This unit was introduced to provide students with an overview of the computer industry, its historical basis, and how it fits into modern society with its complex legal and cultural structures. The unit also covers issues of professionalism and professional ethics. The material is not only of great value to students soon to enter the workforce, but also provides mandated material for accrediation by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and by the Institution of Engineers, Australia (IEAust). Thus this is core for Bachelor of Software Engineering, and one of the core choices for Bachelor of Computer Science.

Amend assessment: 50% Exam, 50% Assignments/tests

Amend contact hours: 2 hours lectures, 1 hour tutorial per week

This is an initial Avatar entry for this existing unit. The change being made is to the assessment where the weight given to assignments is being increased. The prerequisites are also being relaxed to allow students to take the unit, which is only offered annually, at their convenience.

Core for Bachelor of Software Engineering. Optional core for Bachelor of Computer Science.

While other units might provide professional issues material, this one is tailored for the students' technical backgrounds in Computer Science and Software Engineering. There is insufficient overlap with other units to justify any prohibitions.

This unit is important in ensuring the readiness of graduates to enter the workforce with some understanding of professional and industry issues.

Students should develop:

Knowledge of professional ethics; professional and industry bodies, intellectual property rights, laws and protection; privacy laws; contracts, rights and obligations; historical development of computing, the industry and profession;

Understanding of the various forms of intellectual property and their corresponding protection schemes; the practical issues of privacy and its legal obligatiions; issues relating to the specification, supply and evaluation of computing systems from both the vendor's and the client's viewpoints.

On completion students should have developed an appreciation of the importance of computer and business ethics in the practise of the computing profession and an appreciation of the impact that they as computer professionals can have on society. They should also have an understanding of the importance of the organizational structure in achieving professional outcomes.

Following this unit students should have abilities to analyse realistic problems likely to be encountered in their professional lives in terms of legal, social and cultural issues. They should also be able to suggest and evaluate solutions to professional problems and deal with conflicts of interest in ways that meet the legal and ethical obligations of computing professionals.

On completion students should have developed an appreciation of the importance of the computing professional's role as part of a problem solving team. They should also have an understanding of the ways such teams can be structured and the communications required within such teams and with the clients and employers.

The unit will survey the history of computing, development of electronic digital computers and their subsequent architectural evolution, history of software (compilers, operating systems, network technology) and how these developments have been played out in the computer industry. Risks of computer usage, and the legal and ethical implications of computer failures will be examined. Technical legal issues will also be considered, including software copyright, patent protection, and licensing. Problems arising from the nature of large-scale software development within large organisations - including software and quality management, scheduling software development, software modularity and reusability - and managerial, ethical and professional responsibilities involved will be treated.

Students will be expected to use the World-Wide-Web, current newspapers and trade magazines, and other material as appropriate. There is no particular textbook.

2-hours lectures, 1 hour tutorial per week.

Material will be introduced in lectures along with information about how and where additional mateerial can be found. Where possible guest lecturers will be used to give experts' views on the issues. Discussion during lectures will be encouraged.

This unit aims to impart knowledge of professional issues rather than specific technical skills. What is desired is that students learn to think clearly and analyse complex situations in which many competing factors are are present. The lectures present background material including the historical and cultural context. Case studies will be important in allowing students to explore the effects of different approaches to professional situations and problems.

Examination: 50% Assignments/Tests: 50%

The examination is mainly there to verify that students have learned the factual content and main issues. The assignments that typically take the form of detailed English language essays and reports allow for more thorough analyses and discussion of problems, and also provide vital practise in written communication. The high weighting to assignments reflect the high workload devoted to this aspects of the assessment and its prime contribution to the learning of this material.

6

3 contact hours per week. 9 hours of reading, assignment and private study per week.

One 2-hour time slot weekly in a high-tech lecture theatre.

Tutorial rooms for 1 hour per week.

No laboratory requirements.

Once lecturer to prepare and present material and to coordinate any guest lecturers. Depending on class size, some assistance may be required for marking assignments and exams.

• Software Title:
• Vendor:
• Version:
• OS: MS Windows XP ( ) and/or LINUX ( )
• License Details: (A valid software license certificate/s or Vendor permission must be available upon request if the software is to be installed for teaching)
• Are we currently licensed: Yes ( ) or No ( ) (If unsure, please check with your local IT support )
• If (Yes), who is the contact person for this software?:
• If (No), will the software license be arranged by: Staff member requesting the software ( ) or Technical Services* ( ) ? *If the latter is selected, please discuss your requirement/s with myself ASAP, prior to finalising your request, as there could be financial or resourcing implications.
• Is the software to be installed and accessed from a: Client/Workstation ( ), or Server ( ) ?
• Type of license: Site License ( ), Freeware ( ), FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) ( ), Shareware ( ), Lab based ( ) # of Licenses needed ____
• In what week will you commence using the software in class? Semester 1 (Week ___ ) and/or Semester 2 (Week ___ ):
• Nominated Staff For Acceptance Testing Software: (Name) (Phone) (Email)
• Additional Information: Special Requirements, Software Configuration/Installation Requirements, etc:

Web browsing and word processing facilities.

Most students find adequate material on the World-Wide-Web and in the daily press. The library is used for reference material only. Currently there are no specific recommended texts.

Faculty ot Information Technology

N/A.

100% Faculty of Information Technology

NA

N/A.

At least 36 points of level 2 or level 3 units.