Faculty of Information & Communication Technology Module Outline

01/02/2011

INTRODUCTION TO DATA COMMUNICATION COMP105

MODULE DETAILS

Course Location : Gaborone

Department : Faculty of Information and Communication Technology
Program Name : Associate Degree in Multimedia and Software Engineering
Associate Degree in Information Technology
Associate Degree in Mobile Computing
Associate Degree in Business Information Technology
Associate Degree in Software Engineering
Associate Degree in Business Information Systems
Semester : 2
Credits : 3
Contact hours : 3 hours (2 hours lecture + 1 hours tutorial)
No. of weeks : 14 teaching weeks + 1 Final examination week + 1 week Midterm Break
Teaching Pattern : Lecture & Tutorial sessions
Pre-requisite : NIL
No. of assessments : 4 (include Individual assignment, group assignment, class test and final examination)
Principal Lecturer : Mr N.. Mawema
Module Leader :
E-mail : nmawema@limkokwing.ac.bw
Contact Numbe : 3180135 ext 322

Prepared by : Mr O.Gobusamang Checked by : Mr N. Mawema

Signature : Date :12/01/2010 Signature : Date : 11/02/10

This document comprises the following:

 Essential Information
 Specific Module Information
 Module Rules & Regulations
 Grades
 Plagiarism
 Module Introduction
 Module Aims & Objectives
 Learning Outcome
 Specific Generic Learning Skills
 Syllabus + Lecture Outline
 References
 Assessment Schedule
 Assessment Criteria
 Learning Activities
 Specific Criteria

Other documents as follows will be issued to you on an ongoing basis throughout the semester:

 Handouts for Assignments

 Submission Requirements + Guidelines

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1.0 ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

 All modules other than electives are 'significant modules'

 As an indicator of workload one credit carries and additional 2 hours of self study per
week. For example, a module worth 3 credits require that the student spends an additional 6
hours per week, either reading, completing the assignment or doing self directed research for
that module.

 Submission of ALL assignment work is compulsory in this module. A student cannot

pass this module without having to submit ALL assignment work by the due date or an
approved extension of that date.

 All assignments are to be handed on time on the due date. Students will be penalised 10
percent for the first day and 5 percent per day thereafter for late submission (a weekend or a
public holiday counts as one day). Late submission, after the date Board of Studies meeting
will not be accepted.

 Due dates, compulsory assignment requirements and submission requirements may only
be altered with the consent of the majority of students enrolled in this module at the
beginning/early in the program.

 Extensions of time for submission of assignment work may be granted if the application
for extension is accompanied by a medical certificate.

 Overseas travel is not an acceptable reason for seeking a change in the examination
schedule.

 Only the Head of School can grant approval for extension of submission beyond the
assignment deadline.

 Re-submission of work can only receive a 50% maximum pass rate.

 Supplementary exams can only be granted if the level of work is satisfactory AND the
semester work has been completed.

 Harvard referencing and plagiarism policy will apply on all written assignments.

2.0 SPECIFIC MODULE INFORMATION

 Attendance rate of 80% is mandatory for passing module.

 All grades are subject to attendance and participation.

 Absenteeism at any scheduled presentations will result in zero mark for that presentation.

 Visual presentation work in drawn and model form must be the original work of the
student.

 The attached semester program is subject to change at short notice.

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3.0 MODULE RULES AND REGULATIONS:

Assessment procedure:

 These rules and regulations are to be read in conjunction with the UNIT AIMS AND
OBJECTIVES

 All assignments/projects must be completed and presented for marking by the due date.

 Marks will be deducted for late work and invalid reasons.

 All assignments must be delivered by the student in person to the lecturer concerned. No
other lecturer is allowed to accept students’ assignments.

 All tests/examinations are compulsory.

 Students must sit the test/examination on the notified date.

 Students are expected to familiarise themselves with the test/examination timetable.

 Students who miss a test/examination will not be allowed to pass.

 Any scheduling of tutorials, both during or after lecture hours, is TOTALLY the
responsibility of each student. Appointments are to be proposed, arranged, confirmed, and
kept, by each student. Failure to do so in a professional manner may result in penalty of
grades. Tutorials WITHOUT appointments will also NOT be entertained.

