Assignment on Distributed and Parallel Technologies

Groups

What am I required to do in this assignment?

For this assignment you need to from groups of 3 (three) to 4 (four) students.

The aim of this assignment is for each group to select and investigate a particular area of distributed and parallel technologies to obtain background knowledge, and explore state-of-the-art approaches and cutting-edge applications. The particular area for your research can be chosen from the list of keywords provided on the Assignment Group tab of the BREO site.  Your group investigation should be focused on the area selected.  

You should substantiate your work with well-referenced secondary research relying on several research papers published preferably in journals, as conferences papers or in research books. Each group member should select and review at least one research paper.  After conducting sufficient research, your group will need to write and submit a report discussing and summarising all your findings.

An example of the format might be:

• Abstract : Summarising the content and findings of your report. (All group members must contribute to this).
• Introduction : Introducing the selected area of your research. (All group members must contribute to this).
• Individual Reviews of Research Papers : Discussing content of the research paper – rationale, methods and tools used, findings and conclusions.  (This is individual work – one research paper reviewed by each group member – and the name of the student writing the review must be clearly indicated).
• Discussion : Discussing the findings of the research papers reviewed in the context of your selected group topic. (All group members must contribute to this).
• Conclusions : Concluding the report.  (All group members must contribute to this).
• References: A complete list of references used.  
• Appendix: For each of the main research papers referred to in your report you should provide - title, author(s), affiliation(s), abstract and publication details.

This is a formal report and attention should be given to the format of this work.  You should include a title page, table of contents, heading and sub-headings, and captions for figures.  You are strongly advised to use the report template provided.

In addition, you must use a professional approach to referencing your sources of your research.   You should follow the referencing system in the template, or use the Harvard Referencing System which includes citations in the body of the text to sources which are appropriately listed in the Reference list.

Further information on referencing is available:

1.On the BREO area for this unit

2.At the Learning Resource Centre’s Guide to Referencing section

Please note that all submissions with will checked for similarity to other sources, and evidence of plagiarism will be severely penalised.

Groups:

The size of the groups should not be larger than four (4) people. Assignments by a group of three (3) people are also acceptable. However, you will not gain any advantage by doing so.

You will need to sign-up for one of the groups made available on BREO.  You will also need to provide student numbers and names for all group members on the COVER SHEET of the submitted report. Only one report should be submitted by each group. If your name does not show on the cover sheet, this means you have not attempted this assignment.

If there is a dispute within the group, you should inform the lecturer or unit coordinator, so that a meeting with the group can be held in the first two weeks of the assignment where the matter can be resolved.

Deliverables:

1.Electronic copies of individual research papers to be sent to the unit leader as soon as these papers are identified. The research papers should be approved by the unit leader.

2.A confidential Peer Reflection Form (one from each student) to be submitted using the appropriate link on BREO.   This should reflect on the ease or difficulties that you encountered when completing this group assignment.  It should include how you found information, how you worked with the others in the group to produce the common parts of the report (the abstract, introduction, discussion, conclusion and references), what you have learned from doing this group research work, and how would you do things differently in the future?

3.A presentation prepared by each group which will be delivered during the 2nd practical session in the Week 5.

Each Group made available on BREO is labelled with one of the Keywords to be researched.  Please check the Keywords first and then make you choice of topic for your group.

What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)

A full set of deliverables.  A word-processed report.  A good attempt at understanding the issues of DPC.  Research, critically reflect and explain current research and future trends in distributed and parallel technologies

How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?

A submission which clearly demonstrates an awareness of the issues of DPA and an understanding of selected research topic.  Evidence in the report that the student has a sound, and perhaps complete, grasp of the selected topic and methodology covered by the module to date.

Evidence of further reading and research.

How does this assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?

Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the theoretical practical concepts in design and implementation of parallel and distributed computing technologies

Autonomously apply appropriate principles and technologies to specify and develop distributed and parallel systems with optimised performance and critically evaluate their effectiveness

How will my assignment be marked?

Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations and the criteria on the following page.

You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit.