Reasoning with Informatics

Subject SINF20007 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

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

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 1, Parkville - 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


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 2 x one hour lectures per week; 1 x two hour workshop per week.
Total Time Commitment: Estimated total time commitment of 120 hours
Prerequisites: .
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
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

Dr Rachelle Bosua

Contact

Email: rachelle.bosua@unimelb.edu.au
Subject Overview:

This subject presents tools, methods and techniques for discovering, analysing, representing and modelling information in information-rich environments. Students will develop an understanding of the difference between data, information and knowledge. The subject addresses fundamental ideas in Informatics and the role of information in socio-technical systems. Students will analyse a specific information-rich domain and classify and structure information to create a small Ontology for the domain. Overall students should develop an appreciation of data and information in modelling and designing Information Systems.

Objectives:

On completion of this subject student should be able to

  • understand the difference between data, information and knowledge
  • appreciate the discovery, naming, classification, representation, and use of information in information-rich environments
  • use formal concepts to attribute semantic meaning to information and reason about information presentation
  • use tools to structure and model information for a specific domain by creating a small Ontology
  • appreciate socio-technical influences that contribute to the analysis of information systems

Assessment:

  • An online test (30 minutes; mid-semester) to assess students’ knowledge of key Informatics concepts (5%)
  • A short research essay (1000 words) about modelling and structuring information in information-rich environments (15%)
  • A project that comprises the development of an Ontology for a specific information-rich domain. This project consists of three parts and will run throughout the semester (2 parts are done individually and one part is done as a group; about 25 hours in total for the full project; 30%)
  • A 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 appropriate IT tools;
  • the ability to synthesise information and communicate results effectively;
  • the capacity for critical and independent thought and reflection
Notes:

This subject is available for science credit to students enrolled in the BSc (both pre-2008 and new degrees), BASc or a combined BSc course.

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

Related Course(s): Bachelor of Information Systems
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Information Systems

Download PDF version.