On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

 

1	Demonstrate an understanding of the layered and modular nature of computer systems
2	Design the core components of a computer from basic components
3	Understand and Apply knowledge of how computers represent programs and data
4	Explain how a computer executes a program
5	Write assembler and machine code
6	Understand the translation process from higher level representations into machine language
7	Explain how Input/output operations are implemented, and describe some basic I/O devices

 
The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.
The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency: 1.1   1.2   1.3   1.5   1.6   2.1   2.2   2.3   3.1   3.2   3.3   3.4   3.5   

The textbook for the course is: The Elements of Computing Systems, second edition, by Noam Nisan and Shimon Shocken, MIT Press, 2021, ISBN13-978-0-262-53980-7.

It is highly recommended that you buy this book. It is available in soft cover form and available electronically as an e-book. If you have access to the first edition, use that instead. There is no significant difference in the material covered by both editions.

The first six chapters of the textbook are on the Nand2Tetris website used by the course but we will be using materials in chapters beyond this.

The primary electronic resource for the course is the MyUni pages. These pages link to other electronic resources you will need such as the web submission system.

The course will be taught using a combination of pre-recorded lectures, lecture review quizzes, workshops, quiz exams and programming assignments. There is no end of semester written exam.

You are expected to read the relevant chapters of the text book before and after each lecture, and to actively participate in workshop activities.

The lecture review quizzes will be open during the week that they are due. Please check the course website regularly so you do not miss the lecture review quiz due dates.

To get the most out of the workshop sessions you need to prepare in advance and make sure that you focus on the workshop material during the workshop. This is the best time to get direct feedback on and assistance with the practical skills covered in the workshop. If you do not attend the workshops and ask questions, you may not be properly prepared for the programming assignments.

The programming assigments build on the practical skills shown in the workshops and give you an opportunity to demonstrate what you are learning. To get the most out of the programming assignments it is important to reflect on what you may be learning whilst attempting them by keeping a logbook that records how you developed your work. The timing, frequency and content of the logbook entries are all considered in the assessment of the programming assignments.

You are expected to spend 10 hours per week on the course. This includes:

• attending all of your enrolled classes,
• up to 2 hours per week on lecture preparation / review,
• up to 5 hours per week on the assignments and workshop preparation, and
• any remaining time working on the following week's material.

Each week consists of 2 hours of lectures, and a 1-hour workshop session. Subsequent weeks build on the concepts from earlier weeks.

The outline of course content is:

Week 1:	Boolean Logic
Week 2:	Boolean Arithmetic & Sequential Logic
Week 3:	Memory & ALU
Week 4:	Machine & Assembly Language
Week 5:	Assembly Language & Assembler
Week 6:	Stack Machine & Arithmetic
Week 7:	Stack Frames & Function Handling
Week 8:	High Level Languge
Week 9:	Compiler Syntax Analysis
Week 10:	Compiler Code Generation
Week 11:	Signals & Caching
Week 12:	Review

Assessment Task	Weighting (%)	Individual/ Group	Formative/ Summative	Due (week)*	Hurdle criteria	Learning outcomes
Weekly Quizzes	5	Individual	Summative	1 to 11		1. 3. 6.
Practical Assignments	36	Individual	Summative	2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12		1. 2. 3. 5. 6.
Practical Exams	14	Individual	Summative	4, 8		1. 2. 3. 5. 6.
Written Examination	45	Individual	Summative	Exam Period	Min 40%	1. 4. 7.
Total	100

* The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.

This assessment breakdown is registered as an exemption to the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy. The exemption is related to the Procedures clause(s):

This course has a hurdle requirement. Meeting the specified hurdle criteria is a requirement for passing the course.

Hurdle Requirement: If your overall mark for the course is greater than 45 F but, your mark for the Final Exam is less than 40%, your overall mark for the course will be reduced to 45 F.

Programming Assignments

All programming assignments must be submitted using the School of Computer Science online Submission System. Details are included in each assignment description on the course website.

Assignment Late Penalties

Late assignment submissions are have their maximum mark limited based on how many days late they are, as follows:

• up to 1 day late — mark is reduced to 75%, marks below 75% are not affected.
• up to 2 days late — mark is reduced to 50%, marks below 50% are not affected.
• up to 3 days late — mark is reduced to 25%, marks below 25% are not affected.
• More than 3 days late — mark is reduced to 0.

Quiz Exams

Students who do not attend an exam will be dealt with on a case by case basis subject to appropriate documentation being provided. Late submissions for any exam will receive a mark of 0.