Faculty of Higher Education Lilydale

Unit of Study Outline

CIS200
Electronic Communications and Applications
Study Period 1, 2013
Version date (25 February, 2013)

© Swinburne University of Technology, 2013

Except as provided in the Copyright Act 1968, this document may not be
reproduced in any form without the written permission of the University.
Unit of Study Outline
CIS200
Unit of study code
Electronic Communications and Applications
Unit of study name
Study Period 1, 2013
Teaching Term/Semester & Year
None
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
12.5
Credit Points

Teaching Staff
Name Role Phone No. Email Address Consultation Time
Luisa Signor Unit Convener 9215 7025 lsignor@swin.edu.au By Email
Rob Baxendale Tutor 0425 792 922 rbaxendale@swin.edu.au TBA

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.

NOTE: 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.

As part of the email criteria please clearly place in the subject heading the Unit Code (CIS200)
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.

Aims

The purpose of this unit is to provide participating students with an understanding of how data and
information is communicated between computer-based entities, and an understanding of the
issues involved in using and developing computerised-network applications. The participants will
have an opportunity to develop some beginning-level skills in the analysis and design of simple
data communications networks.

Please note that it is not the aim of this unit to provide detailed knowledge or skills relating to any
specific network products such as those marketed by particular companies.

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Learning Objectives After successfully completing this unit, you should be able to:
1. Use an understanding of the fundamental concepts of electronic data communications
when you are discussing existing and proposed business applications of electronic data
communications
2. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the typical equipment and the technical standards
relevant to data communications and computer networks
3. Describe the techniques used for inter-process communication in networked environments
4. Discuss a number of applications of data communications technologies such as Electronic
Data Interchange (EDI), Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT), Multimedia content streaming,
Client/Server applications, and Internet applications such as the World Wide Web and
electronic mail. You should be able to focus your discussion of these applications on issues
such as the advantages and disadvantages to users, and the technical challenges
presented by such applications
5. Critically analyse a proposed Local Area Network (LAN) implementation based upon a set
of user requirements
6. Identify and choose the basic hardware and software elements required to convert an office
of stand-alone desktop computers into a (LAN)

Resources and Reference Material

Learning material will be made available through the unit website available through Swinburne’s
Blackboard system. The required textbook for the unit is:
Fitzgerald, J & Dennis, A 2012, Business data communications & networking, 11th edn,
John Wiley & Sons, USA.

Content
The syllabus of this unit is based upon a number of Lessons and Learning Objects. You will
progress through the unit by doing a sequence of Lessons. Each Lesson will explore and integrate
a number of more detailed and more fundamental Learning Objects. By studying the Learning
Objects associated with a Lesson you will learn the facts, concepts and techniques you will need.
When you study a Lesson you will be learning how to combine the facts, concepts and techniques
you have learnt in the Learning Objects in order to perform at a higher and more contextual level.
Lesson 1: Data Communication Fundamentals
LO 1.1: Introduction to Data Communications
LO 1.2: Networking Models and Standards
Lesson 2: The Network Layer Groups
LO 2.1: The Application Layer Group
LO 2.2: The Internetwork Layer Group
LO 2.3: The Hardware Layer Group
Lesson 3: Network Technologies - I
LO 3.1: LANs
LO 3.2: Wireless LANs
LO 3.3: Backbone Networks

Lesson 4: Network Technologies - II

LO 4.1: MANs and WANs
LO 4.2: The Internet
LO 4.3: VoIP and Internet Telephony

Lesson 5: Network Management and Security

LO 5.1: Network Security
LO 5.2: Network Design
LO 5.3: Network Management
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Key Generic Skills for this Unit of Study
You will be provided with feedback on your progress in attaining the following generic skills:
Analysis skills will be assessed through the assignment reports requiring a critique of
case studies and justification for recommendations.
Problem solving skills will be assessed through the design recommendations which
address existing problems in each assignment case study scenario. Also assessed through
the test and exam requiring solutions to given problems.
Communications skills will be assessed formally through the written assignment reports
with feedback on report clarity, structure and demonstration of understanding for the task
requirements.
Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems will be assessed through the assignment reports
requiring a critique of case studies and justification for recommendations.
The ability to work independently will be developed in the writing and reading
requirements of the unit and assessed through the test and exam which demonstrates
individual knowledge and ability to find solutions.

Learning and Teaching Structure

In a Study Period, you should normally expect to spend, on average, twelve and a half hours of
total time (formal contact time plus independent study time) a week on a 12.5 credit point unit of
study.

Flexible learning at Swinburne is designed to assist students to study in their own time, and from
their own homes. Online communication will be available through Online Chat sessions and the
‘Discussion Board’. By reading the material and adding your own thoughts, you will be able to
contribute to the on line discussions and everyone will benefit.

As an Off-Campus 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 convener or appointed online tutor by email or via the online discussions. It is expected that
you will explore all the resources which are available online and undertake the preparatory reading
and exercises outlined in the unit learning materials.

You should follow the dates provided in your Weekly Schedule (as contained in this document) for
all assessment items and suggested course content sequencing.

