COURSE GUIDE i

TCC 121/05

Programming Fundamentals with Java

Course Guide

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TCC 121/05 Programming Fundamentals with Java

COURSE TEAM
Course Team Coordinator: Dr. Bong Chin Wei Content Adapters: Mr. Clarence Goh, Dr. Bong Chin Wei and Dr. Sivakumar s/o Ramakrishnan Instructional Designers: Professor Dr. Ng Wai Kong and Ms. Marsyitah Ismail

COURSE COORDINATOR
Dr. Sivakumar s/o Ramakrishnan

EXTERNAL COURSE ASSESSOR

Professor Jimmy Lee, Chinese University of Hong Kong

PRODUCTION
Editor: Mr. Terence Too Yang Yau In-house Editor: Mr. Khoo Chiew Keen Graphic Designer: Ms. Chrisvie Ong

Wawasan Open University is Malaysias first private not-for-profit tertiary institution dedicated to adult learners. It is funded by the Wawasan Education Foundation, a tax-exempt entity established by the Malaysian Peoples Movement Party (Gerakan) and supported by the Yeap Chor Ee Charitable and Endowment Trusts, other charities, corporations and members of the public. The course material development of the university is funded by Yeap Chor Ee Charitable and Endowment Trusts.

2008 Wawasan Open University

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from WOU.

Wawasan Open University Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 Penang. Tel: (604) 2289323 Fax: (604) 2279214 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wou.edu.my

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Published by Wawasan Open University 2007. This edition has been revised by Wawasan Open University from the course MT 201 Computing Fundamentals with Java developed by The Open University of Hong Kong with the permission of the owner.

COURSE GUIDE iii

Contents
Course Guide
1.0 Studying at WOU using the distance learning mode 2.0 How to succeed as a distance learner 3.0 The course A brief introduction
About this course Course organisation Objectives Outcomes Course assessment Course delivery Course materials and student support Content adapter profiles 1

5 5 8 8 9 11 11 12 14

4.0 Tutorials Optimising tutorial sessions

Preparing for tutorials Tutors Diagnostic tool Online assignment submission (OAS) system

15 15 15 16 17

5.0 Assessment and examination

Assessment Examination Examination policy

19 19 19 19

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TCC 121/05 Programming Fundamentals with Java

Passing marks Specimen examination questions

20 20

6.0 Supporting facilities 7.0 A word of encouragement

21

23

COURSE GUIDE 1

1.0 Studying at WOU Using the Distance Learning Mode

(Students advancing into the second and subsequent semesters may disregard this section.)

awasan Open University (henceforth abbreviated as WOU) welcomes you to be a member of the community of learners. Advancing your education is one of the most important investments that you can undertake. Hence, it is crucial that you choose the right university to suit your needs. WOU wishes to assist you in your decision making. In this section, we will provide a brief account on how learning takes place at WOU and also how you can work and study simultaneously. WOU has adopted the open distance learning mode as a key element to facilitate the implementation of programmes that will provide you with opportunities for lifelong learning. Our flexible learning programmes will meet the needs of working adults who are unable to study on-campus full-time five days a week for four to five years and yet yearn for an accredited qualification or personal interest enrichment without leaving their homes and jobs. While learning at WOU, you will be supported by comprehensive self-instructional materials that are well-designed and expertly written, an effective Learning Management System (LMS) and a sound tutorial system. WawasanLearn is a software application that uses computer programs to organise your coursework and to also monitor your records and progress. WawasanLearn will guide you through all the stages of your learning life cycle (e.g., assess, learn, reinforce, support and validate) to create the most effective learning experience for you. Tutorials are usually held at nights or weekends at either the WOU campus or at strategically located and well-equipped Regional Offices. You can attend your tutorials at the Learning Centre closest to your residence. A schedule of tutorials will be sent to you at the beginning of each semester. These sessions provide a platform for you to clarify any queries regarding your courses with your tutor and for you to exchange ideas with your coursemates. This would certainly boost your study skills and self-confidence. Your achievement in our courses will depend on your performance in both the continuous assessments and the final examination. In some cases, your attendance at the compulsory day schools or laboratory sessions may also be considered. Studying in an open distance learning environment for an award or qualification demands great commitment from you. Although WOU provides you with a flexible way of learning, you are required to complete assignments and sit for examinations according to the schedule that has been specified.

