Unit Code:

ENGN100

Unit Title:

Fundamentals of Digital Technology and Design

Semester:

Semester 2 2016

Program(s):

Diploma of Engineering (elective)

Diploma of Computing (core)

Pre-Requisites:

None

Credit Points:

3 credit points

Duration:

1 semester

Unit Supervisor:

Dr Levente Horvath

Document modified:

9/06/2016

Teaching Team:
Contact details and consultation hours of lecturers and tutors will be advised in class and via the SIBT Learning
Site at the beginning of semester.
Name
Email address
Dr Levente Horvath
Mr Shirajul Sagar

Levente.horvath@learning.sibt.nsw.edu.au
shirajul.sagar@learning.sibt.nsw.edu.au

Unit Guide: ENGN100 Fundamentals of Digital Technology and Design

Implementation: Semester 2 2016

11

1. Welcome
1.1 Purpose
Digital technology drives innovations and new developments in the area of science, computing, and engineering.
This unit introduces the basic principles of digital electronics and explores the foundation for digital technology.
ENGN100 provides the foundation for advanced units on programmable logic design, computer architecture,
computer hardware and digital design. Because it gives an introduction to the technology of computer systems, it
is also suitable for programs in commerce, finance, economics, law, and arts.
ENGN100 covers a rich set of topics including but not limited to Boolean algebra, logic gates, Karnaugh maps,
logic minimisation, combinational circuits, encoders and decoders, flip-flops, adders, subtracters, accumulators,
data buses, multiplexer and demultiplexers, synchronous and asynchronous counters, and shift registers for
example. In addition, apart from the rich content, problem solving is at the heart of digital electronics. Therefore,
you will be required to solve many problems presented in lectures, assignments, and practical work. To keep up
with the materials, make sure you complete the tutorial work before entering the electronics laboratory every
week.
Because electronics is a practical subject, you will spend a large fraction of your time in the electronics laboratory
working on and designing electronics circuits. In the laboratory, you will learn about electronic devices and basic
digital principles, but also learn about safety procedures and team work.
In order to be successful in further studies in a science or an engineering discipline, you have to achieve at least
a credit grade in ENGN100.

1.2 Student Workload

The expected student workload per week for this unit comprises of:
Lectures
Laboratory work and tutorials
Personal Study
Total:

2 hours
4 hours
6 hours
12 hours

1.3 Mode of Delivery

The material of ENGN100 will be delivered in lectures face-to-face. The unit has a strong emphasis on problem
solving therefore the mixed sessions provide opportunities for students to practice their problem solving skills,
apply their knowledge in practical situations, and correct their mistakes. Students are encouraged to interact with
the lecturers and tutors, apply scientific reasoning, and ask questions. Assignments will be available online, but
students must obtain a copy of the text book and the tutorial and laboratory.

1.4 Learning Support

SIBT is committed to providing additional academic assistance to students to maximise their opportunity to
successfully complete units of study. Learning Advisors conduct regular workshops in skill areas essential to
studies. These include: time management, goal setting, essay preparation, examination techniques, academic
writing skills and Maths. Further information on programs available can be accessed on the SIBT Learning Site
or by asking the SIBT staff on reception.

1.5 Specialist Facilities

Students are required to have access to computers to print out the unit outline, course notes, and assignments.
In addition, students are required to become familiar with various digital training boards, and library tools for
document search. Each student must have a bound exercise book for practical sessions; the exercise book must
have an A4 size, but graph pages are not required. Students must obtain the copy of the text book and the
tutorial and laboratory note book. Without the tutorial and laboratory note book, students will not be able to do
any practical work.

Unit Guide: ENGN100 Fundamentals of Digital Technology and Design

Implementation: Semester 2 2016

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2. Academic details
2.1 Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.

Evaluate digital systems based on criteria such as propagation delay, clock frequency, number of
components, and integration level;

2.

Synthesise combinational circuits from truth tables, and synthesise sequential circuits from state
transition diagrams;

3.

Analyse Boolean equations and to derive equivalent circuit diagrams;

4.

Apply Boolean identities and Karnaugh maps to the minimisation of digital circuits;

5.

Describe the functionality of medium-scale integrated circuits, arithmetic logic-units of computers, and
memory systems.

6.

