Course Overview

1.1 - Admin 🍕

COMP2511

Welcome to cs2511!!!

  • Object-Oriented Design & Programming
  • Course Staff
    • Lecturer in Charge: Dr Ashesh Mahidadia
    • Course Admins: Braedon Wooding, Nick Patrikeos
  • All online for 21T3

The Story So Far: Course Context

  • COMP1511: Solving problems with computers, the wonder and joy of programming
  • COMP1521: Getting right down into the silicon
  • COMP1531: Solving problems in a team; programming in the large
  • COMP2521: Solving problems at scale using data structures and algorithms
  • COMP2511???

COMP2511

  • We can write code, but how do we write good code?
  • Designing elegant and beautiful software
  • Shades of Grey - things aren't clear cut
  • From programmers to designers

Learning Objectives

  • Object-Oriented Design
    • Understand the principles of Object-Oriented Design
    • Be able to follow a systematic Object-Oriented Design process
    • Be able to interpret and use tools for Object-Oriented Design
    • Learn how to apply design principles and design patterns effectively to design flexible, maintainable and reusable systems

Learning Objectives

  • Object-Oriented Programming and Java
    • Understand Object-Oriented Design programming languages
    • Be able to write medium-scale object-oriented programs in Java
    • Apply systematic methods such as test-driven development
    • Understand the importance of documentation and use tools to document software
    • Be able to use an IDE (Interactive Development Environment) for software development

Learning Objectives

  • Software Processes
    • Understand the importance of team organisation and communication
    • Be able to work within a small team in the context of a software development project
    • Be able to plan and execute a software project according a systematic software process

Credit to Teaching Material

  • No text book, the lecture slides cover the required topics
  • However, you are strongly encouraged to read additional material and the reference books

  • In the lecture notes, some content and ideas are drawn from:

    • Head First Design Patterns , by Elisabeth Freeman and Kathy Sierra, The State University of

      New Jersey

    • Refactoring: Improving the design of existing code , by Martin Fowler

How the course works

Lectures

  • 4 hours of lectures per week
  • 9 weeks of lectures
  • Lectures are concept-driven

Tutorials

  • 1 hour tutorial each week
  • Similar to most CSE core courses
  • Run via MS Teams
  • Participation Marks - awarded for:
    • Attending
    • Asking good and logical questions
    • Taking initiative to answer questions and be engaged
  • What if I can't make it??
  • Tutorials are understanding-driven - interactive examples to illustrate concepts discussed in lectures
  • Solutions and recording to tutorials posted at the end of each week

Lab Time

  • 2 hours each week, straight after tutorial
  • Similar to most CSE core courses
  • Run via MS Teams
  • Weeks 1 - 4:
    • Lab marking: Tutors will mark your completed labs
    • Help/assistance with labs/assignment
  • Weeks 5 - 10:
    • Lab marking
    • Project check-ins: Group mentoring sessions with your tutor
    • Weeks 8 + 10: Demonstrations of milestone submissions

Assumed Knowledge

  • Confident programmers
    • Familiar with C and Python programming concepts
  • Able to work in a team
    • Git
    • Working with others
  • Understand basic testing principles
  • Understand basic software engineering design principles (DRY, KISS)

Assumed Knowledge

  • What we don't assume:
    • Knowledge of Java
    • Understanding of Object-Oriented Programming
  • This is not a Java course

Technical

  • VSCode - primary IDE
  • Using your own IDE
  • Week 1 - get setup

Assessments

Class Mark (10%)

  • Tutorial Participation - up to 9 marks available
  • Weekly labs:
    • Give the skills needed to complete assignment and project
    • Enable critical thinking
    • Each lab is worth 2 marks
  • 25 marks available, class mark is capped at 20.
  • Labs are (usually) due the following Monday, 1pm
  • Labs released the week prior
  • Lab solutions not released, some have retrospective videos

Assignment (15%)

  • Due Friday Week 4
  • Completed individually
  • Spec released end of Week 1

Project (35%)

  • Groups of 4 formed within your tutorial
  • Groups formed by end of Week 2
  • Spec released end of Week 4
  • Structure
    • Milestone 1: Formative feedback (anytime)
    • Milestone 2: Submission of work (Week 8 Monday)
    • Milestone 3: Submission of work (Week 10 Monday)
  • Measures in place to ensure a difficult group doesn't take a toll on marks

Exam (40%)

  •  Hurdle - must achieve at least 40% in the exam to pass the course
  • Tests course concepts taught throughout the term

Course philosophy

  • A step up from first year courses
  • Challenging but achievable
  • Develop skills in time management, teamwork as well as critical thinking
  • Highly rewarding

Support

  • Supporting you is our job :)
  • Help Sessions
    • Lots of them with fantastic tutors
    • Feedback on work, help with problems, clarifying ideas
    • You are expected to have done your own research and debugging before arriving

Support

  • Course Forum (Ed)
    • Ask questions and everyone can see the answers!
    • Make private posts for sharing code
    • Response time
  • Course Account - cs2511@cse.unsw.edu.au 
    • Sensitive/personal information
  • During the project - your tutor

Title Text

  • Go to help sessions for help on concepts
  • Post on the forum if you need more immediate lab feedback
  • There are no late extensions on labs unless in extenuating circumstances - email cs2511@cse.unsw.edu.au 

Support - UNSW

  • Special Consideration - https://student.unsw.edu.au/special-consideration 
  • Equitable Learning Services - https://student.unsw.edu.au/els

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Feedback

  • We love feedback :)
  • Changes made to the course this term based on constructive student feedback
  • We always want to continuously improve
  • Feedback form
  • Course account
  • Student representatives

Respect 

  • Yourselves, each other, course staff

Let's have a fantastic T3!!!