Soft Computing (7168.5)

Required texts

There is no mandatory Textbook for this unit. However the much of the course content is covered well in the following textbook, (which also has a good introduction to Neural Networks, Genetic Algorithms and even has a chapter on Hybrid AI). Artificial Intelligence: An Introduction to Intelligent Systems. 2nd Edition, Michael Negnevitsky, Addison Wesley.

The definitive book on Artificial intelligence is "Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, Global Edition (3e) By Stuart Russell, Peter Norvig" which is also helpful.

Students may find a Book on Python useful.. See week 1 slides for details.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

All marked tutorials and Assignments will be submitted on Canvas , some  also involve a demonstration marked in tutorial class.

Quizzes will be done during lecture times The week 9 quiz will be less than an hour in length. The Week 13 Quiz will be about 1.5 hoursin length. These Quizes are available at that time only. If you are unable to attend the quiz at that time you should obtain a doctors certificate and advise the Lecturer as soon as possible.

Special assessment requirements

It is necessary to pass the Quizzes if you fail to get 25 of the 50 Quiz marks you will fail the unit.

Assignment demonstrations (if required) are not optional you must demonstrate assignments when required. It is your responsibility to arrange with the tutor or unit convenor when to demonstrate your assignments if you cannot attend on the prescribed day(s).

The late penalties for MT1 and MT2 assignments vary from those normally applied by the university - specifically some re-submissions may be permitted, see the relevant assignment documentation and Canvas page for details.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is not offered in this unit unless required by the relevant university policy.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Important Note on the combining of assignment and Exam marks

NOTE 1: It is necessary to pass the Quiz part of the unit if you fail the Quizzes your final unit result will be NX Fail regardless of your total unit mark.

NOTE 2:

NOTE 1: It is necessary to pass the Quiz part of the unit if you fail the Quizzes your final grade will be NX Fail regardless of your total unit mark.

NOTE 2: The unit convenor reserves the right to question students on any of their submitted work for moderation and academic integrity purposes, which may result in an adjustment to the marks awarded for a specific task.

NOTE3: The lecturer/moderator reserves the right to increase a student’s mark for academic merit. This is done rarely but can be done for: consistency, elegance, forum or class participation or creativity.

NOTE4: If student behaviour could possibly be interpreted as plagiarism, but there is some doubt they will be advised by the unit convener to modify their behaviour.

NOTE5: If the lecturer feels a student is guilty of deliberate unambiguous plagiarism, the students details, and the plagiarism details will be passed to the ADE (Assistant Dean Academic) for assessment. Students are referred the university policy on plagiarism in this case.

NOTE6: If optional work is not submitted the student will receive a grade of 0 for that work;

NOTE3: The lecturer/moderator reserves the right to increase a student’s mark for academic merit. This is done rarely but can be done for: consistency, elegance, forum or class participation or creativity.

NOTE4: If student behaviour could possibly be interpreted as plagiarism, but there is some doubt they will be advised by the unit convener to modify their behaviour.

NOTE5: If the lecturer feels a student is guilty of deliberate unambiguous plagiarism, the students details, and the plagiarism details will be passed to the ADE (Assistant Dean Academic) for assessment. Students are referred the university policy on plagiarism in this case.

NOTE6: If optional work is not submitted the student will receive a grade of 0 for that work;

Learner engagement

Lectures 24 hours

Tutorials 22 hours

Consultation 8 hours (on - line)

Marked tutorial 1, 4 hours

Marked tutorial 2, 3 hours

Assignment 1, 18 hours

Assignment 2, 12 hours

Non assessable tutorials 15 hours

Research 18 hours

Reading 15 hours

Quizes 11 hours (including revision)

Total 150 hours (to get to a grade of 65 (credit) for an average student)

Participation requirements

Your subject participation may involve demonstrations for any submitted assessment material; Your attendance in the virtual room is required to do the Quizes.  No other participation is
mandatory.

Required IT skills

Students are assumed to be, generally computer literate and comfortable compiling and executing a program in a 3rd generation object oriented language such as Python, java, c++ or c#.

This unit involves online meetings in real time using the Virtual Room in your UCLearn teaching site. The Virtual Room allows you to communicate in real time with your lecturer and other students. To participate verbally, rather than just typing, you will need a microphone. For best audio quality we recommend a microphone and speaker headset. For more information and to test your computer, go to the Virtual Room in your UCLearn site and 'Join Course Room'. This will trigger a tutorial to help familiarise you with the functionality of the virtual room.
 

In-unit costs

None

Work placement, internships or practicums

Not Applicable

• Semester 2, 2023, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (213706)
• Semester 2, 2022, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (207245)
• Semester 2, 2021, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (202094)
• Semester 2, 2020, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (195599)
• Semester 2, 2019, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (185341)
• Semester 2, 2018, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (181934)