Explain circuit characteristics (such as voltage levels) of some families of integrated circuits;

7.

Work safely with digital electronic devices;

8.

Test for and identify problems that compromise the operation of digital systems;

9.

Implement and test solutions;

10. Identify and apply relevant problem solving methodologies.

11. Develop models using appropriate tools such as laboratory equipment.

Unit Guide: ENGN100 Fundamentals of Digital Technology and Design

Implementation: Semester 2 2016

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2.2 Graduate Signature Capabilities

SIBT programs are designed to develop a set of capabilities that will assist graduates in further studies or the
workforce.

1. Discipline Knowledge and Skills

articulating basic facts, concepts and rules of discipline practice

applying theories and procedures to real or hypothetical scenarios

making links between theory and practice (developing professional identify/

judgement)

2. Organisation Skills

developing skills of a self-directed learner, taking responsibility for planning and goal
setting, time management

being systematic in finding, summarizing, organising and referencing sources of

information for a purpose

completing tasks successfully on time and with given resources

3. Critical Thinking Skills

diagnosing and solving problems by identifying requirements

researching, analysing and evaluating information

combining processes and ideas to propose solutions, integrative thinking)

4. Collaboration Skills

working with others respectfully, ethically and positively

negotiating roles, responsibilities, contributions

contributing discipline knowledge and interpersonal skills to team outcomes

5. Communication Skills

conveying ideas effectively in English, appropriate for academic or professional

contexts

choosing appropriate tools, technologies and formats

structuring and presenting an argument in written, visual or verbal forms

Specifically, this unit prioritises the following signature capabilities and performance is evaluated in the
assessment tasks listed at section 2.5 of:
1.
2.
4.

Discipline Knowledge and Skills;

Organisation Skills;
Collaboration Skills.

Unit Guide: ENGN100 Fundamentals of Digital Technology and Design

Implementation: Semester 2 2016

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2.3 Weekly Teaching Schedule

Week

Lecture Material

Practicals/Tutorials

Reading/Assignments

Introduction to Digital Concepts; Number

Systems; Digital Codes;

Introductory Lecture;
Preparation for Practical 1.

Chapters 1 and 2.

Boolean Algebra; Boolean Identities;

Preparation for Practical 2.

Practical 1: Number Systems

& Logic Gates

Chapter 3

Logic Simplification K-maps;

Preparation for Practical 3.

Practical 2: Boolean Algebra

and Logic Gates

Chapter 4

Combinational Logic; Overview Lecture on

Computer Concepts; Overview Lecture on
Memory and Storage; Preparation for
Practical 4.

Practical 3: Karnaugh Maps,

Logic Minimisation and
Circuit Implementation

Chapters 4 and 10

Adders, Subtracters, Comparators, and

XOR Gates; Parity Generator and
Checker; Preparation for Practical 5.

Practical 4: Combinational
Circuit Implementation Using
Integrated Circuits

Chapters 5, 6 and 11

Decoders-Encoders, Code Converters;

Overview Lecture on Programmable Logic
and Software; Preparation for Practical 6.

Practical 5: XOR Gate

Applications

Chapter 6

Latches, Flip-flops, Flip-flop Operating

Characteristics; Preparation for Practical 7

Practical 6: Encoder/Decoder
Circuit

Chapters 7 and 13

Adders, Subtracters, Data Buses;

Preparation for Practical 8

Practical 7: Flip-flops

Chapters 6 and 7

Flip-flops, Flip-flop Applications,

Asynchronous Counters; Multiplexers,
Demultiplexers,
Preparation for Practical 9.

Practical 8: Adder/Subtracter
and Accumulator and Data
Bus

Chapters 7 and 8

10

Synchronous Counters; Preparation for

Practical 10.

