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Session 2520

Computer and Network Technology Education at Maximum Value and Minimum Cost

D Veal, S P Maj Department of Computer Science Edith Cowan University Western Australia. Abstract

Rapid advances in technology place considerable demands on computer and network curriculum. A market analysis clearly demonstrated that the standard approach to teaching computer and network technology failed to meet the expectations of both students and employers. A subsequent, preliminary international market analysis endorsed this finding. Accordingly a new curriculum was designed, implemented and evaluated at Edith Cowan University. The student demand for this curriculum has always exceeded possible places and student attrition rate has been consistently very low. An independent review of one unit found: 80% would recommend this unit; 75% found the practical sessions useful; 70% found the unit relevant to their needs and 55% think this should be a compulsory unit. Significantly, this curriculum attracts students from a wider range of disciplines (Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Business IT, Multimedia etc) and also students from other universities within the state.

This portfolio of new units provides each pair of students with their own client-server network connected to the Internet, a wide range of PCs and associated equipment. Workshops include the installation and testing of: master-slave Hard disc, CD-ROM, Digital Video Disc (DVD), flat bed scanner, PC video camera, Infra-red communications link, Zip Disc etc. Other workshop exercises include establishing and testing a video conference communications link via a local area network. With nearly over two hundred students every semester the logistics associated with supporting this type of laboratory are non-trivial. Issues include: initial equipment cost, student safety, damage to equipment and technical support, This paper presents details of how this new curriculum was designed and implemented at a minimum cost.

1. Introduction

Reports such as the 1991 ACM/IEEE-CS Computing Curricula 1 provide the foundations of computer science curriculum world wide and set benchmarks for accreditation by professional bodies. The computer science degree at Edith Cowan University (ECU) is level one accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS). According to the 1991 ACM/IEEE-CS report, “The outcome expected for students should drive the curriculum

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Maj, S. P., & Veal, D. (2000, June), Computer And Network Technology Education At Maximum Value And Minimum Cost Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8224