Course Outline

COMP636 Software Development

Summer School, 2023

For information on Student Support and Wellbeing, Exams and Assessments, Academic
Integrity, Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct, Covid-19 alert levels and Safe LU, please
refer to the appropriate links on My Akoraka | Learn.

Examiner Stuart Charters

Building/Office Number: SoLA 129
Email: stuart.charters@lincoln.ac.nz
Contact The best way to contact me is via email. My usual response time is
less than 24 hours during the working week.
Tutors Craig Melton
Samantha Kumara Pathirannahalage
computing@lincoln.ac.nz

Activity Day Time Room

Lectorial Tuesday 10:00-11:30am Studio 100
In Person support Monday 10:00-11:30 am Studio 100
(A second stream may be offered) Thursday 10:00-11:30 am Studio 100
Monday 4:30-6:00 pm MS Teams
On-line Support
Thursday 4:30-6:00 pm MS Teams

Course Prescription A practical approach to software development focusing on industry

standard skills and practices.

Prerequisites None
Recommended Preparation None
Restrictions None

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Course Aims and Learning Outcomes

Aims
The course builds software development skills including programming, database design including
development practices such as version control, and testing. It also introduces software engineering
methodologies such as Waterfall and Agile.

Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
LO1. Construct procedural and object-oriented programs.
LO2. Design implementable database schemas.
LO3. Apply appropriate industry standard software engineering methodologies.
LO4. Validate programs, including testing and debugging, using a range of software engineering
methods and tools.
LO5. Critically discuss the ethical issues in software development

Course Improvements
The following table outlines the summarised feedback received from students (via course evaluations,
student rep feedback and other feedback opportunities) and other sources, and how this feedback has
been incorporated into the course.

Summary Feedback Course Changes

Students: More content focused at the same More quiz material added.
difficulty level as assessment Course restructured to provide more
learning time on Python content.
Other:

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Course Content
The following table gives an indication of the timing of the content for this course. It may be necessary
to make adjustments to the timetable.

Week – commencing Modules / Topics

1
Python
13 November

2
Python
20 November

3
Python
27 November

4
Ethics
4 December

5
Web App
11 December

6
Web App Hosting
18 December

22nd December – 8th January

Christmas and New Year Break

7
8 January Databases

8
Databases
15 January

9
Database integration with Web Apps
22 January

10
Extended Web App Features
29 January

11
Project
5 February

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Learning and Teaching Arrangements

Learning and Teaching Approach

The learning and teaching approach is based on a combination of live learning sessions, online content,
activities and on-line resources from the Akoraka | Learn course page with face-to-face and online
tutorial and support options. Students are strongly advised to make full use of all available learning
opportunities.

Online Learning Activities

Self-study material, review material, other relevant course material, and assessment activities will be
made available on the course Akoraka | Learn page.

As this course is delivered on campus and by distance, online lectorials will be used. Students are
expected to be able to use MS Teams and Lincoln’s Akoraka | Learn system, and have the basic skills and
technology requirements needed to study through the online medium.

All Lectorials will be recorded and these recordings will be available on the Akoraka | Learn course page.

Communication
Akoraka | Learn will be used as a means of communication with the class and students are advised to
check their course page, the My Akoraka | Learn dashboard, and their “@lincolnuni.ac.nz” email regularly
to ensure they receive all University communications. Students should also use their “@lincolnuni.ac.nz”
email address to communicate with examiners and lecturers.

Lecture Notes
Lecture notes will be posted on Akoraka | Learn. It is important to note that the images shown in
lectures may not all be available in the pdf version of the notes, as copyright regulations may prevent
this. All readings will be placed on the Akoraka | Learn course page.

Assessments
The schedule of assessments and their contribution to the overall mark for the course is as follows:

Learning outcomes
Assessment Weighting Due date
covered
Python 40% 5pm Friday 15 December 2023 1,3, 4

Ethics 10% 5pm Thursday 21 December 2023 5

Milestone: 5pm Wednesday 24 January
Web Application 50% 1, 2, 3, 4
2024
Final: 5pm Wednesday 14 February 2024

Assessment Details
Note: All electronically submitted assessments will be either completed or uploaded via the Akoraka |
Learn course page. As per the Assessment Policy, marked assessments, except for final exams, will
normally be returned to you, with feedback, within three weeks of submission. You can view your
internal assessment results via Grades on the Akoraka | Learn course page (also referred to as
Gradebook and used on all Akoraka | Learn course pages).