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In general, besides attending face-to-face tutorials, you should be able to allocate at least 6 hours weekly to study a course. If you are a working adult, it is advisable to discuss your intention to further your studies with your employer as well as with your family members as their feedback can assist you in your decision. Their support will greatly enhance your chance of success.

COURSE GUIDE 3

2.0 How to Succeed as a Distance Learner

(Students advancing into the second and subsequent semesters may disregard this section.)

pen distance learning (ODL) is the system of education in which education is imparted to learners from a distance. The two (2) basic elements in ODL are: 1. The physical separation of instructor and learner. 2. The changed role of the tutor who meets learners only for selected tasks such as counselling, conducting tutorials and collaborating with learners to solve their problems.

In the conventional educational system, teaching content is communicated by the instructor mainly by word of mouth. In distance education, this interpersonal communication is replaced by print, telephone, electronic communication (such as teleconference, audio and video systems), broadcasting, online communication and others. For you, the overriding benefit of ODL is that it gives you access to education that you would not have otherwise. Only a minority of adults can afford to stop work in order to further their studies. ODL allows you to study when and where it suits you and enables you to continue learning while fulfilling your commitments to family, work and community. You may be pursuing higher education for various reasons. You could be interested in changing careers or you might simply want to expand your knowledge base for work or personal reasons. You might even want to pursue a degree programme that was postponed due to family or career needs. In this regard, ODL is able to cater to your needs as you may not have the time, financial resources or educational background to be a full-time student on campus. Thus, distance education is a means to deliver accessible and affordable education to you. It is important for you to bear in mind that in ODL you are not working alone on your journey to a degree. We encourage you to make full use of the facilities and opportunities during your study at WOU especially in getting to know fellow students with whom you can work to achieve your dreams and aspirations. You should always make an attempt to attend all scheduled tutorials, form study groups with your coursemates, check for latest updates on WawasanLearn, participate in e-forums and contact your tutors. Your tutors are there to help you understand the course materials, to clarify any subject matter you have difficulty following and to collaborate with you to enhance your learning experience. They are not there to give a lecture or to answer your assignment questions for you. The email address and telephone number of your tutor will be provided. Try to obtain your tutorial coursemates email addresses and telephone numbers so that you can work together. An active learning community promotes your successful completion of the course.

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COURSE GUIDE 5

3.0 The Course A Brief Introduction

About this course
TCC 121 / 05 Programming Fundamentals with Java will guide and educate you on what computer programming is all about. As languages act as tools to communicate ideas between people, computer languages like Java communicate ideas to a computer. What is really important here is to know what you want the computer to do and what idea to communicate with this machine. Simple tasks which require fundamental Java programming knowledge include writing simple problem-solving solutions like calculating your CGPA, monitoring your monthly car installment and creating games. First, course module will let you peek inside a computer through a virtual tour. Then, it will guide you through the steps you need to take in order to write computer programs. The course module also will teach you everything you need to know in order to develop simple Java programs. It will also provide a lot of examples to help you develop a deeper understanding. By the end of this course, you will feel comfortable with Java programming and will be able to explore more complex aspects of this language. This course is organised into 5 study units. These study units guide your learning. Each unit contains three to four weeks of work and it includes specific objectives, directions for study, commentaries on the material presented in the text and how to apply it. The titles of the specific study units are included in the course overview table. To help you review what you have learnt, the units include self-tests related to the required readings and activities to extend and apply your learning. The self-tests and tutor-marked assignments assist you in achieving the stated learning objectives of individual units and the course. The time needed to compete the study units, work through the self-tests and assignments as well as complete the rest of the course will vary from learner to learner. You can adjust these times to fit your personal needs. Ensure that you have planned your own study schedule. It is important that you complete the self-tests, assignments and the examination successfully and promptly. The course is structured so that each unit builds on previous knowledge. Each unit includes at least four ways to help you study. These are: 1. Reading the study units. 2. Reading the textbook.

