Notices

  • Exam update (minor)

    Posted by Paul Hunter Wednesday 03 May 2023, 11:59:31 AM, last modified Wednesday 03 May 2023, 12:00:24 PM.

    Hi all,

    I have clarified the wording in Q1 (primarily to rule out a trivial edge case). This should not impact any genuine attempt on the question.

    A reminder that, while most questions give you multiple options (e.g. prove/disprove), if you believe a question to be incorrect, an argument to the contrary will be taken as a legitimate answer. As always, I am assessing your levels of understanding and ability and such a proof will still demonstrate those.

    I will continue to monitor email/ed, but may not respond in a timely manner. Please contact me if there are any other issues.

    Paul

    PS Tutorial solutions are now available under "Tutorial problem sheets"

  • Final exam now available

    Posted by Paul Hunter Wednesday 03 May 2023, 10:03:04 AM.

    Hi all,

    The final exam is now available to view on the course website (under Activities). It is due at 10am (AEST) on Thursday May 4 2023 .

    Submission is a single pdf file, submitted through give (webCMS provides a web interface to the submission). You may submit as often as you like prior to the deadline - your last submission will be what is marked. I strongly suggest making a dummy submission asap to check that there are no issues with submission - if there are problems, then let me know asap.

    I will be available on ed/email for the next 2 hours to answer any questions/make clarifications about the exam paper; any significant points will be announced during this time.

    I am currently in the process of uploading the (mostly complete) tutorial solutions - these will be available for your reference shortly.

    Paul

  • Week 11 Recap Lecture

    Posted by Paul Hunter Friday 21 April 2023, 11:08:21 AM.

    Hi all,

    I have booked Colombo ThB (usual room) for 11-1 on Friday 28 April for a recap lecture. I will be reviewing the main concepts covered since Week 6 and I will try to go through some sample problems (suggestions welcome). I have requested that the lecture be recorded if you are unable to make it, but the only way to be sure to catch the content is by attending in person.

    Paul

  • Formatif tasks now visible

    Posted by Paul Hunter Wednesday 19 April 2023, 12:00:27 PM.

    Hi all,

    The final set of formatif tasks are now visible.

    To clarify the requirements:

    * Complete (Task 4.1 or 4.2) and (Task 5.1 or 5.2) and (Task 6.1 or 6.2) at the appropriate level before the final exam (for best feedback, complete sooner rather than later). Completing these to a satisfactory level, along with existing Tasks 1-3 will earn the following minimum marks for the assessment component [this may be revised, though only upwards]:

    - Pass level: 57% (i.e. 28.5 marks)

    - Credit level: 68% (i.e. 34 marks)

    - Distinction level: 75% (i.e. 37.5 marks)

    - HD level: 85% (i.e. 42.5 marks)

    * Students aiming at HD/D should consider completing some additional tasks (at a lower level is fine) that are not immediate consequences of higher level tasks attempted.

    * All tasks attempted will receive feedback - so these will make good exam practice.

    * All tasks attempted will contribute towards the bigger picture of your grade

    Let me know if you have any questions

    Paul

  • End of course pizza

    Posted by Paul Hunter Wednesday 19 April 2023, 10:20:57 AM.

    Hi all,

    To celebrate the last (official) lecture of the course, I will be bringing pizzas into the area outside the lecture theatre from 1pm today. Please come along even if you can't make it to the final lecture!

    Paul

  • Easter consultation - moved to Monday

    Posted by Paul Hunter Sunday 09 April 2023, 04:35:45 PM.

    Hi all,

    Because of Easter, tonight's consultation will be held on Monday at 8pm .

    Paul

  • Consultation cancelled

    Posted by Paul Hunter Sunday 26 March 2023, 03:09:11 AM.

    Hi all,

    I am unable to make the consultation this week, so this week's consultation will be cancelled.

    Paul

  • Flex-week recap lecture (Wednesday)

    Posted by Paul Hunter Tuesday 21 March 2023, 06:14:52 AM.

    Hi all,

    There was sufficient interest in a flex-week recap lecture, so I will be running one on Wednesday 2-4pm Colombo Th B . As I said in the poll, this will consist of a brief recap of the main definitions and theorems with a substantial Q&A session.

    I have requested that the lecture be recorded, though I am yet to have confirmation of that. If you are able to make it, then I strongly encourage you to attend rather than rely on the recording.

    If you have any questions you would like to be specifically addressed in the session, please post them to the ed forum (as part of the poll thread) and I will try to answer those questions as a priority.

    Paul

  • Formatif delay and Automata tutor issues

    Posted by Paul Hunter Monday 27 February 2023, 11:53:15 AM.

    Hi all,

    Apologies for the slow replying to various queries on my part. I will get around to answering the ed posts shortly.