 Note that every assignment is given an ample time frame for completion. This, together
with advanced information pertaining deadlines gives you NO EXCUSE not to submit
assignments on time.

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4.0 GRADES

All modules and assessable projects will be graded according to the following system. With respect
to those units that are designated 'Approved for Pass/Fail' the grade will be either PX or F:

Grade Numeric Grade Description

90 – 100 A+
85 – 89 A Pass with Distinction
80 – 84 A-
75 – 79 B+
74 – 70 B Pass with Credit
65 – 69 B-
60 – 64 C+
55 – 59 C Pass
50 – 54 C-, PX, PC
0 – 49 F Fail
EXP Exempted
PC Pass Conceded
PP Pass Provisional with extra work needed
PX Pass after extra work is given and passed
X Ineligible for assessment due to unsatisfactory attendance
D Deferred
W Withdraw
DNA Did Not Attend Module
DNC Did Not Complete Module

5.0 PLAGIARISM, COPYRIGHT, PATENTS, OWNERSHIP OF WORK: STUDENT MAJOR

PROJECT, THESES & WORKS

See LIMKOKWING, HIGH FLYERS HANDOUT, pg 10.

6.0 MODULE INTRODUCTION

Today students wanting to understand the concepts and mechanisms underlying telecommunications and
networking come from a variety of academic and professional. To be useful, this module must be accessible to
students without technical backgrounds while still providing substance comprehensive enough to challenge
more experienced readers.

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7.0 MODULE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
• To introduce and highlights the basic principles that appear repeatedly as themes, which unify data &
computer communications field and contrast their application in specific areas of technology. Examples of
these principles are multiplexer, flow control, and error control.
• To examines alternative approaches to meeting specific communication requirements and discusses the
role and the nature of the related standards.
• To examine the major components and types of network available.
• To explore the role of network layers.

8.0 LEARNING OUTCOME

Students will be able to:
• To apply fundamental Communication Concepts to all types of data communication systems –
application layer, physical layer, data link layer, transport and network layer.
• To explain various data communications hardware like analog and digital modems, multiplexers,
data switches, network adapter cards, Ethernet and Token Ring components, etc.
• To identify how the Web and e-mail works.
• To discuss Protocols & Standards like OSI, X.25, etc
• To recognize network topologies either LAN or WAN that comprised of servers, clients hubs,
switches, routers, etc.
• To analyze and describe the current/recent data communication development.
• To expose the students to the used of digital library such as IEEE in finding useful
information on specific topics.
• To expose students to networking practicals (refer to the lab outline for more details)

9.0 SPECIFIC GENERIC LEARNING SKILLS

Upon completion of the module, student will acquire skills in:
• Identifying the devices used in physical layer.
• Analyzing case study – Based on office automation, system integration and networking.
• Proposing the specific type of network to be used based on the real situations (case study).
• Examining the evolution/history of network protocol based on the timeline given.
• Using the digital library (IEE) in finding useful information.
• Describing the recent data communication development.

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10.0 UNIT SYLLABUS + LECTURE OUTLINE:
Week: 1
LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION TO DATA COMMUNICATION (INTRODUCTION)
Lecture Synopsis:
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Data Communication Networks
1.3 Network Model
1.4 Network Standards
1.5 Future Trends

Handout: Module outline, Chapter 1 PowerPoint handouts

Week: 2
LECTURE 2: BASIC CONCEPTS & OSI Model (INTRODUCTION)
Lecture Synopsis:
2.1. Line Configurations
2.2 Point to Point
2.3 Point to Multipoint
2.4 Topology
2.5 Transmission Mode
2.6 Categories of Networks
2.7 Internetworks
3.1. The OSI Model
3.2. Functions of the Layers

Handout: Chapter 2 PowerPoint handouts

Week: 3
LECTURE 3: APPLICATION LAYER (FUNDAMENTALS)
Lecture Synopsis:
3.1. Application Architectures
3.2 World Wide Web
3.3 Electronic Mail
3.4 Other Application

Handout: Chapter 3 PowerPoint handouts

Week: 4
LECTURE 4: PHYSICAL LAYER (FUNDAMENTALS) – PART I
Lecture Synopsis:
4.1 Circuits
4.2 Digital Transmission of Digital Data
4.3 Analog Transmission of Digital Data
4.4 Digital Transmission of Analog Data