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3. Completing the self-tests and activities that appear throughout the units. These will require you to think, observe or undertake some activity that is designed to help you apply the knowledge you have gained. 4. Completing the assignments. The average estimated time that you need to spend in this course is about six to seven hours per week (averagely one hour a day). This estimation includes time for reading the study units and textbook, completing self-tests and practice exercises, completing your assignments, undertaking the suggested reviews, attending tutorials and preparing for your final examination. The course materials complement the textbook by presenting some of the more difficult concepts in an alternate (and often simplified) way to help you understand them. You should remember that the study units are not meant to replace the textbook, which is a good source of information in the course. As a reminder, it is important that you complete and hand in your written assignments on time. You need to bear this in mind when you are planning your study time. You can find more information on assignments in a later section of this Course Guide.

Icons used in course materials (with examples)

In the course materials, you will come across icons that are designed to inform you of the activities that you are required to do before proceeding to the next section. Please follow the guidelines in these examples as the content writers have included these icons in various activities of the course materials. The following icons and examples explain how these icons lead you towards a richer and more productive learning experience.
Activities 1. Activity Icons Examples Circle the words that are used at the beginning of closed questions. why where did who when is what how do would will can 2. Assignment Write a 600-word report comparing and contrasting inflation with stagflation. Load the CD provided with the course materials and open the file xyz.mp3. Play the recorded message and answer the questions in section 2.4 on page 34 of your course materials. Read the following case study on Adidas versus Adventa on copyright infringement. Proceed to answer all the questions that follow. This task should take 45 60 minutes.

3.

Audio

4.

Case Study

COURSE GUIDE 7

5.

Feedback

Great! You have completed the exercises and we hope you have got them right. Here is an example of the suggested answers. If you have most of these keywords, you have done well! Fill in the blanks using the phrases listed in the box (you may use the phrases more than once): be over give up call back put through hang up

6.

Grammar

1. Could you in a moment? Ill check if she is around. 2. Dont 7. Multimedia on me, I will .

Run the Flash file uploaded to WawasanLearn and answer the following question . Submit your answer to the tutor through your tutorial discussion board. Please read How monopolies make produc tion and pricing decisions on pages 318 325 of your textbook. The description about the e-filing system in section 2.1 that you have just read is a useful guide for you to answer question 2b of TMA 2. Please attend to TMA 2 as soon as you can. Answer the following questions using your own words. Please do not look at the suggested answers at the end of this unit until you have completed this self-test. It takes enormous effort and great soft skills to placate an irate phone-in customer. You need patience and diplomacy to reduce the anger expressed and to persuade the irate customer to become a satisfied customer. This section discusses some of the many strategies at your disposal. Hi! I am Roger, your tutor for WOU 333 I called to check if you have received my email about as I am awaiting your confirmation about the group meeting the following week. OR Make an effort to call your tutor within the next two weeks and see if he/she has any new guidance for you.

8.

Reading

9.

Reminder

10.

Self-test

11.

Summary

12.

Telephone Feedback

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13.

Tutorial

Please use the following question to prepare for your next tutorial: Elaborate on the FOUR major economic activities considered essential for the New Economic Policy to succeed within 20 years.

14.

Video

Load the VCD provided with the course materials and open the file xyz.wma. Play the video and answer the questions in section 3.8 on page 53 of your course materials. Inferring the meaning of words Look at the underlined words in the passage above. Match each word with its corresponding synonym. The first one has been done for you. To know more about Malaysias New Economic Policy, try browsing the Web by typing the keywords or log onto the following website: http://members.tripod.com/formulapm/ razak2.html

15.

Vocabulary

16.

Web Reference

* Not all icons are used in this course material.

Course organisation
Unit 1 2 3 4 5 Title Introduction to computer concepts and Java programming Introduction to objects and basic elements of Java Control structures Arrays Applications of arrays Total Weeks 3 4 4 4 3 18 50% TMA 1 (10%) TMA 2 (20%) TMA 3 (20%) Assessment activity

Objectives
The objectives of this course are to: 1. Describe the fundamental concepts in hardware and software. 2. Explain and analyse problems and produce software designs to handle these problems using simple object-oriented programming methodology. 3. Illustrate objects construction and differentiate primitive data types and classes and perform simple data manipulation using Java.

