ITEC627 - Advanced Programming Concepts

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

ITEC618 Programming Concepts

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

This unit is built on the fundamental programming concepts students have gained from the introductory programming unit to teach students more advanced programming concepts. It covers event-driven programming, graphical user interface, multimedia, file input/output, data structures, and algorithms. It aims to equip students with the skills needed to solve programming problems of moderate complexity, such as applications that provide an interface to real-world data. It also teaches students effective use of computing resources such as CPU cycles, file input/output, and memory usage through data structures and algorithms, which contributes to stewardship of natural and computing resources by saving energy consumption by computers.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Demonstrate high-level working knowledge and understanding of advanced programming concepts through consistent problem solving and program implementation (GA5, GA10)

LO2 - Investigate and design an interactive application that contains appropriate user interfaces and functional components (GA5, GA8)

LO3 - Develop an interactive application that exhibits effective user interfaces and efficient functional components (GA4, GA5)

LO4 - Critically evaluate data structures and algorithms relevant to a particular problem and choose appropriate ones for the stewardship of computing resources (GA2, GA5)

Graduate attributes

GA2 - recognise their responsibility to the common good, the environment and society 

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

Content

Topics covered: 

• Java Event Model
• Java GUI programming
• Java Multimedia
• Text and binary I/O
• Recursion
• Generics
• Data structures
• Sorting and search algorithms
• Stewardship of computing resources through appropriate use of data structures and algorithms

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

LEARNING AND TEACHING STRATEGY AND RATIONALE

This unit is offered in different modes. These are: “Attendance” mode, “Blended” mode and “Online” mode. This unit is offered in three modes to cater for the learning needs and preferences of a range of participants and maximise effective participation for isolated and/or marginalised groups.

Attendance Mode

In a weekly attendance mode, students will require face-to-face attendance in specific physical location/s. Students will have face-to-face interactions with lecturer(s) or lab demonstrators to further their achievement of the learning outcomes. This unit is structured with required upfront preparation before workshops, most students report that they spend an average of one hour preparing before the workshop and one or more hours after the workshop practicing and revising what was covered. The online learning platforms used in this unit provide multiple forms of preparatory and practice opportunities for you to prepare and revise.

Blended Mode

In a blended mode, students will require face-to-face attendance in blocks of time determined by the School. Students will have face-to-face interactions with lecturer(s) to further their achievement of the learning outcomes. This unit is structured with required upfront preparation before workshops. The online learning platforms used in this unit provide multiple forms of preparatory and practice opportunities for you to prepare and revise.

Online Mode

This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of the essential knowledge associated with working with technology. Students can explore the essential knowledge underpinning technological advances and develop knowledge in a series of online interactive lessons and modules. Students are given the opportunity to attend facilitated synchronous online seminar classes with other students and participate in the construction and synthesis of knowledge, while developing their knowledge of working with technology. Students are required to participate in a series of online interactive workshops which include activities, knowledge checks, discussion and interactive sessions. This approach allows flexibility for students and facilitates learning and participation for students with a preference for virtual learning.

Students should anticipate undertaking 150 hours of study for this unit, including class attendance, readings, online forum participation and assessment preparation. 

Assessment strategy and rationale

The first assessment item is based on completing weekly lab tasks. The purpose of this cumulative lab assessment is to gradually build up working knowledge and understanding of advanced programming concepts. The second assessment item is a design report for an investigation project that assesses students’ software design and investigation skills. The final assessment is the investigation project development of an interactive application that exhibits effective user interfaces and efficient functional components that contribute to the stewardship of computing resources.

In order to pass this unit, students are required to:

1. achieve an overall mark of at least 50%, and
2. attempt all three assessment tasks.

The assessment tasks for this unit are designed for students to demonstrate their achievement of each learning outcome. All assessments will be marked in accordance with pre-determined rubric and/or marking guide.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Y. Daniel Liang 2018, Introduction to Java Programming and Data Structures, 11th edn, Pearson Education. 

C. S. Horstmann 2019, Core Java, Volume II--Advanced Features, 11th edn, Pearson Education. 

H. Schildt 2019, Java: The Complete Reference, 11th edn, McGraw Hill.