All assessment is to be submitted via the Akoraka | Learn course page by the dates and times shown in
the table above. All assessment is to be completed individually. Instructions will be made available on
the Akoraka | Learn course page.

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Python Assessment
This assessment will include the development of program code to meet requirements given in the
assessment brief.

Ethics Assessment
This assessment will include interpretation of a scenario containing an ethical consideration and the
discussion of alternative courses of action.

Web Application Project

The project will include interpreting project requirements, modelling database design and implementing
database design, business logic and web-based presentation layer. Project assessment includes
competence in technical skills and clarity of writing.

Aegrotats
If you would like to request an extension for assessment, submit an assessment late, complete an
assessment under impaired conditions, or miss an assessment due to a serious event you can apply for
an Aegrotat. Serious events means illness (including COVID-19) or injury; bereavement, trauma, critical
circumstances, disasters (called “acts of God” in the University regulations); and misadventure.

To apply for an Aegrotat, your assessment needs to be worth 5 percent or more of your final course
grade. Apply through the online portal on Akoraka | Learn which can be accessed from the link within
the Exams & Assessments section on the right of your Akoraka | Learn dashboard. If your Aegrotat
application is deemed justified (i.e., approved) by the Examinations Office, the Examiner will decide
what the outcome will be - this may include approving an extension, offering an alternative assessment
or deriving a grade.

For more information on Aegrotats refer to the online portal. For assessments worth less than 5 percent,
students should approach the examiner or their nominee (such as a lecturer or tutor) directly, in person
or in writing.

Academic Penalties
Extensions and Late Submission of Assessment
For items of assessment worth less than 5 percent, students should approach the examiner or their
nominee (such as a lecturer or tutor) directly, in person or in writing. For items of assessment worth 5
percent or more of your final course grade, if there is a serious event that contributes to you seeking an
extension or submitting a piece of assessment late, you should apply for an Aegrotat (refer to the
section on Aegrotats above). If approved by the Examinations Office, the Examiner will decide what the
outcome will be - this may include approving an extension or removing any late penalties. If denied,
items of assessment (other than tests) that are submitted after the due date and time will have a
maximum late penalty applied as noted below. University regulations apply where a final examination is
scheduled.

Items of assessment that are submitted after the due date and time will attract an immediate penalty
of up to 25% of the marks available. Those received more than 48 hours after the due date and time will
be awarded a mark of zero.

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Academic Integrity and Behaviour
All forms of academic dishonesty are unacceptable to Lincoln University. This includes, but is not limited
to cheating, collusion, double-dipping, fabrication of data, ghost writing, plagiarism and possession of
cell phones during a test or examination. Incidents of academic dishonesty may be deemed to be a
breach of discipline and may be reported to the Proctor. Students will be subject to the terms of the
Discipline Regulations.

Upon enrolment, all students undertake to comply with Lincoln University regulations and policies.
Please make yourself familiar with these - including the Lincoln University Student Code of Conduct and
the Academic Integrity Policy - which can be found on the right-hand side of your Akoraka | Learn page
under University Policies and Procedures.

Student Workload
At a minimum 400 hour for 40-credit course represents the amount of time that an average or B grade
student might be expected to spend to receive a passing grade. The total student workload for a course
is not spread evenly from week to week and students are expected to proactively manage their
workload throughout the semester. Achievement in a course is based on student performances, not on
the time committed to studying the course. No matter how many hours a student puts into this course,
they are not guaranteed a pass. The following time-use guidelines are provided as an example of how
the 400 hours may be allocated in this course.

Indicative Student Workload

Contact Hours Total hours (over semester)

Face to face contact, e.g., lectures, tutorials, field 140
trips, exams. This includes recorded / online
lectures or other classes.

Non-contact Hours
Self-directed learning, e.g., study, projects, 260
assessments, tests and exam prep.

Total Student Workload 400

Feedback Opportunities
There will be an opportunity to formally evaluate the course at the end of the semester, however
feedback is welcomed and appreciated throughout the semester and may be provided in any format,
e.g., in person, with a support person, through a student rep, via a note, or email. Constructive feedback
is welcomed and appreciated throughout the semester to allow the Examiner to improve the course and
their lecturing style.

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