Course: Computer Science 110 A,
Introduction to Computer Science, Spring 2005, Central College.
Professor: Tom Linton, 129
Vermeer Science Center, (641) 628-5264, email: lintont@central.edu.
Class Meets: MWF 10:00 to 10:50 AM in VSC 241.
Office Hours: 9 AM Mon, Tues, Fri, 10 AM
Thurs, or by appointment.
Text: Objects First With Java, A Practical Introduction
Using BlueJ, 2nd
Edition by Barnes and Kolling.
Technology: We will make
extensive use of computers and software related to "programming".
No prior knowledge of these tools is assumed. We will use the
programming
environment Bluej
to
develop most of our programs. This software program is specifically
designed for teaching introductory programming concepts. The class
web page is located at the URL http://www.central.edu/homepages/lintont/classes/spring05/introcsframeset.html
and information relevant to this course may come via email. You should
check your email and the class web page on occasion. We will also use
the on-line course management program Blackboard to distribute and
collect materials for this class, as well as post grades for completed
assignments.
Final Exam: 8 AM Thursday May 12, VSC 241.
Class Overview This course provides an
introduction to the fundamental ideas and techniques of computer
science.
This course meets the m core requirement for mathematical
reasoning, and will involve a significant component of abstract
thinking,
problem solving, and mathematics. Completion of (or placement above the
level of) College Algebra (Math 103) is a pre-requisite for this
course. If you have concerns or questions
about this course, please talk to me at your earliest convenience.
We will focus on learning to write software in Java, a modern,
object-oriented programming language. Since Java was designed for
large-scale commercial use, we will begin by modifying existing (and
useful) code, rather than writing all of our code from scratch. At the
same time, we will keep an eye on issues that extend beyond simply
writing software.
Goals and Objectives Upon completion of
this course,
students will:
- be able to understand and write relatively straightforward
program seqments in the object-oriented language Java;
- understand the basic principles of objects, classes, and
methods;
- be able to utilize library classes and collections;
- be able to implement class design principles to modify and
extend existing applications;
- be familiar with control structures such as conditionals and
loops;
- be able to apply general methods of software design including
abstraction, documentation, testing, and debugging.
American Disabilities Act Central College
abides by interpretations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that stipulates no
student shall be denied the benefits of an education “solely by reason
of a handicap.” Disabilities covered by law include, but are not
limited to, learning disabilities, hearing, sight or mobility
impairments, and other health related impairments. If you have a
documented disability that may have some impact on your work in this
class and for which you may require accommodations, please see me and
Nancy Kroese, Director of Student Support Services and Disability
Services Coordinator, (x5247) in the first two weeks of this semester,
so that such accommodations may be arranged.
Grades, based on the letter, or A, A-, B+, B, B-, . . .
system, will be based on a weighted curve of the total points in the
class. The curve used will be the traditional 100-93 A, 92-90 A-,
89-88 B+, etc. (or an easier curve). The breakdown of the points in
the class is given below. There is no extra credit for this class.
You are encouraged to work together on group assignments (including
homework), but copying answers of others (including those in the back
of the text) will result in no credit. Several assignments in this
class will be completed on an individual basis (working with others
is forbidden). Working together does NOT mean copying
someone else's code, in fact, a good rule to always follow is:
When you require help on a program or homework problem, you
should only have your helper
look at what you have done, and give you advise. You should never
look at what they have done.
At the same time, you should NEVER
print your code and give a copy to someone else, nor email your work to
anyone else.
Exams We will have three midterm exams. These exams will
occur roughly on the dates February 7 (exam 1), March 2 (exam 2), and
April 22 (exam 3). We will
also have a cumulative final exam on Thursday, May 12 at 8 AM.
Homework, Quizzes, and Activities I will assign and collect
homework problems on a regular basis (roughly twice per week).
Recording "just the answer" will receive little or no
credit. You should show and/or explain your work on all assignments
for this class. You are encouraged to work together on homework
assignments, but this does NOT mean copying the work of others nor
answers from a
solution set. We will do several in-class activities throughout the
semester
(where new concepts are introduced, or old notions are examined in more
detail). Most of these activities will be done in groups, and all will
contain questions similar to homework problems. We will have regular
(roughly every week) quizzes.
Participation You are expected to be in class each day. If
you miss a day of class, you are still responsible for the
materials-activities completed that day. You are expected to
participate in class
discussions, ask questions, and to be engaged in the day to day
actions of the class.
Your final grade in this course will be based on participation,
homework assignments, activities, quizzes, the midterm exams, and the
cumulative final exam. These items will be weighted as follows:
50 points for participation
200 points for homework assignments and
activities
150 points for quizzes
300 points for the midterm exams (100 points
each)
150 points for the final exam
Late Assignments
Mock
Trail participants, choir tour participants, athletes, and others who
must miss a class for participating in a college sanctioned event are
required to notify me in advance and complete work including tests in
advance of the absence. It is the student's responsibility to
communicate with me in advance regarding their absences and determine a
schedule for make up work.
I will drop your lowest quiz score (or two if we have close to 12
quizzes total) as well as dropping your lowest two homework
assignments. In addition, each student will receive three "days" of
allowed late assignments. An assignment is late "one day" if it is
turned in after I collect it, up to the following lecture period, at
which point the 2nd late day begins, and runs up to the next class
period, etc. Other than the dropped scores and each student's three
days of penalty free lateness, there is no credit for late work.
Quizzes missed due to unexcused absences can NOT be made up. You are
responsible for all of the material covered in (and turned in during)
class each day, even if you are not present, or the assignments do not
appear on-line but were given in class.
Academic Dishonesty
Plagiarism (which includes working together on an
individual assignment, or editing someone else's code and turning
it in without citing that person's work), or copying answers from
other people or books without citing the source, is a serious offense
and will result in no credit for the work and possibly more serious
punishment (failing the class, placing a letter in your file, and
withdrawl
from school are possibilities). It is OK to discuss your answers
with other groups on group assignments, but the work you turn
in must be your own, not a modified version of someone else's work.
Central College's Academic Honesty Policy
Plagiarism
and cheating of any form are serious offenses and may result in an F
for the assignment, the course, or expulsion from the college.
The details of Central's Academic Integrity policy are found
in the Student Handbook, on the web. A copy will be sent to you via
e-mail during the first week of the semester. It is your responsibility to read and
understand the contents of that policy before you submit work to be
graded. Questions regarding the policies and enforcement of the
policies may be addressed to me during class or during office hours.