COURSE GUIDE 9

4. Apply major components in programming such as sequence, condition and iteration to develop applications using Java. 5. Use arrays and apply advance control structures in the applications to produce solution designs for problems using Java programming.

Outcomes
TCC 121/05 aims to help you to develop your basic programming skills at the university level. It introduces to you the concepts that will help you understand what programming is and how to produce a piece of program codes that is appropriate for common problem solving. In addition, this course adopts a practical approach to programming skills that you can apply in real-life situations when you use the Java programming language. The course has short-term and long-term outcomes. Immediately upon completion of the course and its associated exercises, you would be confident to comment on and be capable of analysing simple daily programs through implementation of object-oriented programming methodology. You should be capable of writing short programs to perform routine tasks using Java. You should be able to: 1. State the fundamental concepts in hardware and software 2. Explain to analyse problems and produce software designs to handle these problems using basic object oriented programming methodology. 3. Illustrate objects construction and differentiate primitive data types and classes and perform simple data manipulation using Java. 4. Apply the programming major components like sequence, condition and iteration to develop applications using Java language; 5. Describe the use of arrays in manipulating a collection of data. 6. Apply advance control structures in the applications to produce solution designs for problems. 7. Design array based algorithmic solution using searching, sorting, multidimensional tabulation or recursion.

The tutor-marked assignments, (TMA) and examinations are designed to test you and facilitate your progress. To complete the course successfully, you are required to pass both the continuous assessment and the final examination. Table 1.0 shows a detailed suggested weekly reading and continuous corresponding assessment.

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Week 1

Units Unit 1: Introduction to Computer Concepts and Java Programming

Lesson to Study Course Guide Section 1: Problems and computer solutions Section 2: Basic computer structure Section 3: Programming languages Section 4: The Java programming language Section 1: Classes and objects Section 2: Objects in the Java programming language Section 3: Manipulating objects Section 4: What can Java programs manipulate? Section 5: Manipulating data Section 1: Program execution order and simple relational expressions Section 2: Complex relational expressions Section 3: Branching or selection Section 4: Looping

Tutorial T1

Assessment

Unit 2: Introduction to Objects and Basic Elements of Java

Unit 3: Control Structures

T2

TMA 1 due

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Exam Revision Overall units Unit 5: Applications of Arrays Unit 4: Arrays

Section 1: Why are arrays needed? Section 2: Arrays of objects Section 3: Multi-dimensional arrays Section 1: Searching Section 2: Sorting Section 3: Recursion Revision Revision Specimen exam paper Past year exam paper T5 T4 TMA 3 due T3 TMA 2 due

Table 1.0 Suggested weekly reading and corresponding assignments

COURSE GUIDE 11

Course assessment
This course is designed to help you move easily from the stated objectives through the required readings, self-tests, practice exercises and tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) to a final examination. In an assessment, you will be expected to: 1. Demonstrate comprehension of the concepts you have learnt in the course. 2. Integrate course concepts and knowledge with your own experience and observations. 3. Apply course concepts you have learnt in the course to a variety of situations.

The TMAs and an examination are designed to test and facilitate your progress. To complete the course successfully, you are required to pass both the continuous assessment and the final examination.

Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)

You are required to complete all the three TMAs for TCC 121/05. You will complete the first one about one month after commencement of the course to get written feedback on their initial performance. All three assignments are compulsory. They are timed to allow for feedback from one before the next becomes due. The assignments take the form of case studies or programming exercises. In any case, you need to show understanding of course concepts and apply the concepts appropriately in the assignments. TMA 1 is worth 10% meanwhile TMA 2 and 3 are worth 20% each.

Course delivery
Textbook
Malik, D S (2008) Java Programming: From Problem Solving to Program Design, 3rd edn, USA: Thomson Course Technology. or Malik, D S (2005) Java Programming: From Problem Solving to Program Design, 2nd edn, USA: Thomson Course Technology. [The textbook indicated in the Readings of the five study units refers to this book.]

