SOFTENG 751 : High Performance Computing
Engineering
2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
The first part consists of lectures and tutorials given by the lecturer(s), covering the fundamentals of parallel computing, technologies and practical methods. Test 1 will assess the learning of this first part.
Equipped with the knowledge of the first part, students form small groups and each is given an assignment for the second part of the course during which they work largely independent on that topic. There are numerous well selected topics and each group needs to give a presentation on that topic to the class. This induces peer-learning and exposes the class to more advances topics of parallel computing. Test 2 will cover the material presented during the second part of the course.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
Learning Outcomes
- Select and apply appropriate Architectures of Parallel System for a given problem (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Apply and analyse fundamental steps of parallelisation process: divide a problem or loop into subtasks or iterations; analyse dependences of a simple programs and loops; construct a correct schedule for the subtasks or iterations. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
- Analyse and predict performance of parallel systems: use parallel computing laws to predict speedup of a program and analyse where improvements need to be made. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Analyse, apply and integrate Concurrency in programs: identify performance problems in interactive programs; use multithreading to introduce concurrency; write correct and responsive interactive programs; use lock and synchronisation primitives correctly and effectively. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Develop and analyse Parallel Programs: write programs to be executed on a multicore system; analyse simple applications and develop strategy for their parallelisation on shared memory machines; choose and employ different parallelisation technologies, such as OpenMP or task parallelism with Parallel Task. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
- Collaborate and manage team project on parallel computing topic. (Capability 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
- Demonstrate and document developed solution of parallel programming project. (Capability 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Tests | 40% | Individual Test |
| Assignment | 60% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| 2 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| Tests | ||||||||||
| Assignment | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 20-30 hours of lectures and tutorials, including the presentations given by students, 15-25 hours of independent study, e.g. reading, reflection, and 80-100 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including lectures, and is required to receive credit for giving and attending student presentations.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including student presentations and tutorials will usually not be available as recordings, but corresponding material will be made available on Canvas, e.g. slides.
Attendance on campus is required for the tests.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Students need to form groups for assignments and the collaboration within groups can require attendance on campus.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Health & Safety
Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Informal feedback and formal feedback from student surveys has regularly adjusted and improved this course in the past.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.