Reasoning with Informatics

Subject 615-202 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 2 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Semester 1, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Lectures and workshops.

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 2 one-hour lectures per week; 1 two-hour workshop per week. Total 48 hours.
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours total time commitment.
Prerequisites:
Informatics 2: People, Data and the Web
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the University’s programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in a subject are encouraged to discuss this with the relevant subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Coordinator

Ms Rachelle Bosua
Subject Overview:

This subject presents tools, methods and theories for analysing and representing concepts in data-rich environments. Students use notations, such as XML, to reason about objects and concepts, and their relationships within and across domains. The subject addresses fundamental ideas within Informatics, such as naming, knowing and representing, and includes discussions of socio-technical systems. Students will analyse an existing information schema (or ontology) in a science domain (such as genetics, astrophysics, or biomedicine) and create their own ontology for a small scientific domain. Students will explore applications of these techniques to deal with problems of data fidelity, validity and interoperability across scientific activities.
Objectives:

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

  • establish and justify the fundamental concepts within a scientific domain
  • use these concepts to reason about the characteristics of the domain
  • use formal notations and tools (e.g. XML schema) to represent these concepts
  • understand the strengths and limitations of these notations and tools
  • appreciate the socio-technical influences that contribute to the analysis of information systems
Assessment:

Project 1: Analysis of existing information model or ontology (20%) (due early in the semester)

Project 2: Creation of an information model or ontology for a scientific domain; requirements specification for data interoperability between data collection sites (30%) (due late in the semester)

Exam: 2-hour end-of-semester written examination (50%).
Prescribed Texts:

J Gammack, V Hobbs & D Pigott The Book of Informatics Thompson 2007
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

On completion of this subject students should have developed the following generic skills:

  • the ability to analyse and solve real-world problems with computers;
  • the ability to synthesise information and communicate results effectively;
  • the capacity for critical and independent thought and reflection
Notes: Students enrolled in the BSc (both pre-2008 and new degrees), BASc or a combined BSc course will receive science credit for the completion of this subject.

Students undertaking this subject will be expected to regularly access an internet-enabled computer.

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