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Supplementary readings
1. Shelly, G B, Cashman, T J, and Vermaat, M E (2004) Discovering Computers 2006: A Gateway to Information, International Student Edition, USA: Thomson Course Technology. 2. Morelli, R (2003) Object-Oriented problem Solving Java, Java, 2nd edn, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 3. Britton, C and Doake, J (2000) Object-Oriented Systems Development, A gentle introduction, USA: McGrawHill. 4. Deitel/Deitel (2003) Java How to Program, 5th edn, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 5. Decker, R (2000) An Introduction to Programming Using Java/With Lab Manual, 2nd edn, USA: PWS Publishing Co. 6. Loftus, L (2000) Java Software Solutions: Foundations of Program Design, 2nd edn, USA: Addison-Wesley Publishing.

Additional readings may be taken from journals, magazines and other books. These may be given in the form of hard copy or uploaded to WawasanLearn. You will also be supplied with the necessary web addresses for readings and listening activities from the Internet.

Course materials and student support

Course materials are the primary source of content that WOU provides for you to study. They normally consist of all or some of the following: Study Units [developed and written by course developer(s)]. Self-tests and activities. Specimen examination questions on WawasanLearn. Other print and non-print media that may accompany the set of course materials.

Apart from WawasanLearn and tutorials, WOU is mindful of the need to support you throughout the course. Our Regional Offices are well-equipped and staffed to attend to your queries whenever they arise. We have Regional Office managers and tutors who will be glad to listen to you. The Regional Office staff will link you to the relevant person when there is a need. The Regional Offices have access to the WOU campus in Penang and are also able to contact the Course Coordinator when required to do so.

COURSE GUIDE 13

Learning management system

This course is supported by WawasanLearn, our Learning Management System (LMS). You can find additional course materials and the latest course information in the LMS. Access to WawasanLearn is by way of a single login password entry into the Student Portal and you can click into the course sites and associated e-forums. You can also communicate with your tutor, the Course Coordinator and your coursemates using WawasanLearn.

Self-help groups
You are advised to organise informal meetings between your coursemates from the same tutorial group. We want to emphasise the benefits of such activities as the collaboration and interaction will be most useful in supporting your efforts to complete your TMAs and to form a learning community. These meetings which are purely voluntary provide a way for you to help one another.

Online support
1. http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/index.html 2. http://www.webreference.com/programming/java/tutorials.html 3. http://math.hws.edu/javanotes/ 4. http://www.apl.jhu.edu/~hall/java/Java-Books.html#Java-Books-Tutorials2 5. http://oopweb.com/Java/Documents/JavaNotes/VolumeFrames.html 6. http://www.cafeaulait.org/course/ 7. http://apex.vtc.com/java.php 8. http://chortle.ccsu.ctstateu.edu/CS151/cs151java.html

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Content adapter profiles

Dr. Bong Chin Wei is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Science and Technology at Wawasan Open University, Malaysia. She possesses a Master and a PhD in Information Technology (IT) from the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) with the Award of Postgraduate and Post-doctoral Fellowship from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, Malaysia. In her 10 years of academic experience, she has delivered various computing and IT courses to graduates and undergraduates in private and public universities as well as colleges. She is also actively involved in research and development in Artificial Intelligence particularly in the area of decision-making theory and fuzzy logic for different applications of optimisation. She has published more than twenty five national and international conference and journal papers. Besides being the IT consultant to a Computer Aided Design (CAD) solution firm, she is also an external examiner for Penang Skill Development Centre (PSDC), Murdoch University academic advisory board member for KDU College and paper reviewer for several international journals and conferences. Dr. Sivakumar s/o Ramakrishnan is a senior lecturer in the School of Science and Technology at Wawasan Open University, Malaysia. He received his PhD in Mathematic Modelling (specialised in Cognitive Information) and two of his masters degree MSc. in Information Technology and MSc. in Mathematics from the University Science Malaysia (USM). He has over 10 years of postgraduate and undergraduate level teaching experience. He has published various international research papers in the area of cognitive and hermeneutics logic. His current research interest include: artificial intelligence, advance logics, hermeneutic computing, knowledge representation, cognitive science and ontology. Mr. Clarence Goh holds a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a Masters in Education from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. In addition, he has 5 years working experience as a lecturer, teaching students aged from 18 65 years old at various local institutions of higher learning including Wawasan Open University, Penang Skills Development Centre and Politeknik Seberang Perai. He is also a certified HRDF trainer an has a wide experience in training engineers from Western Digital (formerly Komag USA), Intel, Avago and Knowles Electronics. He was also nominated as a subject expert and selected to be a course content developer by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education. He participates actively in international conferences and has published numerous papers pertaining to software engineering and digital signal processing.

