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This course provides students with an understanding of how the digital world is engineered, and exposes them to a range of tools commonly used by knowledge workers. Students will learn to critically evaluate systems from both a technical and human point of view.
This course will give you a deeper understanding of computers by examining how they work, how they interface to the human world, and what the limits of computation are. It focuses on how the technical considerations (hardware and software) impact the other key part of the computer system, the human. This connects technical issues (such as clock speed, colour depth and encryption) with the corresponding human issues (such as reaction times, colour perception and privacy).
On successful completion of this course, students will - Be able to form a critical view of the role of digital systems (including computers, mobile devices and the internet) in society.Be able to explain the key components of a digital system, and how it impacts the user experience.Be able to use digital systems efficiently and effectively.Be able to evaluate new interfaces critically.Be able to understand new systems beyond “screen essentialism” i.e. understanding the underlying mechanisms.Being able to discuss the impact of a digital system on society, including ethical and privacy considerations, and the impact of digital systems in Aotearoa New Zealand as a bicultural society.Be aware of trends in computing, and the limits of computation.
COSC110, DIGI101
DIGI101
• Two lectures per week will provide the platform for learning terminology and the details of how digital systems work and how they impact their users.• Two hours a week will be scheduled for tutorials; these will vary between hands-on labs where you work with tools and explore how to use them effectively and efficiently, and discussion tutorials where you will gain experience applying the frameworks you have learned to critically discuss issues that arise in digital systems.
Tim Bell
Christopher Thomson and Austen Rainer
• There is no formal recommended textbook, as we will use online resources and material supplied through Learn.• We will also make use of Internet sites with relevant material, such as howstuffworks.com and wikipedia.org. References to these sites will be given throughout the course, but you should also use them when you need more detailed explanations of terms used in the course.
Course Information on Learn
The Computer Science department's grading policy states that in order to pass a course you must meet two requirements:1. You must achieve an average grade of at least 50% over all assessment items.2. You must achieve an average mark of at least 45% on invigilated assessment items.If you satisfy both these criteria, your grade will be determined by the following University- wide scale for converting marks to grades: an average mark of 50% is sufficient for a C- grade, an average mark of 55% earns a C grade, 60% earns a B- grade and so forth. However if you do not satisfy both the passing criteria you will be given either a D or E grade depending on marks. Marks are sometimes scaled to achieve consistency between courses from year to year.Students may apply for special consideration if their performance in an assessment is affected by extenuating circumstances beyond their control.Applications for special consideration should be submitted via the Examinations Office website within five days of the assessment. Where an extension may be granted for an assessment, this will be decided by direct application to the Department and an application to the Examinations Office may not be required. Special consideration is not available for items worth less than 10% of the course.Students prevented by extenuating circumstances from completing the course after the final date for withdrawing, may apply for special consideration for late discontinuation of the course. Applications must be submitted to the Examinations Office within five days of the end of the main examination period for the semester.
The practical part of this course uses personal computers (Windows PCs), which are available in the COSC110 computer laboratory on level 1 of the Erskine building (room 131). You will be shown where this equipment is located within the laboratory, and will be allocated two hours per week of tutor-assisted lab work. Your student card will provide access for some after-hours work in this lab.Note that outside of lab times the Computer Science Department’s computers may only be used for assigned course work!The ICT Services department (ICTS) makes PCs available in various workrooms around campus. Most of these facilities are available 24 hours per day, although some of the workrooms can be booked for classes and access may be limited at certain times. Further information can be found here
Domestic fee $850.00
International fee $4,000.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
This course will not be offered if fewer than 15 people apply to enrol.
For further information see Computer Science and Software Engineering .