Lessons
Lessons provide a general overview and contextualise the major areas of learning in this unit.
Lessons direct you to relevant Learning Objects required to gain an understanding of the concepts
and skills involved for each lesson. The Lesson will provide study guidelines, but will not attempt
to deal with every relevant aspect pertaining to that lesson.

Learning Objects
A Learning Object is not the same as a Learning Objective. A Learning Object is an organised
collection of learning resources and activities that focuses on a particular body of knowledge and
the accompanying set of skills at the conceptual and content level. A Lesson may have one or
more Learning Objects which you need to complete in order to successfully study the relevant
lesson. NB: Individual Learning Objects may be skipped if you already have the necessary
knowledge/skills.

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.
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CIS200 Weekly Schedule – Study Period 1 2013

# Week LESSON LEARNING OBJECTS ASSESSMENT

Starting
Introduction to CIS200
25
1 February Lesson 1: Data Communication LO 1.1: Introduction to Data
Fundamentals Communications

Lesson 1: Data Communication LO 1.2: Networking Models

2 4 March
Fundamentals and Standards

LO 2.1: The Application

Layer Group
3 11 March Lesson 2: The Network Layer Groups
LO 2.2: The Internetwork
Layer Group

18 March Census Date

Online Quiz:
LO 2.3: The Hardware Layer
4 18 March Lesson 2: The Network Layer Groups To be completed
Group
during this week

5 25 March Lesson 3: Network Technologies – I LO 3.1: LANs

6 1 April Lesson 3: Network Technologies – I LO 3.2: Wireless LANs

7 April - Last Day to withdraw without academic penalty (WD)

Assignment 1 due:
7 8 April Lesson 3: Network Technologies – I LO 3.3: Backbone Networks th
Tues. 9 April 2013

OUA Examination Services Venue Selection Open 8 – 28 April

8 15 April Lesson 4: Network Technologies – II LO 4.1: MANs and WANs

19 April – Last day to withdraw to receive (WDFP)

Students withdrawing after this date will receive (NLWD)

9 22 April Lesson 4: Network Technologies – II LO 4.2: The Internet

LO 4.3: VoIP and Internet

10 29 April Lesson 4: Network Technologies – II
Telephony

Lesson 5: Network Management and

11 6 May LO 5.1: Network Security
Security

LO 5.2: Network Design

Lesson 5: Network Management and Assignment 2 due:
12 13 May LO 5.3: Network
Security th
Tues. 14 May 2013
Management

13 20 May Revision

Exam Date and Time - To be advised by OUA Examination Services

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Blackboard Site for this Unit of Study
Important information concerning this unit of study is placed on the Swinburne Learning
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,
the Discussion Board Forums 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.

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.

Student Feedback:
Swinburne seeks student feedback in a number of ways, including through Student Feedback
surveys, as part of the university’s approach to quality assurance and improvement. Possible
improvement based on both student and staff feedback is considered by Unit Convenors, Unit
Panels made up of relevant teaching staff, Program Panels, Faculty Academic Committees, and
the Academic Programs Quality Committee, as appropriate.
Recent updates and improvements made to this unit of study include:
Assessments have been updated for clarification on requirements.
Learning material have been refined and improved to include wider reading options.

Assessment
a. Assessment Task Details:

Assessment Task Individual/ Related Learning Weighting Due Date

Group Task Objective(s)
Online Test Individual 1,2 10% See weekly
schedule
Assignment 1 Individual 1,2,3,4 20% See weekly
schedule

Assignment 2 Individual 3,4,5,6 20% See weekly

schedule

Final Examination Individual 1,2,3,4,5,6 50% TBA through OUA

Examination
Services

b. Participation Requirements
Students are encouraged to make use of all the electronic facilities and resources available on the
unit website, which are online chats, discussion boards and emails. These methods of engaging in
the unit are advised but not mandated.

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c. Minimum Requirements to pass this Unit of Study:

To Pass the Unit and Final Grade Allocation – A Pass or higher grade in the unit will consist of a
minimum aggregate of 50% of all possible marks after moderation (i.e. online test + exam + assign
1 + assign 2 50). A final grade is assigned in accordance with the faculty guidelines.

d. Assessment Criteria:
Assignment One 20%
Refer to Assignment One specifications for a detailed statement of requirements and
dissection of marks (found in the Assessment section of the Blackboard website for this unit).

Assignment Two 20%

Refer to Assignment Two specifications for a detailed statement of requirements and
dissection of marks (found in the Assessment section of the Blackboard website for this unit).

Online Test 10%

You will be required to complete an open book online test. Ensure you refer to the weekly
schedule to determine the week in which this assessment will take place. Refer to the Online
Test specifications for a detailed statement of requirements and dissection of marks (found in
the Assessment section of the Blackboard website for this unit).

Exam 50%

The final examination will be of two hours (120 minutes) duration, with ten (10) minutes
preliminary reading time.