Handout: Chapter 4 PowerPoint handouts & Quiz 1

Week: 5
LECTURE 5: PHYSICAL LAYER (FUNDAMENTALS) – PART II
Lecture Synopsis:
4.5 Analog Digital Modem
4.6 Multiplexing
4.7 Implication for Management
4.8 Summary

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 Handout: Chapter 4 PowerPoint handouts

Week: 6
LECTURE 6: DATA LINK LAYER (FUNDAMENTALS)
Lecture Synopsis:
5.1 Media Access Control
5.2 Error Control
5.3 Data Link Protocols
5.4 Transmission Efficiency
5.5 Summary

Handout: Chapter 5 PowerPoint handouts

Week: 7
Mid- Term Exams

Week: 8

Mid Term Break

Week: 9
LECTURE 7: NETWORK and TRANSPORT LAYER (FUNDAMENTALS) - (PART I)
Lecture Synopsis:
6.1 Transport and Network Layer Protocol
6.2 Transport Layer Functions
6.3 Addressing

Handout: Chapter 6 PowerPoint handouts

Week: 10
LECTURE 8: NETWORK and TRANSPORT LAYER (FUNDAMENTALS) - (PART II)
Lecture Synopsis:
6.4 Routing
6.2 TCP/IP Example
6.3 Summary

Handout: Chapter 6 PowerPoint handouts

Week: 11
LECTURE 9: LOCAL AREA NETWORKS (NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES)
Lecture Synopsis:
7.1 Why Use LAN?
7.2 LAN Components
7.3 Traditional Ethernet (IEEE 802.3)
7.4 Switched Ethernet
7.5 The BEST Practice LAN Design
7.5 Improving LAN Performance
Handout: Chapter 7 PowerPoint handouts

Week: 12

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 LECTURE 10: WIDE AREA NETWORK – THE INTERNET (NETWORK
TECHNOLOGIES)
Lecture Synopsis:
8.1 How the Internet Works
8.2 Internet Access Technologies
8.3 Internet Governance
8.4 Internet 2
8.5 Summary

Handout: Chapter 8 PowerPoint handouts

Week: 13 & 14
REVISION

Week: 15

FINAL EXAMINATION WEEK

11.0 REFERENCES

• Jerry Fitzgerald & Alan Dennis, Business Data Communication And Networking, 9th Edition, John
Wiley & Sons, 2006.
• William Stallings, Data and Computer Communications, 8th Edition, Pearson International
Edition, 2007.
• Behrouz A. Forouzan, Data Communications and Networking, 9th Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2006.
• Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Computer Networks, 7th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2006.

12.0 ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE

ASSIGNMENT ISSUE DUE DATE %

DESCRIPTION DATE
ASSIGNMENT 1: WEEK 2 WEEK 5 15%
ARTICLE REVIEW –
INDIVIDUAL

LAB TEST WEEK 5 WEEK 6 10%

MID-SEMESTER TEST : WEEK 7 WEEK 7 20%

ASSIGNMENT 2:
CASE STUDY-GROUP WEEK 5 WEEK 11 25%

FINAL EXAMINATION : WEEK 15 WEEK 15 30%

TOTAL 100%

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13.0 ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Process of grading and criteria used to determine the grades, passes and high distinctions.

14.0 LEARNING ACTIVITIES

• Students need to identify some transmission devises/media that are being used in data
communication and state their uses. To expose the students to the real devices that are used in
data communication e.g. hub, switch, network cable, router, twisted pair wire, coaxial cable and
etc.
• Article review by using digital library (IEE) to locate the recent data communication
development.
• Based on the case study students are required to describe the office automation, system
integration and types of network to be used for transmission of data.
• Research on the evolution of any network related evolution project e.g. evolution of
network protocol, progression of the internet, progression of the information system and etc..
Students need to prepare reports on the specific research title to be used in History of
computing exhibition. This research paper will expose the student to the timeline of the network
evolution and other related topics in networking.

15.0 SPECIFIC CRITERIA

• Each assignment will be handed out with the project brief and will vary, depending on the
teaching and learning objectives of the specific assignment.
• Each student will receive a completed assessment sheet back with their marks, thereby
giving student feedback on each set criterion and the project as a whole.
• Marks for each project will be posted on the Bulletin Board with student number within 2
weeks of hand-in date.

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