Week 01 Notes for DAT2343 - Winter 2011

Ian! D. Allen - idallen@idallen.ca - www.idallen.com

Winter 2011 - January to April 2011 - Updated 2011-03-26 05:19 EDT

1 DAT2343 - Computer Systems ArchitectureIndexup to index

1.1 Course Description, Course Outline, TimetableIndexup to index

From the Course Outline:

This course provides students with a basic understanding of computer architecture. The focus of the course is on hardware and its functions, internal encoding of data and instructions, logic circuits, microprocessor instruction execution, levels of computer languages and how they are processed. Basic assembler simulation provides a practical application. Prerequisites: CST8281

1.2 Course Home PageIndexup to index

The Course Home Page is located off-campus. You can link to it via the Algonquin Blackboard system or via either link below:

Make sure you find the page for this term, not previous terms! Bookmark both the .com and the .org page locations.

Read the Course Home Page carefully, including the parts about plagiarism and course notes. Note the important dates. Write down on paper the location of the Alternate Web Notes.

1.3 Course Documents on BlackboardIndexup to index

1.4 Course Textbook and ReadingsIndexup to index

There is no formal textbook for this course. The main source of content for this course will be the web-based notes provided on-line.

You will be expected to follow the course outline and keep up-to-date with the reading in the web notes even when specific reading assignments are not provided in class. Ideally, to optimize your understanding of the lecture material, corresponding material should be read prior to the class in which it is covered.

Note that just printing the class notes on paper is no substitute for actually reading and understanding them. Print less and read more!

1.5 Course HandoutsIndexup to index

1.6 Course Marking SchemeIndexup to index

For full mark credit, read the Test Instructions for important directions on how to enter your answers on the mark-sense forms.

Homework Exercises / Assignments / Projects - 25%

Homework, in the form of exercises, assignments, and small projects to be picked-up from the web and answered and submitted electronically, will be assigned approximately weekly. Such assignments are to be completed by the given due dates. Assignments that are not submitted by their due dates may not be marked.

Approximately 1/3 of the minor homework assignments will be collected for marking using a random draw. All projects will be marked.

Most marks for minor homework assignments will be based on a written demonstration that a reasonable attempt was made to answer each of the assigned problems, whether or not the correct answers were obtained. (If you don’t answer, or don’t show your work and only submit an incorrect answer, no marks will be awarded.) All homework will be answered fully either in class or online; check your actual answers and your work against the correct solutions provided.

Much of the Test and Exam material will be based on the Homework.

Two Mid-Term Tests - 15% + 20% = 35%
Midterm and Exam dates will be posted on the Course Home Page. Put them in your own personal calendar and agenda!
Final Exam - 30%
All tests and exams will be based largely on modified homework assignment questions. A majority of the material for each test will come from material covered in the immediately preceding weeks, but material is cumulative and many questions (especially on the final exam) will be based on material covered earlier in the course.
Course Feedback and Participation - 10%
Many opportunities will be provided throughout the term to earn the final 10% of your course mark via feedback to the instructor. You will be self-grading many of your assignments as credit toward your mark. I will use the self-grades to assess areas that need more lecture and lab attention.

For full mark credit, read the Test Instructions for important directions on how to enter your answers on the mark-sense forms.

2 Instructor Contact Info and TimetableIndexup to index

3 Attendance, Attention, and Success FactorsIndexup to index

Attendance is also critical to course success. If you know the material and don’t need to come to classes, ask for a Prior Learning Assessment. If you paid to be here, please be here.

If you are in class, shut your laptop, turn off your phone, and pay attention to your lecturer. The person at the front of the room cannot compete with the entire Internet and your personal phonebook for your attention - he doesn’t have the budget. If you’re bored or falling asleep, take notes.

3.1 Take Notes in ClassIndexup to index

You will need to take notes in class. Not everything I say ends up in these online files. Passing the information through your body onto paper or into a computer helps you remember it, even if you never read the notes later. If you have a question about course content, the first thing I will ask is to see your notes, to see what you wrote down about the topic. Often the answer is there!

3.2 Plan your WorkloadIndexup to index

The overall term workload usually overwhelms students who try to leave everything to the last minute. You need to put in approximately an extra hour per day, per course, to keep up. There aren’t enough hours in a day to catch up in mid-term.

3.3 Submit on TimeIndexup to index

Late assignments are penalized, usually resulting in a mark of zero. The due date for an assignment is given in the assignment. Read each assignment to know the due date. Not every assignment is due on the same weekday or at the same time; pay attention and record each due date in your weekly calendars.

3.4 Read your EMailIndexup to index

You must read your course email regularly.

EMail is a critical component of course delivery for this course. If you don’t read your Algonquin College email account daily, make sure that your forward your College email to an account that you do read. See the link on the Course Home Page.

Test to make sure that your forwarded Algonquin email works! Send yourself a test message. You must have a working Algonquin EMail address for this course (that you can forward elsewhere).

Make sure you add idallen@idallen.ca and alleni@algonquincollege.com to your email white-list, or you may not receive important email from me, especially email with your marks in it. Whitelist me now!

4 PlagiarismIndexup to index

See the Course Home Page for information on copying and working together on assignments.

You may not copy material from anywhere else without clearing the copying with me and identifying the source, in writing or by email, first. If your submission resembles that of another person, I am required to inquire whether you are the author.

If I authorize copying, and only if, you must attribute the source of copied material that you use that isn’t yours. Most coursework does not permit copying, group work, or “working together” on a common answer. Do your own work unless the assignment permits group work.

You earn marks for the new material that you write, not material that comes from other people and other sources (e.g. from me).

5 Lecture Notes for This WeekIndexup to index

5.2 From Blackboard Course DocumentsIndexup to index

These documents have restricted distribution and cannot be put on the Course Home Page.

5.3 From the InternetIndexup to index

5.4 From the Classroom Whiteboard/ChalkboardIndexup to index

Make sure you add idallen@idallen.ca and alleni@algonquincollege.com to your email white-list, or you may not receive important email from me, especially email with your marks in it. Whitelist me now!

Computer Architecture Explained
Author: 
| Ian! D. Allen  -  idallen@idallen.ca  -  Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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