Faculty of Engineering, Computing & Science

Unit Outline

COS10009
Introduction to Programming
Semester 2 2023

Please read this Unit Outline carefully. It includes:

PART A Unit summary

PART B Your Unit in more detail
PART C Further information
PART A: Unit Summary

Unit Code(s) COS10009

Unit Title Introduction to Programming
Duration Semester 2 2023
Total Contact Hours 54 Hours
Requisites:

Pre-requisites Nil
Co-requisites Nil
Concurrent pre-requisites Nil
Anti-requisites Nil
Assumed knowledge Nil
Credit Points 12.5
Campus/Location Sarawak
Mode of Delivery Face to Face / Online
100% Portfolio Assessment
Assessment Summary

Aims

This unit of study aims to introduce students to structured procedural programming and
design.

Unit Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this Unit should be able to:
1. Apply code reading and debugging techniques to analyse, interpret, and describe the
purpose of program code, and locate within these code errors in syntax, logic, style
and/or good practice. (S3, A6) (EAC PO 5)
2. Describe the principles of structured programming, and relate these to the syntactical
elements of the programming language used and the way programs are developed.
(K1, K6, A2, A6) (EAC PO 4) (EAC PO 5)
3. Construct small programs, using the programming languages covered, that include
the use of arrays, functions and procedures, parameter passing with call by value
and call by reference, custom data types, and pointers. (K2, S1, S2, S3, A6) (EAC
PO 5)
4. Use modular and functional decomposition to break problems down functionally,
represent the resulting structures diagrammatically, and implement these structures
in code as functions and procedures. (K1, K6, S2, S3, A6) (EAC PO 5)

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Graduate Attributes
This unit may contribute to the development of the following Swinburne Graduate Attributes:
 Communication skills
 Teamwork skills
 Digital literacies

Content
 Designing, writing, compiling, documenting and testing programs
 Programming language syntax
 Structured programming principles
 Functional decomposition

Key Program Outcomes (Swinburne Engineering Competencies) for this Unit

of Study

This unit will contribute to your attaining the following Program Outcomes
(Swinburne Engineering competencies):

K1 Basic Science: Proficiently applies concepts, theories and techniques of the

relevant natural and physical sciences.

K2 Maths and IT as Tools: Proficiently uses relevant mathematics and computer and
information science concepts as tools.

K6 Professional Practice: Appreciates the principles of professional engineering

practice in a sustainable context.

S1 Engineering Methods: Applies engineering methods in practical applications.

S2 Problem Solving: Systematically uses engineering methods in solving complex

problems.

S3 Design: Systematically uses engineering methods in design

A2 Communication: Demonstrates effective communication to professional and

wider audiences.

A6 Management of Self: Demonstrates self-management processes

Key Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) Program Outcomes for this Unit
of Study
This unit will contribute to your attaining the following Engineering Accreditation Council
(EAC) Program Outcomes):

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PO5 Modern Tool Usage: Create, select and apply appropriate techniques, resources,
and modern engineering and IT tools, including prediction and modelling, to
complex engineering problems, with an understanding of the limitations.

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PART B: Your Unit in more detail
Unit Improvements
Feedback provided by previous students through the Student Survey has resulted in
improvements that have been made to this unit. Recent improvements include:
• None

Unit Teaching Staff

Consultation
Name Role Room Phone Email
Time
Jason Yong Unit Convenor E326 8486 jhyong@swinburne.edu.my Appointment by
email
Carmen Wang Lab Convenor - - cchai@swinburne.edu.my Appointment by
Er Chai email

Khairul Azim Lab Convenor - - kazim@swinburne.edu.my Appointment by

email

Learning and Teaching Structure

Activity Total Hours Hours per Week Teaching Period Weeks

Lectures 12 hours 1 hour Weeks 1 to 12

Laboratory Work 36 hours 3 hours Weeks 1 to 12

Lectures (12 hrs), Labs (36 hrs), Test / Re-sit and portfolio interview (up to 6 hrs)

In a Semester, 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.

In a Term, you should normally expect to spend, on average, twenty-five hours of total time
(formal contact time plus independent study time) a week on a 12.5 credit point unit of study.

Week by Week Schedule

Week Week Beginning Teaching and Learning Activity Student Task or Assessment

1 Unit Overview
Sep 4
Introduction to Programming

2 Standard I/O, Variable

Sep 11 Standard Input / Output

Basic Data Types

3 Sep 18 Control Flow and Structured Control Structure

Programming
4 Sep 25 Functions and Structure Charts Function calls, Passing of Parameters

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 5 Oct 2 Introduction to Arrays Array

