CQUniversity Unit Profile.

You will undertake two (2) quizzes. Each quiz will cover topics leading up to that quiz and may include topics covered by the previous quiz. Typically, the quizzes will assess your knowledge of the lecture content and tutorial activities. Some questions may require you to use software demonstrated in lectures and/or used in tutorial activities. Each quiz will consist of multiple questions, which may be of various types, such as multiple-choice, short answer, calculations, written text, or upload of a file. Questions may vary across students. All quizzes are individual assessments.

The two quizzes will be conducted as supervised in-class assessments.

1. Quiz 1 will be conducted in Week 7 during your allocated tutorial class under the supervision of your tutor. Only a single attempt is allowed.
2. Quiz 2 will be conducted in Week 11 during your allocated tutorial class under the supervision of your tutor. Only a single attempt is allowed. The quiz will normally be completed in the first part of the Week 11 tutorial, with the remaining tutorial time used for other scheduled activities and/or assessment support.

Online (DST) students will undertake each quiz in the scheduled online tutorial session through Zoom or another platform advised by the Unit Coordinator. Online students must have access to a working webcam, speakers, microphone, and stable Internet connection, and must be prepared to share their screen if requested.

You will not be allowed to take a quiz at any time outside the specified quiz session unless an Assessment Extension Request is approved. If you arrive late for class, you will not be granted extra time. Changes to quiz times can only be granted with approval by the Unit Coordinator.

Both quizzes are exempt from the 72-hour submission grace period. Quiz 1 must be completed during your Week 7 tutorial class, and Quiz 2 must be completed during your Week 11 tutorial class, unless an approved extension or alternative arrangement has been granted.

AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - NO AI

You must not use AI at any point during either quiz. You must demonstrate your own core skills and knowledge. This applies to both Quiz 1 and Quiz 2.

There are two (2) quizzes, split as follows:

• Quiz 1: 10%
• Quiz 2: 20%

In most cases, quiz answers will be automatically marked, with marks awarded based on the correctness of the answer within the context of topics covered in the unit. Questions may be worth different marks, with the marks shown in the quiz. If quiz answers are manually marked (e.g., explanation-style questions), then marks will be awarded based on the correctness and clarity of the answer.

It is important you answer the questions within the context of this unit. There are sometimes different meanings of terms in networking and cyber security. You will be expected to use the terms as covered in the lecture materials and tutorial activities.

As results and solutions may be released shortly after the due date, late submissions are not accepted. Making no attempts before the due date will result in a score of 0.

You will complete a practical group assessment involving computer networking and cyber security tasks. These tasks may include deploying and analysing a simple web application, examining HTTP communication, using browser Developer Tools, performing DNS lookups, inspecting TLS certificate information, applying encryption techniques, exchanging encrypted messages, and documenting your findings. You will need to use software and/or hardware tools to complete some tasks. Full task details, report templates, submission requirements and supporting instructions will be provided on Moodle.

This is a group assessment consisting of two (2) students unless a different group size is approved by the Unit Coordinator. You should form your own group, but if a group is not formed within a reasonable time, the Unit Coordinator may allocate you to a group. Generally, changing groups is not allowed once the assessment starts. If a student is not contributing to the project, such as being absent or not responding to communications, the other student must inform the Unit Coordinator as soon as possible.

Your submission will include:

1. A written report in Microsoft Word using the answer template provided, addressing the specified networking and security tasks;
2. Required supporting files, such as website files and encryption-related files, as specified on Moodle;
3. Each student must complete an individual technical demonstration and question session. This will normally be conducted during the scheduled Week 12 tutorial class under the supervision of the tutor. During this session, you may be asked to show and explain parts of your submitted work, such as your website, DevTools evidence, DNS lookup, TLS certificate information, OpenSSL commands, encryption files or Teams exchange evidence. The purpose is to confirm that each student understands the work submitted by the group. Online students or students with approved special arrangements may complete this activity through Zoom or another approved mode. A recorded video may be required only for approved online or special cases where a live demonstration is not possible.

The format and limits of the submission can be found on Moodle.

AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI COLLABORATION

You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use.

You will be assessed on your ability to:

• Select appropriate components (including network devices, protocols, security mechanisms) to build small networks and/or Internet applications. 
• Use software tools effectively to investigate the operation of networks and to apply network and security techniques. 
• Communicate, through the written report and individual technical demonstration/question session, network and cyber security concepts in a clear manner. 

Normally, all students in the same group will receive the same mark. However, individual marks may be assigned in some cases, e.g., for individual reflections or if the marker determines there is a significant difference in contributions of students in a group.

A detailed breakdown of these aspects for the tasks will be in the assessment specification on Moodle.

Your portfolio is an individual assessment that documents selected practical activities completed during the weekly tutorials. The portfolio is submitted once and will include evidence from Weeks 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8.

Each relevant tutorial includes practical activities and required outputs. These outputs may include screenshots, photos, diagrams, tables, command outputs, short answers and brief reflections. The portfolio is not intended to include every activity from every tutorial. Instead, you must submit the required evidence specified in the portfolio template provided on Moodle.

You are strongly encouraged to complete your portfolio progressively during the tutorials. When you complete an activity in class, add the required evidence and short explanation to your portfolio before moving on. This will make the final submission easier to complete and will help ensure your evidence is accurate.

This is an individual assessment. Every student must maintain and submit their own portfolio. Some tutorial activities may involve collaboration with other students. In those cases, shared evidence may be used where appropriate, such as a group network photo or shared network diagram. However, your written explanations and reflection must be your own. You must also identify any students you collaborated with where collaboration occurred.

Some tutorial activities require you to demonstrate your work to your tutor or provide equivalent approved evidence. These activities include:

Week 3: simple two-computer network;
Week 6: switched LAN;
Week 8: small routed network.

On-campus students should normally complete and demonstrate the required activity during their scheduled tutorial class. Online students should demonstrate to the online tutor or Unit Coordinator via Zoom, or provide alternative evidence if approved. 

The demonstration or approved equivalent evidence component is exempt from the 72-hour submission grace period and must be completed in the scheduled week/tutorial unless an approved Assessment Extension Request applies.

The 72-hour grace period may be used only for the submission of the written portfolio document.

AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI COLLABORATION 

You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use.

Each portfolio will be marked based on:

• Evidence of completion of weekly activities (in the written portfolio)
• Demonstration to your tutor of completion of selected network build activities (demonstrated in class)
• Reflections on challenges and learning from the activities (in the written portfolio)

You will be assessed against the following achievement levels:

• Exemplary: Work fully meets and often exceeds expectations. Outputs are complete, technically correct, clearly original, and demonstrate strong understanding or insight.
• Competent: Work meets expectations with only minor issues. Outputs are mostly complete, technically sound, and demonstrate reasonable understanding.
• Satisfactory: Work partially meets expectations. Outputs are genuine and relevant but contain noticeable gaps, errors, or superficial coverage.
• Developing: Work shows limited understanding. Outputs are incomplete, inaccurate, or lacking essential detail.
• Not Demonstrated: Work is missing, irrelevant, or clearly not your own.

The detailed breakdown of marks per week, activity and achievement level is available on Moodle.

Feedback on some activities may be provided verbally by your tutor in class. For example, your tutor may give verbal feedback when you demonstrate your network. Additional written feedback may not be provided in those cases. You should use verbal feedback received in class to improve subsequent activities. 

There is a minimum mark requirement of 50% for the portfolio assessment. This means you must achieve at least 20 out of 40 for the portfolio. If your portfolio mark is below 20 out of 40, you cannot pass this unit.