The only materials permitted in the exam are:

 English dictionary (printed only i.e. not electronic)
 Other language - English dictionary (printed only i.e. not electronic)
 Standard writing material (pens, pencils, rubber and rulers)

NB. The exam marks may be unit to moderation by the teaching panel, based on faculty
guidelines, statistical distribution and comparative assessment tasks for previous semesters.

e. Submission of Assignments:
All work you submit for assessments must be submitted in the form prescribed by the unit
convenor. The assessments MUST be submitted online via the ‘Assessments’ navigation on the
Blackboard site for this unit. Preferred submission formats for reports are Microsoft .doc or .docx
Do not send any final assessments by email to the convenor or tutor unless otherwise instructed
by them.
Note that when you submit any work for review or assessment, you thereby declare that the work
submitted is your own, that no part of the work submitted has been copied except where due and
explicit acknowledgment has been made within the content of the work, and that no part
whatsoever of the work submitted has been produced by any other person.

Draft of Assignments
A draft of each assignment is encouraged and can be emailed to the online tutor. When doing so it
is important to adhere to the following:
The draft will represent an initial outline of what you propose to do in your assignment

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 (if the draft resembles a final submission it will not be viewed).
The tutor will provide general feedback indicating if you are on the right track. More
explicit feedback may be sought by asking specific and detailed questions but the
tutor's role is not to correct the draft submission.
Only one draft per assignment may be emailed to the online tutor for feedback (using
your Outlook student Email account).

f. Extensions and Late Submissions:

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:
Assessment results for the online test and the assignments will be made available through
Blackboard.
Students must retain all assessed material that contributes to the final result up until such time as
the final results are published.

The Faculty Academic Committee may approve moderation of results prior to final release.

h. Groupwork Guidelines:
This unit does not include assessed group work. However, you are encouraged to participate in
online discussion with your fellow students.
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.
Plagiarism also includes the preparation or production and submission or presentation of
assignments or other work in conjunction with another person or other people when that work
should be your own independent work. This remains plagiarism whether or not it is with the
knowledge or consent of the other person or people. It should be noted that Swinburne encourages
its students to talk to staff, fellow students and other people who may be able to contribute to a
student’s academic work but that where independent assignment is required, submitted or
presented work must be the student’s own.

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Enabling plagiarism contributes to plagiarism and therefore will be treated as a form of plagiarism
by the University. Enabling plagiarism means allowing or otherwise assisting another student to
copy or otherwise plagiarise work by, for example, allowing access to a draft or completed
assignment or other work.
j. Assessment and Appeals Policy and Procedure
The information outlined in the Assessment sections above is covered in more detail in
Swinburne’s Assessment and Appeals Policy and Procedure. Students must be familiar with the
Policy and Procedure, found at:
http://www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/registrar/ppd/docs/AssessmentandAppealsHigherEducation.pdf
The Policy and Procedure provides details about:
Assessment issues such as the conduct of examinations, plagiarism policies and details
explaining how to apply for a review of results and other appeals, and
Student progress issues such as unsatisfactory academic progress and early intervention
procedures, and
Information for students with disabilities and special needs and procedures for applying for
special consideration.
Students should make themselves familiar with all aspects of the Policy and Procedure, as failure
to do so is not grounds for appeal.
Students are advised to seek advice from the staff at the Swinburne Student Amenities Association
SSAA (http://www.swinburne.edu.au/ssaa/) if they require assistance with advocacy for Sections 12
(At-Risk and Progress Review) and 13 (Appeals) of the Policy and Procedure.

Safety Standards and Conduct Requirements:

Student misconduct is an action by a student which is in breach of the policies specified by
Swinburne in the student General Misconduct policy. This extends to publishing on websites
even where those sites are not set up or managed by Swinburne. Swinburne accepts no
responsibility for unauthorised material posted in social networking sites (such as Facebook).

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/About-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
assessment. The University has rigorous anti-discrimination and harassment policies and
procedures. http://www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/hr/equity/policies.htm

Special Needs
If you have special needs you should advise your Faculty and the Unit of Study Convenor by the
end of the second week of the teaching period. In addition, you are recommended to notify the
Equity Office if you have not already done so.
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

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Open Universities Australia
Withdraw from a unit
If you need to withdraw from a unit the date of the notification is very important. See below for
further information.
From week 1 - 6
Please advise Open Universities Australia, of your intention to withdraw up until the end of week 6,
the unit(s) will be removed from your record. From weeks 1 – 3 you will, however, incur an
administration fee. Please refer to the OUA website https://www.open.edu.au/public/student-
admin-and-support/changing-your-study/withdrawing for these details. You will not incur a FEE
HELP debt for the unit(s).
Financial penalties are based on the date that Open Universities Australia receives your withdrawal
request.
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
Swinburne University of Technology, Lilydale Student Advisers - Open Universities Australia
Locked Bag 218 GPO Box 5387
Lilydale VIC 3140 Level 1, 131 Queen St.,
ouald@swin.edu.au Melbourne VIC., Australia 3001
Phone: (+613) 9215 7206 http://www.open.edu.au/contactus
Fax: (+613) 9215 7254 Phone (+61) 1300 36 36 52
Fax (+613) 8628 2955

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