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 CSC 121 - Introduction to Computer Science I - Fall 2011 

 

Schedule and Assignments
 

121-001

Classrooms

T-R: CIS 2006

Professor: Gene Tagliarini  Office: CI 2038  Phone: 962-7572
Email:  mailto:tagliarinig@uncw.edu?subject=CSC 121
Office Hours*:

 T-R: 3:30-4:30 PM,

M-W-F 9:00-10:00 AM

Also feel free to use email for questions
*Students are welcome to ask questions any time my door is open and may schedule appointments outside office hours.
 

UNCW CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION

CSC 121. Introduction to Computer Science I (3) Prerequisite: MAT 111 or 115. Problem-solving methods and algorithms in a modern high-level programming language. Introduces classes and objects; control structures; arrays; characters and strings. Emphasis on programming style and the design, coding, and testing of complete programs. A grade of "C" (2.00) or better is required for taking any course for which CSC 121 is prerequisite. Two lecture and two laboratory hours each week.

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

This (along with CSC 100) is the first required course for Computer Science majors. Students may declare a major in Computer Science after completion of CSC 100, 121, 133, and 221 with a grade point average of at least 2.5 on these 4 courses.

Students intending to major in Computer Science are encouraged to take CSC 100 (Orientation to Computer Science) and CSC 133 (Discrete Structures) during the same semester as CSC 121. In CSC 133 students will learn the logic and mathematics underlying computer science.

CSC 121 is the first of a three course sequence (CSC 121, 221, 332) on computer programming using the JavaTM programming language. No previous programming experience is assumed. In these courses students will learn many core concepts in computer science and the fundamentals of software design and development. Students will learn basic problem solving strategies and common design patterns in order to expedite the software development process. Students will also discover that computer programming is an art and beyond a program that "works" are issues of aesthetics, simplicity, and elegance.

CSC 121 is not an easy course, but students find it rewarding and well worth the effort. Students should expect to spend 3 to 4 hours per day on the course.Description: 121Sedgewick

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
Introduction to Programming in Java: An Interdisciplinary Approach
by
Robert Sedgewick, Princeton University
Kevin Wayne, Princeton University

ISBN-10: 0321498054
ISBN-13: 9780321498052
 

CODELAB REGISTRATION:

·          Section Access Code: NORT-6569-RFAA-10

·         Once registered, students can submit solutions to 10 exercises.

·          Full access is required and costs $25 (USD).


REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS:

1) Go to www.tcgo1.com OR www.tcgo2.com
2) Click "Register for CodeLab"
3) Choose "I am a student in a course ..." and click CONTINUE
4) Enter the Section Access Code (NORT-6569-RFAA-10) and click CONTINUE
5) Continue filling out the forms being careful to enter your UNCW email address and first and last names as they will appear in the professor's roster


LOGIN INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS:

1) Go to www.tcgo1.com OR www.tcgo2.com
2) Click "Login to CodeLab"

The username is the email address given during registration.
The password is the password selected during registration.
Once registered, students can submit solutions to 10 exercises.
To be able to work with all exercises, the student needs to obtain full access:

GETTING FULL ACCESS:

1) Log in to CodeLab
2) Click LOBBY
3) Click the button "Get Full Access"
4) Follow the directions (options include paypal, ecommerce, check for a $2 handling fee, and payment keys)

Downloads: JDK 6.0 (setting the path variable) / Eclipse / Algoritharium

Required Reading: Each chapter section per the Day's schedule The chapter numbers are hyperlinks to the authors' extensive web resources.

 

Chapter 1. Elements of Programming.

 

Chapter 2. Functions and Modules.

 

Description: seahawkChapter 3. Object-Oriented Programming.

 

Chapter 4. Algorithms and Data Structures

 

Final Exam Review: Glossary / Keywords. Read the course minimal competencies carefully. These are the expected learning goals for this semester (in preparation for subsequent course work) and will tested on the final exam.

8:00-11:00 AM, Tuesday,

December 13, 2011

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING CRITERIA

All labs meet in CIS 2006. Students are required to attend the lab that they are signed up for except when prior arrangements have been made with the professor. Your performance in the lecture section will determine 4/6 of the course grade and the lab/programming section 2/6 of the course grade as itemized below. Thus, to succeed/excel in the course, a student must succeed/excel in both lecture and lab work.