Practical 9:
Binary Counters, Multiplexer
and Demultiplexer Circuits

Chapter 8

11

Practical 10: Synchronous

Counter Design

Chapter 8 and 9

12

Shift Registers, Shift Register Counters,

Shift Register Applications, and Finite
State Machines; Preparation for Practical
11
Finite State Machines

Practical 11: Finite State

Machines and Shift Registers

Chapter 14

13

Revision

Revision Tutorial

Revision

2.4 Prescribed and recommended reading

Text book:

Floyd, T, 2015, Digital Fundamentals, 11 th ed., Pearson Prentice-Hall, New York

Reference book:

Tocci, R, Widmer, N, & Moss, G, 2011, Digital Systems: Principles and Applications, 11th ed., Pearson
Prentice-Hall, New York

Unit Guide: ENGN100 Fundamentals of Digital Technology and Design

Implementation: Semester 2 2016

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2.5 Assessment
Assessment Task

Week of
Assessment

Weighting

Learning Outcomes
Assessed

SIBT
Signature
Capabilities

Practicals

2-12

26 %

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10, 11

1, 2, 4,

Assignments

3,6,11

24 %

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10

1, 2,

Final Exam (3 hours, closed

book)

Exam period

50%

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

1, 2,

Assignments:
The assignments are aimed to develop general knowledge and problem solving skills in digital electronics and
technology. Therefore, the assignments are composed of many different types of questions. These include but
not limited to questions with long and short answers about digital concepts, questions about a large number of
topics that require digital circuit analysis and problem solving skills. The assignments will be available online on
SIBT Learning Site. The due date for each assignment will be confirmed during lectures. A student must attach
the cover sheet and sign each assignment to substantiate that it is his/her own work. This does not mean that a
student may not consult staff or other students, but it does preclude written work that is copied from others.
Practicals:
The practical assessment mark is a large fraction of the ENGN100 total coursework mark. Each practical session
is 3 hours long. In these sessions students will work in groups of two. In the lab, students are expected to build or
analyze digital electronics circuits. Every week a new practical work will be posted on SIBT Learning Site.
Students are required to print this out and complete the tutorial part of this document before entering the
laboratory. At the end of each laboratory session, students must submit their practical work to their tutor for
marking. The practical work will be assessed in terms of the students performance during practicals, and
submitted practical work. Students must attend practicals to pass this unit; to get marks for a practical,
students must complete the practical work, be present from start to finish, and submit the practical work
in class. Students who do not attend a practical, or come late or leave during the practical session for
extended periods of time (about 1 hour or more) will not get any marks for their practical work.
Final Exam:
To pass this unit, students have to pass the final exam. The questions in the final exam are similar in style,
content, and length to the practical and assignment questions. For the final exam, students are expected to
remember all of the digital electronics concept, circuitry, formulas, and problem solving that presented in this unit.
Students are not allowed to use calculators in the final exam.

2.6 Submitted assessments

Assessments need to be handed to the relevant teaching staff at the designated lesson in the week that the
assessment is due.
An Assignment Cover Sheet (available on the SIBT Learning Site or at SIBT reception) must be attached to the
hardcopy assessment to be submitted. Following approval, via Special Consideration arrangements, late
submissions can be handed in to SIBT reception. Students must keep a backup copy.
Students must also submit an electronic copy with any assessment task worth >10%. Students must label USB
sticks with their names, copy these assessments to the USB sticks, and hand them to the lecturer. The USB
sticks will be returned to students.
In general, marking guidelines will be made available to students in class or via the SIBT Learning Site before the
assessment task takes place.
All work conducted in preparation for, during, and after the practical sessions must be recorded in a bound
exercise book; this exercise book must have an A4 size, but graph pages are not required. This note book is
used for any preliminary work for practical sessions. It should contain all results.
All digital files should have the following naming conventions
Unitcode_classgroup_StudentID_assessmenttask.fileextension
Unit Guide: ENGN100 Fundamentals of Digital Technology and Design
Implementation: Semester 2 2016

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Sample:
ENGN100_Gp5_SDZQ1202_Electronic Report_pdf

2.7 Satisfactory completion of the unit

To satisfactorily complete the unit, you must:

pass the final exam; and

gain a passing grade overall in the unit.