6 Oct 9 GUI Control Flow GUI Control Flow

Tuition Week Reflective Video Submission

7 Oct 23 Composite Data Types Composite Data Types

8 Oct 30 Graphical and Game Programming Graphical and Game Programming

Test 1
9 Nov 6 File I/O and Handling File I/O & Handling

10 Nov 13 Pointer and Pointer & Referencing

Referencing
11 Nov 20 Testing and Debugging Test 2

12 Nov 27 Program Design Portfolio Submission

Assessment
a) Assessment Overview
Unit Learning
Individual Outcomes that Assessment
Tasks and Details Weighting
or Group this assessment Due Date
task relates to
Portfolio Individual All 100% Week 12
Tests Individual All Pass / Fail Week 8 & Week
12

b) Minimum requirements to pass this Unit

To pass this unit, you must:

 achieve an aggregate mark of 50% or more (refer Portfolio Format and

Assessment Criteria document), and

 must pass all the tests

This unit of study uses portfolio assessment to determine your final grade. You are
required to submit a portfolio that contains the following items:
1. Learning Summary Report that reflects on what you have learnt, and listing of your
completed tasks that shows how your portfolio addresses the assessment criteria and
unit learning outcomes.
2. A number of pieces of work that demonstrate how you have met all the unit learning
outcomes. This must include:
a. Your test
b. Answers and codes from the weekly tasks
c. A program of your own design (custom program) and design report

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 *The aim of the portfolio is that you provide sufficient evidence that you have achieved
the grade you are aiming for. If you work with other students, or get substantial help at
the Programming Help Desk, this MUST be acknowledged clearly in comments at the
top of any code submitted. If your portfolio contains work that is not unique or is not
consistent with your progress throughout the semester, you may be required to provide
additional evidence, for example, you may need to complete additional tasks or to
further demonstrate your knowledge during the portfolio interview at the end of the
semester. Any form of academic misconduct will result in failure.
c) Examinations
If the unit you are enrolled in has an official examination, you will be expected to be
available for the entire examination period including any Special Exam period.
There is no final examination for this unit
d) Submission Requirements
Assignments and other assessments are generally submitted online through the Canvas
assessment submission system which integrates with the Turnitin plagiarism checking
service.
Please ensure you keep a copy of all assessments that are submitted.
In cases where a hard copy submission is required an Assessment Cover Sheet must
be submitted with your assignment. The standard Assessment Cover Sheet is available
from the CANVAS course site.
Weekly formative tasks and lab tests are submitted online via Canvas. You are required
to submit your other portfolio items for assessment in week 12 in both softcopy and
hardcopy. The hardcopy must be submitted in an envelope with cover sheet (printed
copy for reports, source code of custom program, and any other items that demonstrate
the depth of your learning) along with one electronic copy of your portfolio to be
submitted through Blackboard.
In the final week of semester, you will be allocated a time slot to present your portfolio
through an interview session. In this interview you will discuss the items you have
included and illustrate how these address the learning outcomes stated above. It is
advised that you work consistently throughout the semester on all the assessment tasks,
and that you collect evidence of your learning for your portfolio. Please ensure that you
backup all your work throughout the semester to avoid any issues should your storage
media be damaged, lost, or stolen.
e) Extensions and Late Submission
Late Submissions - Unless an extension has been approved, late submissions will result
in a penalty. You will be penalised 10% of your mark for each working day the task is
late, up to a maximum of 5 days. After 5 working days, a zero result will be recorded.
f) Referencing
To avoid plagiarism, you are required to provide a reference whenever you include
information from other sources in your work. Further details regarding plagiarism are
available in Section C of this document.
Referencing conventions required for this unit are:

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 Helpful information on referencing can be found at
https://www.swinburne.edu.my/library/referencing
g) Groupwork Guidelines
A group assignment is the collective responsibility of the entire group, and if one
member is temporarily unable to contribute, the group should be able to reallocate
responsibilities to keep to schedule. In the event of longer-term illness or other serious
problems involving a member of group, it is the responsibility of the other members to
notify immediately the Unit Convenor or relevant tutor.
Group submissions must be submitted with an Assignment Cover Sheet, signed by all
members of the group.
All group members must be satisfied that the work has been correctly submitted. Any
penalties for late submission will generally apply to all group members, not just the
person who submitted.

Required Textbook(s)

Recommended Reading Materials

The Library has a large collection of resource materials, both texts and current journals.
Listed below are some references that will provide valuable supplementary information to
this unit. It is also recommended that you explore other sources to broaden your
understanding.

Online Databases
https://www.swinburne.edu.my/library/databases/databases-a.php

eBooks
https://www.swinburne.edu.my/library/databases/ebooks.php

Online Magazines
https://www.swinburne.edu.my/library/search/magazines.php

Pine, C. (2009). Learn to Program, The Pragmatic Programmer.

https://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/chap_00.html

P. Deitel, (2010). C How To Program, Boston, Prentice Hall PressOne Lake Street Upper
Saddle River, NJ United States. https://swinburne.librarynet.com.my/Angka.sa2/swinburne/
BibDetail.htm?bibId=531478

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Prakash (2015) Programming in C, International Publishing Pvt. Ltd.
https://swinburne.librarynet.com.my/Angka.sa2/swinburne/BibDetail.htm?bibId=727423

Robertson, L.A 2014, Students Guide to Program Design, Newnes.

https://swinburne.librarynet.com.my/Angka.sa2/swinburne/BibDetail.htm?bibId=730772

