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CIS11 Unit Outline SP12013 PDF
CIS11 Unit Outline SP12013 PDF
Teaching Staff
Name Role Phone No. Email Address
Nelson Vargas Convenor/tutor 9215 7183 nvargas@swin.edu.au
Robert Baxendale Tutor TBA rbaxendale@swin.edu.au
Endre Bihari Tutor TBA ebihari@swin.edu.au
Halina Sykes Tutor TBA hsykes@swin.edu.au
If you have any queries or problems about the unit or the course (including unit content and/or
course/ unit administration), you should contact your tutor in the first instance. If necessary, and
based upon your tutor’s advice, you may need to consult with the convenor of the unit.
Email
All emails sent to either your tutor or the unit convener of this unit need to be sent from your
student email account. This will ensure your email is received in a timely manner and not
automatically sent to the SPAM filter used by Swinburne. Swinburne email accounts can be
forwarded to personal accounts. The Swinburne Student email system, Outlook Live, is located at
http://outlook.com. See http://live.swinburne.edu.au/faq.html for more information on how to use it.
As part of the email criteria please clearly place in the subject heading the Unit Code and a brief
topic description, also inside your email state your name (first name and last name) so that your
email can be attended to as soon as possible.
Voicemail Messages
If you are leaving a voicemail message, please make sure you leave your name and a contact
phone number, the date and time of your call and the unit code (CIS11) clearly so your call can
be returned as soon as possible.
CIS11 Information Methods requires you to undertake studies and practical exercises that
encourage skills and independent use for developing, manipulating and communicating information
within a variety of global and cultural contexts.
Your I.T. skills will provide an excellent foundation from which to develop information skills. A
multi-disciplinary approach is taken so that you may gain a broad understanding of information
use.
Learning Objectives
After successfully completing this unit, you should be able to:
This textbook is a great resource that will cover most of the topics covered in this unit. While the
majority of the learning materials for CIS11 will be made available via the subject website, it is
highly recommended that you purchase this text book.
The textbook can be purchase through the OUA bookseller, Unibooks (www.unibooks.com.au).
This textbook while available (from Unibooks) and recommend to those that may be new to
academic studies, it is not a prescribed text. The purchasing of this textbook is purely optional.
You are encouraged to make use of any other texts that may cover the topics covered in this unit,
for example; academic skills, information development skills, problem solving, critical thinking and
globalization. Practical texts that cover information technology skills for example; understanding
the Microsoft Office suite (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, and MS Access), Introduction to
Database systems, Human Computer Interaction and other similar text would also add value to
your learning.
Swinburne Library contains texts suitable for the study of this unit. By using its search facility you
will be able to locate texts covering the various topics covered in this unit.
The significant content of the unit relates to the concept “Information” including abstract and
contextual material, skills for searching and processing material located, and aspects of quality,
timeliness, and cultural context.
This unit forms an essential element in your learning skills-base. While the content is relatively
prescriptive the application to various disciplines is dynamic and the teaching/assessment
approach will reflect this.
Swinburne University of Technology works to produce higher education graduates who are
capable in their chosen profession. Learners bring to Swinburne University of Technology a
diverse wealth of experiences and graduate with individual understandings, abilities and attitudes.
Within this context it is the intent of unit CIS11 Information Methods that students will begin to
develop the following key generic skills:
CIS11 Information Methods is a stage one unit available during study periods 1 and 3. Ideally this
unit is taken during your first year of study.
The study period consists of 13 weeks. There is a total of thirteen weeks worth of learning material
for you to study. Approximately 7 - 9 hours per week of personal study will be required, to
complete the readings, exercises and assignment work.
There are no prerequisites for this unit but a sound knowledge of the tools of Information
Technology will be highly advantageous, particularly experience with the Microsoft Programs of
Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint.
A series of training resources making up Learning Object: Information Technology Literacy of this
unit are provided online for the use of students. It is strongly recommended that you make use
of this resource, as necessary, to maximize your capacity to complete the laboratory tasks and
assignment one. A lack of computer skills will not be an acceptable reason for failure to
complete tasks.
As an online stage 1 unit, you will need to take control of your learning processes. While teaching
staff will be available to assist when required, it will be up to you to take the initiative and contact
your convenor or appointed tutor by email, discussion thread or phone.
You will be expected to undertake all the reading and research of your own in addition to the
materials provided. Your revision and exercise completion, particularly for the first 5 weeks of
study period, should be tackled as indicated on the schedule.
Participation and attendance at these online tutorials is not compulsory but it is highly
recommended, especially if you’re new to university studies or are finding the content difficult to
grasp. Those that are unable to attend any of the online tutorials can view the recorded transcripts
of the online tutorials available on the online learning site.
Depending on student attendance numbers, some tutorials sessions may be cancelled.
