COIT20261 - Network Routing and Switching

General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit provides you with fundamental skills and knowledge in the design and operation of computer networks. It deals in-depth with the techniques described in current Internet protocols to forward data packets from source to destination through different types of networks. You will focus on the Transport and Internet layer functions with emphasis on IPv4 addressing as well as switching and routing technologies. An introduction to IPv6 and transition issues is included. The unit covers these functions in both Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs). The function of the key protocols in wireless networks are also discussed, ensuring a well-rounded grounding to enable easier adaptation to imminent significant developments such as the global adoption of IPv6 and the growing dominance of wireless networking in business and everyday life. Delivery of this comprehensive content is through a weekly lecture and tutorial which includes theory and some hands-on lab activity where available.

Details

Level Postgraduate
Unit Level 9
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: COIT20246 Networking and Cyber Security

Anti-requisite: COIT20229 Networking with TCI/IP.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 3 - 2025

Term 3 - 2025 Profile
Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

This information will not be available until 8 weeks before term.
To see assessment details from an earlier availability, please search via a previous term.

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 1 - 2024 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 80.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 44.72% response rate.

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Student Feedback
Feedback
The lecture slides should be concise and well organised.
Recommendation
The lecture slides should be reviewed and updated.
Action Taken
Lecture slides have been trimmed down to 30-35 per lecture ensuring they now align seamlessly with the lecturer's flow for improved student comprehension. There have been no further feedback, comments or complaints from students or staff regarding the number or content of the slides provided in Moodle.
Source: Feedback from Internship Hosts
Feedback
Students are lacking in hands-on experience.
Recommendation
Increase the practical activities with industry related tools, i.e., related to CCNA.
Action Taken
Tutorials in the second half of term now focus more on practical lab activities such as configuring routers. Ongoing feedback from internship hosts needs to be sought to determine what further actions may be appropriate to enhance student hands-on experiences.
Source: Teaching Team
Feedback
The coverage of cutting-edge cloud technologies is lacking.
Recommendation
Increase the coverage of state-of-the-art cloud technologies, i.e., Microsoft Azure cloud platform.
Action Taken
Consideration of this task is ongoing.
Source: Student feedback
Feedback
Consider incorporating more practical activities, e.g. cloud computing, into the assessments to enhance hands-on learning and reinforce students' understanding of the learning materials.
Recommendation
Integrate hands-on lab exercises using cloud computing tools such as Microsoft Azure into the unit. Assessing one or more of the lab activities should serve to reinforce student learning and enhance their practical experience.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Student feedback, reflection
Feedback
Ensure feedback on assessment is clear, informative and practical to students.
Recommendation
Establish a minimum standard for delivering marker feedback that emphasises clarity, informativeness, and practicality to students. This should ensure a benchmark consistency across campuses and staff in providing feedback that meets student expectations.
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes
This information will not be available until 8 weeks before term.
To see Learning Outcomes from an earlier availability, please search via a previous term.