PART C: FURTHER INFORMATION

Student behaviour and wellbeing

All students are expected to: act with integrity, honesty and fairness: be inclusive, ethical and
respectful of others; and appropriately use University resources, information, equipment and facilities.
All students are expected to contribute to creating a work and study environment that is safe and free
from bullying, violence, discrimination, sexual harassment, vilification and other forms of unacceptable
behaviour.
The Student Handbook describes what students can reasonably expect from Swinburne in order to
enjoy a quality learning experience. The Handbook also sets out what is expected of students with
regards to your studies and the way you conduct yourself towards other people and property.
You are expected to familiarise yourself with University regulations and policies and are obliged to
abide by these, including the Student Academic Misconduct Regulations, Student General
Misconduct Regulations and the People, Culture and Integrity Policy. Any student found to be in
breach of these may be subject to disciplinary processes.
Examples of expected behaviours are:
 conducting yourself in teaching areas in a manner that is professional and not disruptive to
others
 following specific safety procedures in Swinburne laboratories, such as wearing appropriate
footwear and safety equipment, not acting in a manner which is dangerous or disruptive (e.g.
playing computer games), and not bringing in food or drink
 following emergency and evacuation procedures and following instructions given by
staff/wardens in an emergency response

Canvas
You should regularly access the Swinburne learning management system, Canvas, which is available
via the Current Students webpage or https://swinburnesarawak.instructure.com/ Canvas is updated
regularly with important unit information and communications.

Communication
All communication will be via your Swinburne email address. If you access your email through a
provider other than Swinburne, then it is your responsibility to ensure that your Swinburne email is
redirected to your private email address.

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Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is about taking responsibility for your learning and submitting work that is honestly
your own. It means acknowledging the ideas, contributions and work of others; referencing your
sources; contributing fairly to group work; and completing tasks, tests and exams without cheating.
Swinburne University uses the Turnitin system, which helps to identify inadequate citations, poor
paraphrasing and unoriginal work in assignments that are submitted via Canvas. Your Unit Convenor
will provide further details.
Plagiarising, cheating and seeking an unfair advantage with regards to an exam or assessment are all
breaches of academic integrity and treated as academic misconduct.
Plagiarism is submitting or presenting someone else’s work as though it is your own without full and
appropriate acknowledgement of their ideas and work. Examples include:
 using the whole or part of computer program written by another person as your own
 using the whole or part of somebody else’s written work in an essay or other assessable work,
including material from a book, journal, newspaper article, a website or database, a set of
lecture notes, current or past student’s work, or any other person’s work
 poorly paraphrasing somebody else’s work
 using a musical composition or audio, visual, graphic and photographic work created by
another
 using realia created by another person, such as objects, artefacts, costumes, models
 submitting assessments that have been developed by another person or service (paid or
unpaid), often referred to as contract cheating
 presenting or submitting assignments or other work in conjunction with another person or
group of people when that work should be your own independent work. This is regardless of
whether or not it is with the knowledge or consent of the other person(s). Swinburne
encourages students to talk to staff, fellow students and other people who may be able to
contribute to a student’s academic work but where an independent assignment is required,
the work must be the student’s own
 enabling others to plagiarise or cheat, including letting another student copy your work or by
giving access to a draft or completed assignment
The penalties for academic misconduct can be severe, ranging from a zero grade for an assessment
task through to expulsion from the unit and, in the extreme, exclusion from Swinburne.

Student support
Swinburne offers a range of services and resources to help you complete your studies successfully.
Your Unit Convenor or Student Development and Support can provide information about the study
support and other services available for Swinburne students.

Special consideration
If your studies have been adversely affected due to serious and unavoidable circumstances outside of
your control (e.g. severe illness or unavoidable obligation), you may be able to apply for special
consideration (SPC).
Applications for Special Consideration to be submitted to Student Information Centre (SIC) normally
no later than 5.00pm on the third working day after the submission/sitting date for the relevant
assessment component.

Accessibility needs
Sometimes students with a disability, a mental health or medical condition or significant carer
responsibilities require reasonable adjustments to enable full access to and participation in education.
Your needs can be addressed to Student Counsellors. The plan makes recommendations to
university teaching and examination staff. You must notify AccessAbility Services of your disability or
condition within one week after the commencement of your unit to allow the University to make
reasonable adjustments.
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Review of marks
An independent marker reviews all fail grades for major assessment tasks. In addition, a review of
assessment is undertaken if your final result is between 45 and 49 or within 2 marks of any grade
threshold.
If you are not satisfied with the result of an assessment, you can ask the Unit Convenor to review the
result as a local resolution. Your request must be made in writing within 10 working days of receiving
the result. The Unit Convenor will review your result to determine if your result is appropriate.
If you are dissatisfied with the outcomes of the review, you can lodge a formal complaint and apply for
Reassessment.

Feedback, complaints and suggestions

In the first instance, discuss any issues with your Unit Convenor. If you are dissatisfied with the
outcome of the discussion or would prefer not to deal with your Unit Convenor, then you can complete
a feedback form. See Complaints & Feedback.

Advocacy
Should you require assistance with any academic issues, University statutes, regulations, policies and
procedures, you are advised to seek advice from Student Support and Advocacy within the University.
For more information, please see Student Support and Advocacy.

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