module specification

This module aims to develop an understanding of all means of digital communication technologies and the underlying principles and standards that make them possible. Topics include wireless technology, broadband communication, mobile communication, Internet communication and web servers, cloud/grid computing, geo-computing, net-centric computing, communication systems and services, multimedia communication, and security in communication technologies. This module aims to understand communication technologies for computing and IT professionals.

The overall aims of the module are to facilitate and provide an understanding of all communication technologies in wired, wireless, mobile and Internet, and their underlying principles and standards for computing and IT professionals.

• Local area network, metropolitan area network and wide area network topologies
• home area network, personal area network and body area network technologies
• Wireless technology
• Broadband communication
• Mobile communication
• Internet communication and web servers
• Cloud/grid computing, geo-computing and net-centric computing
• Communication systems and services; multimedia communication
• Security in communication technologies.

Each week the students will attend one-hour lecture and one-hour tutorial that focuses on the fundamental principles of communication technologies for IT. A two-hour workshop will provide opportunities to engage in practical work and research work aimed at broadening the students' knowledge and experiences in communication technologies issues. There are also opportunities to improve research skills, and develop report writing and presentation skills.

Additional work outside of scheduled teaching sessions is expected.

Indicative students' learning time on the module:
Class contact hours (2 hours lecture/tutorial, 2 hours workshop) 48 hours
Additional work directed towards completion of workshop exercises and coursework assignments 152 hours

Total hours = 200 Hours.

The University’s VLE and online tools will be used to provide content, assessment and feedback, and promote student engagement.

Opportunities for feedback will be available during workshop/tutorial sessions throughout the semester and also on draft attempts of coursework.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate:
- an understanding of underlying principles of local area network, metropolitan area
  network and wide area network topologies.
- an understanding of underlying principles of home area network, personal area
  network and body area network technologies.
- an understanding of wireless technology and mobile communication.
- an understanding of broadband communication technology.
- an ability to understand Internet communication and web servers.
- an awareness of cloud/grid computing, geo-computing and net-centric computing.
- an understanding of communication systems and services.
- an understanding of multimedia communication.
- an awareness of various securities in all communication technologies.

•     Assessment methods:
- An unseen 2 hours examination (40%)
- A coursework (60%): A technical report and computer simulation.

• Assessment profile:
- The unseen examination element relates to communication technologies for IT
        issues introduced in the lectures.
- The coursework provides students with the opportunities to carry out research on
        current issues in communication technologies for computing and IT professionals.
        The coursework is designed to enhance learning by offering a computer simulation,
        the phases of which are highly specified.

• Timing of assessment:
- The unseen examination is taken by students during the examination period at the
        end of semester.
- The coursework is assigned during week one and is due for submission on week 10.
        Misconceptions or weaknesses can be identified during this period, before students
        Commit significant effort to implementation and testing.

William Stallings, Business Data Communications: International Version, Pearson; 6th edition, ISBN-10: 0136065430, ISBN-13: 978-0136065432, 1st Jan 2009.

William Stallings, Wireless Communications and Networks. 2nd Edition, Pretice Hall, ISBN 0-13-191835-4, 2005.

Douglas H. Morais, Fixed Broadband Wireless Communications: Principles and Practical Applications, Prentice Hall; 1 edition, ISBN-10: 0132886022, ISBN-13: 978-0132886024, 2nd Sep 2011.

Leslie Haddon (Author), Nicola Green, Mobile Communications, Berg New Media Series, ISBN-10: 1845208145, ISBN-13: 978-1845208141, 1st Nov 2009.

Todd Kitta, Brett Grego, Chris Caplinger, Russ Houberg, SharePoint Server 2010 Enterprise Content Management, Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, ISBN-10: 0470584653, ISBN-13: 978-0470584651, 20th Sep 2011.

Toby Velte, Anthony Velte, Robert C. Elsenpeter, Cloud Computing, A Practical Approach, Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne, 1 edition, ISBN-10: 0071626948, ISBN-13: 978-0071626941, 1st Nov 2009.

Huilin Xing, Advances in Geocomputing (Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences), Publisher: Springer, ISBN-10: 3540858776, ISBN-13: 978-3540858775, 26th Mar 2009.

Lillian N. Cassel, Thomas J. Connolly, Paul N Schragger, Net Centric Computing, Publisher: Prentice Hall, 1st edition, ISBN-10: 013142372X, ISBN-13: 978-0131423725, 1st July 2006.

PANDYA RAJ, Mobile And Personal Communication Systems And Services, Publisher: Prentice Hall India; 1st edition, ISBN-10: 8120317106, ISBN-13: 978-8120317109, 1999.

Mario Marques da Silva, Multimedia Communications and Networking, Publisher: CRC Press; 1st edition, ISBN-10: 1439874840, ISBN-13: 978-1439874844, 5th April 2012.

Robert Fischer, Edward Halibozek MBA, Introduction to Security, Publisher: A Butterworth-Heinemann Title; 8th edition, ISBN-10: 0750684321, ISBN-13: 978-0750684323, 29th April 2008.