Module Information 2006/07

The module web page is http://www.maths.nottingham.ac.uk/MathsModules/G13CCR .

The distribution of lectures and examination questions over the material will be roughly as follows.

	General introduction		1 lecture
	Chapter 1	Information and Uncertainty	3½ lectures	½–1 question
	Chapter 2	Coding for Data-Compression	4½ lectures	½–1 question
	Chapter 3	Error-Correcting Codes	12 lectures *	2 questions
For G13CCR only:
	Chapter 4	Cryptography	9 lectures	1½ questions

* 9 lectures for G13CC2

Lectures are on Mondays at 10.00 in MAPH C4, Thursdays at 11.00 in MAPH C5, and Fridays at 9.00 in MAPH C5. The Friday lectures will be devoted to Cryptography (for G13CCR only) and the Monday and Thursday lectures to Information and Coding Theory.

Coursework on this module is set for the purpose of education rather than assessment, and it will not contribute directly to your mark. It will be set every week on a Thursday, to be handed in by the following Thursday, and I will try to get it corrected in time to return it to you the Monday after.

Assessment will be by a 2½-hour written examination (2-hour for G13CC2). The examination paper will contain five questions (four for G13CC2), and credit will be given for the best four answers (three for G13CC2). Calculators with a single-line display or dual-line display will be permitted in the examination. All the coursework exercises are similar to possible (parts of) examination questions except for those labelled NE. The last three examination papers, with solutions, are available from the module web page. Any reassessment will have the same form as the original assessment.

Consultation Arrangements. I operate an `open door' policy: I am usually in my office (MAPH C120), with the door open, from 10.15 to 12.00 and 14.00 to 17.00 each day (often, in practice, 10.00–12.15 and 13.45–18.00), except when I am lecturing or otherwise engaged, and students are welcome to call in whenever my door is open. It is unusual for students to have any real difficulty in contacting me, but if you do, then either email me at douglas.woodall@nottingham.ac.uk (in plain text, please), or else pin a note on the notice-board outside my door asking when you can see me, and I will pin up a note in reply.

Aims and Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes. At the end of the module students should be able

1. to demonstrate an understanding of the topics covered by answering questions about them, proving standard theorems and solving possibly nonstandard problems;
2. to describe, use or construct (as appropriate) examples of the different types of code, demonstrate an understanding of their theory, and prove that they have the properties required of them.