Grades will be determined using the scale below:

90 – 100

A

80-89.999

B

70 – 79.999

C

60 – 69.999

D

0 – 59.999 

F


The following algorithm can be used to compute your final grade based on your
  before final average:

  if (finalExam < lowestTest) 
      grade = (finalExam + 5 * beforeFinal) / 6;
  else 
      grade = (5 * beforeFinal - lowestTest + 2 * finalExam) / 6;

In choosing UNCW, you have become part of our community of scholars. We recognize that the UNCW learning experience is challenging and requires hard work. It also requires a commitment to make time available to do that hard work. The university expects you to make academics your highest priority by dedicating your time and energy to training your mind and acquiring knowledge. Academic success in critical thinking and problem solving prepares you for the changes and challenges you will encounter in the future. Our faculty and academic support resources are readily available as partners in this effort, but the primary responsibility for learning is yours.

Honor Code

It is the responsibility of every student to uphold and maintain the UNCW Academic Honor Code (see Section V of your Student Handbook). You violate the honor code when you represent someone else's work as your own. Programming assignments may be discussed at a conceptual level with other students but details and coding must be your own. Copying and team collaboration is prohibited.
Academic Honor Code

Learning Strategies

You are expected to take an active role in your learning in this course. This includes regular attendance, paying attention in class, reading the textbook, and completing all course requirements. You are encouraged to study with your classmates outside of class. Programming assignments usually require a lot more time than expected, so start early and work some every day.

Policies

UNCW practices a zero-tolerance policy for violence and harassment of any kind.  For emergencies contact UNCW CARE at 962-2273, Campus Police at 962-3184, or Wilmington Police at 911. 

Students with Disabilities

If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation in this course, you should inform the instructor of this fact in writing within the first week of class or as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, you must register with the Office of Disability Services in Westside Hall (extension 3746) and obtain a copy of your Accommodation Letter. You should then meet with your instructor to make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations of the Accommodation Letter.

Student Affairs Disability Services - Policies and Procedures 

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students develop  understanding of basic object-oriented concepts like classes, methods, and objects, one and two-dimensional arrays, and basic program control. [MS1]  [QRE2]
  2. Students work on program development techniques to describe and understand the problem statement, think through input/process/output, leading to geometric problem representation and finally coding. [MS1] [QRE1]  [QRE2]
  3. Students learn program control structures. [MS1]  [QRE3]
  4. Students learn data structures such as Strings, 1-D arrays, 2-D arrays, and arrays of objects. [MS1]  [QRE3]
  5. Students learn to implement algorithms to solve a variety of problems, for instance those related to array processing, statistical calculations, image and audio processing, and text processing.   [MS3]  [QRE1]
  6. Students learn to work on modular programming, develop, debug and compiling parts of a larger program.  [MS3]
  7. Students learn to work with programming language specific software libraries.  [MS2]   [MS3]  [QRE2]
  8. Students are introduced to File reading and writing.  [MS2]   [MS3]  [QRE3]
  9. Students learn to use software development tools from command line compile and run commands to a sophisticated Interface Development Environment like Eclipse.  [MS2]  [QRE3]

Course Student Learning Outcomes and Course Assessment Plan

Assessment Instruments

Course Student Learning Outcomes

CodeLab

Blackboard
Quizzes

Guided
Labs

Project
1

Project
2

Project
3

Project
4

Test
#1

Test
#2

Final
Exam

1

Students develop understanding of basic object-oriented concepts including classes, methods, and objects, one and two-dimensional arrays, and basic program control. 

 

X

X

 

 

X

X

 

X

X

2

Students work on program development techniques to describe and understand the problem statement, think through input/process/output, leading to geometric problem representation and finally coding.

 

 

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

3

Students learn program control structures.

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

4

Students learn data structures such as Strings, 1-D arrays, 2-D arrays, and arrays of objects.

X

X

X

 

X

X

X

 

X

X

5

Students learn to implement algorithms for initializing arrays, finding min/max values, and manipulating arrays of objects. 

X

X

X

 

X

X

X

 

X

X

6

Students learn to work on modular programming, develop, debug and compiling parts of a larger program.

 

 

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

7

Students learn to work with packages and pre-defined Graphical User Interface components such as windows, text boxes, input boxes.

 

 

X

 

 

X

X

 

X

X

8

Students are introduced to File reading and writing.

 

 

X

 

 

X

X

 

X

X

9

Students learn to use software development tools from command line compile and run commands to a sophisticated Interface Development Environment like Eclipse.

 

 

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

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G. A Tagliarini