts, DMA), interfacing with external hardware (physical, electrical and timing considerations).
  6. Memory devices and storage systems – types of ROM and RAM, cache memory, primary memory, secondary storage technologies.
  7. Types of computer systems – processors vs controllers, transformational vs reactive systems, embedded systems.
  8. Operating systems – roles and types of operating systems, RTOS, file systems, simple command line interaction, virtualisation, cloud technologies.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 1 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 1 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioPortfolio of exercises25%
TestOnline quizzes10%
AssignmentScenario based assignment35%
AssignmentFinal Assessment30%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioPortfolio of exercises25%
TestOnline quizzes10%
AssignmentScenario based assignment35%
AssignmentFinal Assessment30%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

ENS1161|4|1

School: Engineering

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Computer Fundamentals
  • Unit Code

    ENS1161
  • Year

    2023
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    4
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Ganesh ARULAMPALAM

Description

This unit introduces the fundamental architecture and operating principles of digital computer system. Students will learn how modern computers are organised and operated, and how they can be programmed at an assembly (machine) language level, as well as using higher level languages, and the role of operating systems in this. Students will also learn fundamental concepts related to the interfacing of peripheral components to computer systems, including memory and secondary storage, and explore different types of computer systems including an overview of virtualisation and cloud technologies.

Prerequisite Rule

Must have passed MAT1252.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded ENS4103.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe the fundamental architecture and operating principles of a computer system.
  2. Interpret computer system specifications and standards and how they relate to system function.
  3. Compare different types of computer components and subsystems and their relative impacts on system function and performance.
  4. Make recommendations on the suitability of computer systems and components for a given function.
  5. Explain the interconnection between the software and hardware components of computer systems, and the processes involved in making them work together.

Unit Content

  1. Overview of computer organisation and operation – processors, primary memory, secondary memory, I/O, system bus, fetch-decode-execute cycle.
  2. CPU architecture, registers, instruction sets, flags, addressing modes.
  3. Fundamentals of assembly language programming, assembler vs high-level programming; roles of assemblers, compilers and linkers.
  4. Basic computation in computers - binary addition, interpretation of flags in in computation, multiplication and division by shifting.
  5. I/O interfacing – I/O modes (unconditional, polled, interrupts, DMA), interfacing with external hardware (physical, electrical and timing considerations).
  6. Memory devices and storage systems – types of ROM and RAM, cache memory, primary memory, secondary storage technologies.
  7. Types of computer systems – processors vs controllers, transformational vs reactive systems, embedded systems.
  8. Operating systems – roles and types of operating systems, RTOS, file systems, simple command line interaction, virtualisation, cloud technologies.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 1 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 1 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioPortfolio of exercises25%
TestOnline quizzes10%
AssignmentScenario based assignment35%
AssignmentFinal Assessment30%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioPortfolio of exercises25%
TestOnline quizzes10%
AssignmentScenario based assignment35%
AssignmentFinal Assessment30%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

ENS1161|4|2