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Monash College Unit Guide

COMPUTER SYSTEMS (MCD3230)

Purpose

MCD3230 Computer Systems will introduce students to basic computer hardware and operating systems software with emphasis on the concepts required to understand the low-level and internal operations of computer systems.

In particular, this includes study of data representation, simple digital logic, computer organisation including CPU, memory and input/output devices, as well as machine-level and assembly language programming, and operating system concepts with examples of process management, file system structures and user interfaces. The intention is to provide opportunities for students to relate the hardware knowledge covered in this unit to the concepts learned in their introductory programming and systems analysis classes and to give a more complete understanding of how hardware and software are used to build systems.

This provides opportunities for students to relate the use of programming languages and studies of system design and project management to their implementation on computer hardware.

Prerequisites

Nil.

Learning outcomes

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

  1. Understand basic Computer Structure and Operation and demonstrate use of the associated vocabulary.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of Data Representation, Computer Arithmetic and Boolean Algebra using appropriate methods of implementation.
  3. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of Internal Bus, Memory, I/O organisations and interfacing standards.
  4. Describe the internal operation of the CPU and explain how it is used to execute instructions.
  5. Differentiate between machine language and assembly language and write assembly language programs to solve simple problems.
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of operating systems software using examples from File Systems, User Interfaces and Software Development Tools.
  7. Identify factors that affect computer performance.
  8. Use various simulators to demonstrate the operation of simple computer architectures.

Assessment

Assessments: 40%
Examination: 60%

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