COURSE GUIDE 15

4.0 Tutorials Optimising Tutorial Sessions

o assist you in this course, the appointed tutor will conduct five tutorials. Each tutorial is two hours long and is held during weekends. Tutorials are face-to-face sessions that enable you to exchange ideas and experiences and also initiate contact with others. This will benefit you. Note: These sessions complement distance learning materials and are not intended to replace them in the form of lectures. In this course, the primary means of learning is through WOU course materials, textbooks and online references.

Preparing for tutorials

In order to benefit fully from a tutorial, complete the readings and various activities for the topics you learn. You are also advised to prepare the answers to the assigned case studies so that you can participate meaningfully in the tutorial discussions. Time has been allocated in the study schedule for this.

Tutors
The appointed tutors will: Conduct tutorials. Assess students TMA answer scripts. Be available at designated times for online consultation and by telephone (if necessary) with students.

Tutors are your first point of contact with WOU. If you need any information or have any problems, please speak to the tutors before contacting the Course Coordinator.

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Diagnostic tool
Course Self Tutorials TMAs Library Telephone Wawasan- Total materials -study research consultation Learn hours Course Guide Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Total hours 2 18 20 20 20 20 100 0 2 3 3 3 2 13 0 10 10 5 5 0 30 0 1 1 1 1 0 4 0 1 2 2 2 1 8 0 10 10 10 10 5 45 2 42 46 41 41 28 200

TMA policy
The assignment policy of the University as stated in the Student Handbook should be observed. You are required to submit the TMAs for a course in accordance with the dates communicated by the Course Coordinator. You may apply for a submission extension on the grounds of illness, accident, disability, bereavement or other compassionate circumstances. Applications for extensions of up to seven days should be submitted to the tutor. The tutor shall consider valid and unexpected emergencies on an individual basis. Normally, documented proof of the extenuating circumstances is not required for extensions of up to seven days. The tutor shall decide and advise you of the revised date for submission.

For extensions of over seven days, you should note the following: 1. If you require an extension of more than seven days on the grounds of illness, accident, disability, bereavement or other compassionate circumstances, you are required to inform your respective tutors of your request and also fill in the T-EX (Application for TMA Submission Extension) Form. The form will have to be submitted to your Course Coordinator or the Dean.

2. Supporting documents must be submitted with the application for extension of over seven (7) days to justify the claim.

3. Applications for extension should normally be lodged before or on the due date.

COURSE GUIDE 17

4. Applications are considered by: The Course Coordinator for extensions of 8 to 14 days. The Dean for extensions of up to 21 days.

If the TMA is posted to the tutor, you need to check that the TMA has been received by your tutor (for instance, confirmation through telephone or email). Applications for extension without supporting documents on the grounds of postal loss will not be accepted. WOU cannot accept any responsibility for TMAs that are not received by your tutor due to problems with the postal service. As a precaution, you are advised to keep a copy of each TMA you submit and obtain a certificate of posting from the post office when you post your TMA. According to WOU policy, there is no extension of the deadline for TMA 3 submission.

Online assignment submission (OAS) system

To further enhance the learning support services, WOU provides an option for online submission of TMAs for certain courses. Please refer to your tutor at the beginning of the semester. To submit your TMAs online (if applicable), you have to log onto https://assignment. wou.edu.my. Here are some instructions for OAS: 1. You are allowed to submit each TMA only once. In the event there is more than one submission either online or manually, your tutor will mark the earliest TMA submitted. Therefore, you must be careful to attach the right file for online TMA submissions.