3. Additional Unit Information

3.1 SIBT Policies and Procedures
For details on SIBTs Policies and Procedures please refer to the SIBT Student SIBT Learning Site:
http://www.sibt.nsw.edu.au/policies

3.2 Special Consideration

SIBT recognises that a students performance in assessment tasks or examinations may be affected by
compassionate or compelling circumstances. Special Consideration Policy allows for reasonable adjustment to
the standard assessment requirements and ensures equitable assessment for all students.
The Special Consideration circumstances surrounding disruption to study must be of at least three (3)
consecutive days duration, or an acute instance within a study period, and prevent completion of an assessment
task or final examination.
For more information please refer to SIBTs Special Consideration Policy: http://www.sibt.nsw.edu.au/policies

Unit Guide: ENGN100 Fundamentals of Digital Technology and Design

Implementation: Semester 2 2016

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3.3 Grades
Final marks and grades are subject to confirmation by the SIBT Examinations Committee which may adjust,
modify or otherwise amend the marks and grades for the unit, as may be required by SIBT policies. SIBTs
Examinations Committee has a set of guidelines on the distribution of grades across the range from Fail to High
Distinction. Final results will include a grade.
Grade

Numeric
value
for GPA

Range

Description

HD

High
Distinction

85 -100

Complete and comprehensive understanding of the unit

content; development of relevant skills to a comprehensive
level; demonstration of insight in interpretation, analysis and
intellectual initiative; and achievement of all major and minor
objectives of the unit.

Distinction

75-84

Very high level of understanding of the course unit;

development of relevant skills to a very high level;
demonstration of a very high level of interpretive and analytical
ability and intellectual initiative; and achievement of all major
and minor objectives of the unit.

CR

Credit

65-74

High level of understanding of unit content development of

relevant skills to a high level; demonstration of a high level of
interpretive and analytical ability; and achievement of all major
objectives of the unit; some minor objectives not fully achieved.

Pass

50-64

Adequate understanding of most of the basic unit content;

development of relevant skills to a satisfactory level; adequate
interpretive and analytical ability; and achievement of most of
all the major objectives of the unit; some minor objectives not
achieved.

Fail

0-49

An unsatisfactory quality of performance or standard of

learning achievement. There was evidence of achievement of
desired learning outcomes below the passing standard.

Satisfactory

50-100

Provides evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes,

within the context of a Pass/Fail unit.

Withdrawn

Withdrawal from a unit prior to the academic census date. This

is NOT counted as failure but is an administrative record of a
students initial enrolment in this unit. It is not included in GPA
calculations.

WF

Withdrawn Fail

Withdrawal from a unit after the academic census date with

academic penalty.

EX

Exempt

Recognition of prior learning resulting in an exemption from

undertaking the unit.

FA

Fail Absent

Required assessment tasks within the unit are not completed

and the student has not withdrawn. It is included in the GPA
calculation.

Note that your raw coursework and exam scores cannot be used directly to calculate your standardized mark or
to determine your final grade. The process of assigning grades involves moderating the performance indicated by
your raw scores against the academic standards.

Unit Guide: ENGN100 Fundamentals of Digital Technology and Design

Implementation: Semester 2 2016

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3.4 Improvements based on feedback

Student feedback plays a vital role in improving the quality and educational effectiveness of SIBT units and in
ensuring academic staff keep in touch with student needs. Each semester you may be given the opportunity to
complete a Student Evaluation of Unit (SEU) questionnaire to assess the unit. You may also have the
opportunity to complete a Student Evaluation on Teaching (SET) questionnaire to provide feedback on individual
teaching staff.
SIBT values student feedback in order to improve the quality of its educational programs. As well as the student
feedback, SIBT also instigates improvements based on other feedback by the Unit Supervisor and Teaching
staff.

3.5 Attendance
For you to be successful in this unit, it is an SIBT requirement that you participate in scheduled activities. There
are regular on campus sessions and also activities in our online space, the SIBT Learning Site. To ensure that
your academic performance is maintained, attendance is recorded electronically for each class.
For more information, refer to SIBTs Attendance Policy and Course Progression policy on the SIBT Learning
Site: http://www.sibt.nsw.edu.au/policies

3.6 Academic Honesty

SIBT students are expected to read and comply with the SIBT Academic Honesty Policy and the SIBT Code of
Conduct. These can both be found in the Policy Library on the SIBT website. This means that:

all academic work claimed as original is the work of the author making the claim;
all academic collaborations are acknowledged;
academic work is not falsified in any way;
when the ideas of others are used, these ideas are acknowledged appropriately;
students are expected to behave honestly during examinations.

For more information refer to SIBTs Academic Honesty Policy and the SIBT Code of Conduct on the SIBT
Learning Site: http://www.sibt.nsw.edu.au/policies

Unit Guide: ENGN100 Fundamentals of Digital Technology and Design

Implementation: Semester 2 2016

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