Peer Support
As you study this unit, you will not be alone. You will be participating in a community of students
studying the same unit. Your fellow students will have slightly different skills and levels of
knowledge, but they will experience similar problems to those that you will face. Other students
can be valuable resources, and you can be a valuable aid for your companions, so help other
students and seek the help of others. But, please remember that all the work you submit for
assessment must be your own work – do not submit the work of others as if it is your own as heavy
penalties will be applied.
Self Assessment
As it is necessary for you to take responsibility for your own learning, it is also important that you
find a means of assessing for yourself the stage and quality of learning that you are achieving.
1. Consider the self assessment questions. Are you confident you can answer them correctly?
2. Use the materials provided, particularly the lectures in the learning objects to gain a deeper
understanding of the concepts and skills involved for each lesson. This includes working
through the accompanying presentations, readings, tutorials, links and references.
3. Discuss what you’ve discovered with members of your online tutorial group including the tutor
and fellow students, or on the discussion forum in the online learning website.
4. Apply your new skills and knowledge to your own assessments, reflecting on how they apply in
your situation.
Lesson 7 - Information
9 22 April Semiotics
Fundamentals
19 April – Students withdrawing after this date will receive (NLWD)
11 Lesson 7 - Information
6 May Mind Mapping
Fundamentals
DATE PURPOSE
Important information concerning this unit of study is placed on the Swinburne course management
system (Blackboard), accessible via http://ilearn.swin.edu.au/
It is your responsibility to access on a regular basis
• the Blackboard site for your unit of study. Type in your ID number and your password. Note
your ID number is your student ID and your password is initially set to your date of birth in the
format DDMMYY
• the Announcements section on Blackboard, and
• any emails sent by the teaching staff to your student email address via Blackboard.
• If you access your email through a provider other than Swinburne, it is your responsibility to
ensure that your Swinburne email is forwarded to your private email address. To redirect your
Swinburne email, go to http://live.swinburne.edu.au/redirect.html for information on how to do
this.
Please note: Not all internet browsers support Blackboard. The compatible browsers are as
follows:
PC users: Firefox version 3.6 and above, Internet Explorer version 8 and above, Chrome.
Mac users: Firefox version 3.6 and above, Safari version 5, Chrome.
See http://kb.blackboard.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=101285989 for more information.
Password
Your Blackboard password is one of many that is controlled by the Swinburne Identity
Management System (SIMS). Once you have synchronised your account, your password will be
your SIMS password. See
http://www.its.swinburne.edu.au/students/guides/network/sims/index.html for more information.
Keep your password secret! If you think that someone has discovered your password, change it
immediately.
Using Blackboard
See
http://www.its.swinburne.edu.au/students/guides/learning_teaching/blackboard_9_1/student_resou
rces.htm
Getting help
If you have any problems with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Service Desk
(servicedesk@swin.edu.au) or (03) 9214 5000. In addition, there is a Help Request web form
(recommended for non-telephone queries) on the Blackboard login page.
Assessment
a. Assessment Task Details:
b. Participation Requirements
Students are encouraged to make use of all the electronic facilities and resources available on the
unit website, which are online tutorials, discussion boards and emails. These methods of engaging
in the unit are advised but not mandated.
A final grade will be assigned, based on the aggregate marks after moderation in accordance with
University Policy
This assessment is designed to allow students to utilize their skills using the Library services.
Students are required to undertake an online quiz. This quiz is a component of assignment one
and must be completed in this unit.
Assignment 1
Marks: 20%
Due Date: Assignment to be lodged in Blackboard by midnight of the due date stated in the schedule.
This assignment will be based on using the acquired skills gained through studying the Learning
objects 1-5. This assignment will require you to research one (1) of the five (5) topics listed in the
assignment outline and then develop a comprehensive short report based around your chosen
topic. This assignment will also require you to complete an online assessment quiz which will also
test your skills and knowledge in the areas of information gathering, library skills and referencing.
Assignment 2
Marks: 25%
Due Date: Assignment to be lodged in Blackboard by midnight of the due date stated in the schedule.
This assignment is designed to allow students to utilize their acquired skills and knowledge gained
in Information Methods. The focus of this assignment is to give students the opportunity to
practically undertake an assessment that investigates the practical elements of information
gathering including the storage, delivery and presentation of information to the end users.
The assignment will require students to plan and design the structure of an information system as
well as developing a concept design for the user interface. This assignment will require students to
research current database systems designs as well as aligning their user interface design with
current Human Computer Interaction design principles.
The other focus of this assignment will include a semiotic analysis of the information used as well
as investigating the critical thinking and cultural aspects of understanding information within a
given context.
Full details of all assignments will be released through the online learning website.
Final Examination:
Marks: 50%
Due Date: To be advised by OUA Examination
Duration: 2 hours writing time, preceded by 10 minutes reading time.
The exam is marked out of 100, and worth 50% of the overall assessment. A mark of at least 45 of
the total possible 100 marks on the exam is required in order to be eligible to obtain a Pass or
better grade in the unit.
