Evaluation Report on Computer Networks and Operating Systems

Learning Outcomes Addressed

Learning Outcomes Addressed

1. Apply in-depth knowledge and demonstrate critical understanding of the concepts and  principles of computer networks and operating systems, including security, and their  application in a range of current and emerging technologies. Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

2. Systematically identify and analyse complex computer networking and operating system problems and apply a range of relevant technologies in the design and specification of solutions.

3. Demonstrate awareness of the impact of operating systems and networks on professional practice and related legal, ethical, security and social issues. Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity):

4. Effectively communicate computer networks and operating systems subject research and practical work through a portfolio assignment.

In each entry, choose one topic from each of the two subjects (in Appendix II). Write an Evaluation Report for each entry. Specifically:

· one evaluation report for entry “Computer Organization and Operating Systems”, choosing one topic from “Computer Organization” and one topic from “Operating Systems”

· one evaluation report for entry “Networking, Internet and Security” choosing one topic from “Networking” and one topic from “Internet and Security”.

The assessment is made up of two entries, each constituting 50 percentage of the whole assignment mark. Each entry should have the following structure and include the following:

1. Evaluation report

1. Abstract: This will give an overview of the issues you are addressing and the overview of the evaluation report. (~ 200 words)

2. Background: Introduces the project and the topics used. This will give a background to the  area as a mini literature review. Remember to reference sources rather than using literal quotes.

3. Advantages: A reasoned and referenced discussion of associated with the chosen topic.

4. Disadvantages: A reasoned and referenced discussion of associated with the chosen topic.

5. Legal and Ethical: Professional practice and relevant legal, ethical and social issues

6. Conclusions: This will give reasoned support for your recommendation based on the relative importance of the advantages compared to the disadvantages. Furthermore it will discuss the likely importance of the topics in the computing industry over the next few years.

Academic depth might be achieved through a combination of the following work:

A literature survey;

Critical evaluation of a technique;

Survey of an application area;

Analysis and solution of a technical problem;

Justification of the choice of a technology;

A good foundation for an evaluation report is the building of a relationship between theory and practice. A common formula for an evaluation report involves a survey of existing work and the established theory, a hypothesis and some work to test or prove the theory. Although your evaluation report may fall outside this well-trodden path, attainment of the highest assessment level will require you to survey existing work in the area of the evaluation report and to reflect on where your evaluation report fits in this framework.

There are about 3 levels of using materials from source of reference:

(1) Quotations – You are allowed to reproduce a small amount of text from the source. For example: “In effect, XML turns every web page into a programmable mini-database.” [Gates 1998] Quotation marks must be used, as the text is ‘word for word’ the same as in the original source. In addition to quotation marks, the source of reference must be clearly indicated as in [Gates1998]. bviously, only a very small amount of quotations are allowed in your report. (Say not more than a

total of 10 lines in a report of about 7 pages) A line or two of text copied from source, without quotation marks, will be considered as plagiarism.

(2) Rewrite or paraphrase – You read the material from a source and have rewritten it in your own words after digesting / understanding it. In this case, you still have to indicate your source of reference, e.g. [Gates 1998] say at the end of a sentence or paragraph. Obviously, details of [Gates 1998] should be included in the list of references towards the end of your report. In practice, references should be indicated throughout your report, as your knowledge about the topic of your report are largely acquired from your collection of articles (source of reference).