    I am still working on putting up the Formatif tasks - so don't panic if you can't see them yet. I hope to have some more up before tomorrow's lecture, with all the tasks available by the end of the week. Deadlines will be adjusted accordingly.

    The main issue that has been causing delays is that there appears to be an issue with the Automata tutor that I've been trying to sort out at my end - unfortunately it seems that the automarking aspect of that tool is (currently) unusable - with no clear timeline of when it will be fixed. I'm seeing if I can set up something locally that will perform the same task, and that is currently taking up too much of my spare time.

    Thank you for your patience while I sort through some of these teething issues.

    Paul


  • Online tutorial link

    Posted by Paul Hunter Wednesday 22 February 2023, 04:02:44 PM.

    Wednesday's tutorial link is: https://unsw.zoom.us/j/87887564624?pwd=UjZLNkVtOEp...

    Sorry for the late notice.


    Paul

  • Administrivia

    Posted by Paul Hunter Sunday 19 February 2023, 12:27:31 PM.

    Hi all,

    Just a couple of quick announcements.

    • I forgot to mention in the lectures a couple of useful points:
      • On the last slide of the Lecture 2 slides there is a link to a Microsoft Form ( https://forms.office.com/r/g3LgPASave ) for you to provide ongoing feedback which I'll be posting at the end of the lectures each week. Personally I think it is a crime that the only chance you have to provide feedback is either through your tutors or in the myExperience form at the end of the course. So this is your chance to let me know (anonymously) if there's anything that I need to address about the course (e.g. "too fast", "too slow", "too many chocolates", "not enough breaks")
      • The online consultation on Sundays (link will be added to the course website later today) is in lieu of office hours - it is 100% optional and intended for students that have questions for me (don't forget your tutor is also able to help you out with questions about the course content). Note that it is 100% student-driven, I will/can only answer the questions you bring (this can range from "I don't understand ...", to "tell me more about ...")
    • Ian has kindly agreed to take the Wednesday online tutorial (at the scheduled time), so I have now finalised the tutors for the course. Future formatif tasks may require some interaction with your tutor, so please ensure you are able to make your assigned tutorial time most weeks. If you cannot regularly make a tutorial slot, please contact me.
    • The automata tutor (link in the menu) has now been set up for this year's cohort. Once you register, sign up for the COMP4141 course, with password JM0DAHO3. From there you will be able to see some practice questions, as well as the [P, C, D] questions for the next formatif task (which will be added to formatif later today)
    • Thank you to those that have already attempted the first formatif task - please check back on your tasks as you will have received feedback. A reminder that the formatif tasks constitute half of your grade for this course, and should be completed in a timely manner.

    Please let me know if you are experiencing any issues with any of the platforms,

    Paul

  • Formatif now available

    Posted by Paul Hunter Friday 17 February 2023, 02:44:01 PM.

    Hi all,

    The assessment server Formatif ( https://formatif.cse.unsw.edu.au ) should now be set up for you (although with only one task visible at the moment). Please log in and attempt the current task (due by Tuesday). Note that completion may take several iterations, so please do not leave it until the last minute to attempt it, even though the deadline is soft. This task will be marked by me, but future tasks will (mostly) be marked by your tutor.

    Over the weekend I will populate the server with most of the remaining course tasks so you can progress at your own pace.

    Please let me know if you have any difficulties logging on or with the system itself.

    Paul

  • Online tutorial rescheduled for Week 1

    Posted by Paul Hunter Wednesday 15 February 2023, 12:28:51 PM.

    Hi all,

    Apologies for the late notice but because of staffing issues I've had to reschedule today's online tutorial.

    For this week, the online tutorial will be Thursday 11-1 . It will be on Zoom, details here:

    https://unsw.zoom.us/j/81165954193?pwd=WTh2Wjk2VGN...

    <label>Meeting ID </label> Meeting I 811 6595 4193

    Passcode 234818


    Paul

  • Welcome to COMP4141 Theory of Computation

    Posted by Paul Hunter Tuesday 14 February 2023, 11:59:21 AM.

    Hi all,

    Welcome to COMP4141 Theory of Computation. This is just a brief announcement to introduce you to various aspects of the course: the website, the learning interfaces, and the staff (me).

    I encourage you to familiarise yourself with the course website:

    http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~cs4141

    as it provides the starting point for all aspects of the course.

    Lectures begin today at 2pm in Colombo Th B. Lectures will be recorded, and the recording will be available shortly after the lecture finishes. I plan to have livestreaming lectures set up for remote learners but this might not be ready for the first few lectures.

    Tutorials begin on Wednesday (tomorrow). Details of tutorials will be available on the course website presently.

    You will shortly receive an email inviting you to join the course forum on ed. The course forums also provide a platform to ask questions and discuss the course material.

    Looking forward to meeting you later today

    Paul Hunter
    (Lecturer in Charge)


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