Note that ONLY writing materials (such as pens and highlighters) and a hard copy (printed) ‘other
language – English’ or ‘straight’ English dictionary are permitted in the exam room. Electronic
dictionaries, thesauruses and similar hardware are strictly forbidden.
NB. The exam marks may be subject to moderation by the teaching panel, based on faculty
guidelines, statistical distribution and comparative assessment tasks from previous study periods.
Assessment due dates are published in Unit Outlines at the start of the teaching period and will not
normally be extended except where students had their studies adversely affected by acute illness,
misadventure or other extraordinary cause or circumstance reasonably beyond their control.
Students who need to request an extension of time to the due date for a piece of assessment
(excluding end of teaching period final examinations) should contact their Unit Convenor directly to
discuss their circumstances and submit the extension form located at:
http://www.lilydale.swinburne.edu.au/students/current.htm
If approved, the convenor will notify the student of the extended date. For more information refer
to: http://policies.swinburne.edu.au/ppdonline/showdoc.aspx?recnum=POL/2007/9
g. Assessment Results:
All results (excluding final examination and final results) will be available in Blackboard Grade
Centre. This can be accessed by students through their Blackboard site via ‘My grades’.
Students must retain all assessed material that contributes to the final result up until such time as
the final results are published.
h. Groupwork Guidelines:
Not applicable in this unit.
i. Plagiarism:
Swinburne University of Technology defines Plagiarism as the action or practice of taking and
submitting or presenting the thoughts, writings or other work of someone else as though it is your
own work. Plagiarism includes any of the following, without full and appropriate acknowledgment to
the original source(s):
(i) The use of the whole or part of a computer program written by another person;
(ii) the use, in essays or other assessable work, of the whole or part of a written work from any
source including but not limited to a book, journal, newspaper article, set of lecture notes,
current or past student’s work, any other person’s work, a website or database;
(iii) the paraphrasing of another’s work;
(iv) the use of musical composition, audio, visual, graphic and photographic models,
(v) The use of regalia, that is objects, artefacts, costumes, models and the like.
If you have any issues resulting from the behaviour of other students, you should immediately
contact the Swinburne Student Amenities Association (SSAA)
http://www.myssaa.com.au/advocacy/academic-advice-and-advocacy
Relevant links:
Student General Misconduct policy
http://policies.swinburne.edu.au/ppdonline/showdoc.aspx?recnum=POL/2007/29
Information Technology (IT) Systems Acceptable Use Policy
http://policies.swinburne.edu.au/ppdonline/showdoc.aspx?recnum=POL/2008/34
All students are expected to respect the rights and sensibilities of their fellow students and
teaching staff. This also applies in respect of the content of video and audio work submitted for
l. Special Needs
Students with disabilities who require extra time or have special requirements in examinations may
seek advice from Swinburne Equity Unit http://www.swinburne.edu.au/stuserv/equity/index.html.
(Telephone: +61 3 9214 8852).
Students should also notify the Unit Convenor by e-mail, fax or phone. See also the “Students with
Disabilities and Special Needs” Section of the Assessment and Appeals Policy & Procedure, at:
http://www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/registrar/ppd/docs/StudentswithaDisability.pdf
From weeks 4-6 you will incur your fee help debt.
Weeks 7-13
Please submit a withdrawal form http://www.lilydale.swinburne.edu.au/oua/withdrawal.pdf , to
advise Swinburne University of Technology, Higher Education Lilydale, of your intention to
withdraw from week 7 and no later than eight weeks after the start of the Study Period, the unit(s)
will receive a WDFP – Withdrawn, Fee Payable grade on your academic record. You will retain the
FEE HELP debt for the unit(s).
If the notification of withdrawal is received after Week 8 of the Study Period, the unit(s) will receive
a NLWD – Not Pass, Late Withdrawal grade on your academic record. You will retain the FEE
HELP debt for the unit(s).
If you do not formally withdraw and you have submitted work, it will be assessed and a grade
awarded accordingly. If no work for assessment has been submitted, a “Not Assessed” grade will
be awarded.
Refunds for withdrawal after the Census Date are available under Special Circumstances for
students who have paid their registration fees upfront. Please refer to the Special Circumstances
section of the Refund Guidelines in the Open Universities Australia handbook or the website
www.open.edu.au for further information.
Further Information
For further information on OUA through Swinburne University of Technology a website has been
provided. The address for this site is: http://www.ld.swin.edu.au/oua/
Contacts
Student Advisers - Open Universities Australia
Swinburne University of Technology, Lilydale GPO Box 5387
Locked Bag 218 Level 1, 131 Queen St.,
Lilydale VIC 3140 Melbourne VIC., Australia 3001
ouald@swin.edu.au http://www.open.edu.au/contactus
Phone: (+613) 9215 7206 Phone (+61) 1300 36 36 52
Fax: (+613) 9215 7254 Fax (+613) 8628 2955