2. Submissions must be in accordance to the file format which is likely to be Microsoft .doc, .ppt or .xls as stated in your TMA instructions. a. Failure to do so may result in that TMA not being marked by your tutor. b. Do not submit your file in .pdf format. c. If you need to submit more than one file, zip the files in a folder. d. The maximum file size for any attachment is 3 megabytes. Please avoid sending a huge file containing graphics. Files exceeding 3 megabytes will not be delivered by the system.

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3. For online TMA submissions, you need not fill in the manual 3-ply T-MA Form.

4. For late TMA submissions, you must submit the approved TMA extension form (i.e., the T-EX Form) to your tutor either manually or electronically. The TMA extension procedure applies.

5. The deadline for TMA submissions will be as stipulated and the closing time for online submissions will be set at 12 midnight of the same stipulated date. You are advised to submit your TMAs early to avoid any unforeseen circumstances.

6. Once each TMA is successfully submitted to your tutor via the OAS system, you will receive a notification via email. You do not have to submit the hardcopy as a back-up copy to the Regional Office.

7. You will be informed by email when the TMA results are available. Please check your WOU email account regularly.

COURSE GUIDE 19

5.0 Assessment and Examination

Assessment
Assessment in the course is based on two components TMAs and a final examination. The TMAs can be submitted in a variety of modes. For instance, assignment questions can be answered at home and submitted before the due date. The Computer-marked Assignment (CMA) is done via WawasanLearn (where applicable). All the assessment modes fit into three TMAs for computational and grading purposes. The final examination will be conducted at the designated examination centre after the one-week study break. With your student ID and password, you should be able to download the three TMAs from the Universitys Learning Management System i.e., WawasanLearn. If you encounter any difficulty, please contact your Regional Office (RO) for assistance.

Examination
The final examination contributes 50% of the total course marks. The examination of three hours duration consists of multiple choice questions, structured questions and essay questions. The overall assessment will be constituted as follows:
Type TMA 1 TMA 2 TMA 3 Final examination Total course marks Weightage 10% 20% 20% 50% 100%

Examination policy
You are required to attend all scheduled examinations that make up a final grade at the appointed time and place. Students who are experiencing illness or a personal crisis and are unable to sit for any examination have to state [in writing] to the Registrar the reasons for their absence. Each submission must be supported by valid documents within seven (7) days from the date of the examination and will be considered by the University on its merits and on a case-by-case basis. If you miss a scheduled examination without approval, you will be awarded zero marks for the examination.

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Passing marks
To pass a course, you need to pass both components. You have to achieve at least 40% in the continuous assessment component as well as in the final examination component. Your performance in these two components will determine your total score for the course. For LAN courses, you would need to achieve at least a 50% total score to pass.

Course grade table

Marks Grade 75 A 60 74 B 50 59 C 46 49 C 40 45 D 39 F

Specimen examination questions

For samples of specimen examination questions, please download them from WawasanLearn (https://lms.wou.edu.my).

COURSE GUIDE 21

6.0 Supporting Facilities

You will need to access to an IBM PC compatible computer with the following minimum configuration: Hardware Personal Computer with x86 processor (300MHz) or equivalent. 128MB RAM. Internet connection via 56K dialup modem or broadband.

Software Windows 98 Second Edition or newer version. Web Browser: Netscape 4.78 or Internet Explorer 5.0, or compatible. Word Processor: Microsoft Word or WordPad. OpenOffice is available from the Internet. Note: The hardware configuration above is the bare minimum. The Java Software will be provided by WOU or you can download it from the official Java website.

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COURSE GUIDE 23

7.0 A Word of Encouragement

TCC 121/05 Programming Fundamentals with Java is targeted at helping you to develop your logical algorithm construction and problem solving skills. These skills cannot be acquired without effort and perseverance just like the saying practice makes perfect. In ODL (Open Distance Learning) mode, you are expected to be independent in order to manage your studies well. You must master the essential study and practical skills of the programming methods in order to succeed in this course. Therefore, you must manage your time efficiently to complete the assignments promptly, attend tutorial sessions, review tutorial notes and practice coding exercises. Your tutor and I will be able to assist you further by facilitating and guiding content matters in terms of delivering the structured and summarised gist of the concepts introduced in this course. I wish you all the best in your studies.