CS 0007 - Introduction to Computer Programming
Fall 2008
|
Class |
Recitations |
Time: |
11:00-12:15 |
Wed 11am Sennott Sq 5502 Friday 10am Sennott Sq 5505 |
Days: |
TH |
|
Room: |
Sennott
Square 5502 |
|
Webpage: |
Note: You must sign up for the recitation.
Contact Information
Daniel Mosse |
Asim Jamshed |
|
Office: | 6324 Sennot Square | 5324 Sennott Square |
Phone: | (412) 624-8923 | (412) 624-8455 |
Email: | mosse@cs.pitt.edu | ajamshed@cs.pitt.edu |
Office Hours: |
TH 10:00-11:00, 2:00-3:00 | M 3:30-4:30; T 12:30-1:30, W 3:30-4:30, H 12:30-1:30, F 11-12:45 |
Description
This class is meant as a first class in computer
programming.
Anyone is welcome to take it, anyone can succeed as a computer
programmer, which can be useful in a variety of
fields. It is also good as an introduction to computer science
for those
students who (might) wish to pursue the field further, but lack prior
exposure to the
material. We will use Alice, which allows students to visualize
their programs and create animated movies, joining fun and programming.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites. Passing familiarity with the operation of a computer and some math (geometry, algebra) is helpful.
(If you are already proficient - had 1 or 2 courses prior - in computer programming this is not the course for you.)
Course Purposes and Goals
Introduction to Computer Programming is meant as a
course to
expose interested students how computer software is written and
tested. It
seeks to illuminate the creative process that is computer programming
from the
ground up, with an emphasis on logic, algorithm development, and
animations.
In this course we will be writing procedural programs with Alice. Not only will you learn what that means, but you will also, at the end of the term:
Textbook
The text is:
Starting Out wth Alice, A visual Introduction to Programming,
by Tony Gaddis,
Pearson Addison-Wesley
ISBN-13:
978-0-321-47515-2
ISBN-10: 0-321-47515-2
Class Policies
Exams: There will be a midterm and a final, based on the computer programs we develop during the course. The scheduled final exam is on December 12, 4:00 p.m. - 5:50 p.m.
Labs and Quizzes: Attending recitation is a very important part of this course. In recitation you will be able to work in a structured setting while completing small tasks (Labs). Concepts from class will be expanded upon and tested with unannounced quizzes.
Projects: There will be six out-of-class assignments (small computer programs). These are to be completed in the given time (10% per day penalty for late work). Unless otherwise noted, these are meant to be your own work; anyone found to be collaborating will be given a zero for the assignment. Collaborating also means using code from previous terms, other universities, your friends, or finding it on the internet.
Participation: Attendance will not be taken. But class is fun, and so is the material, so it'd be your loss. Also, class attendance is officially mandatory. Homeworks, assignments, and important dates will be posted on the class web page, but this is provided as a courtesy and is not always complete. [ominous warning] It is your fault if you miss something important because you skipped class.
Recitation attendance is also required. You will miss important material on the programming assignments if you do not attend.
Office hours are optional. They are your chance to ask the professor and the TAs questions about the material being covered, the programming assignments, etc.
Grading
Your grade will be based upon 2 exams, 6 projects, weekly labs and quizzes (the lowest one of which will be dropped), and participation:
2 Exams |
40% (20% each) |
6 Projects |
42% (7% each) |
Labs + Quizzes |
18% |
Participation (bonus) |
5% |
Total |
105% |
Mailing
List Announcement
A class mailing list will be compiled, and will be used for
important
announcements. It is VERY important that you be included in this list.
It is therefore your responsibility to e-mail the TA and request
to be included on the CS0007 class mailing list.
Getting Answers to your Questions
Disability Resources and
Services:
If you have a disability for which you are requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and Disability Resources and Services, 216 William Pitt Union, (412) 648-7890 or (412) 383-7335 (TTY), as early as possible in the term. DRS will verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course.
Term Schedule: The
daily topics are subject to change depending on our pace. Here is a list that will be continuously
updated, to
assist you in the readings so you can focus on those concepts prior to
class. Here is a list of slides, mostly done by George Novacky and modified accordingly.
Academic
Honesty: Collaboration vs. Cheating
This really should not be an issue, but to make things as clear as
possible the following is necessary.
You are encouraged to discuss the course material and concepts with other students in the class. However, all work that you submit must be your own. Under no circumstances may you look at anyone else's code or show anyone else your code. And while you may discuss the concepts used in the programming assignments, you may not discuss implementation details of the assignments themselves.
If you are caught copying or otherwise turning in work that is not solely your own, you will fail the course.
The bottom line is that you are expected to conduct yourself as a person of integrity - you are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity. This means that plagiarism1 in any form is completely unacceptable. As a (soon to be) computing professional, I encourage you to consult the code of ethics appropriate to your discipline2.
Plagiarism will be assumed until disproved on work that is essentially the same as that of other students. This includes identically incorrect, off-the-wall, and highly unusual duplicate answers where the probability of a sheer coincidence is extremely unlikely. All parties to this unacceptable collaboration will receive the same treatment.
You should bring a picture identification with you to all examinations and be prepared to show it upon request.
If you are unsure of what is and is not allowed by this policy, talk to the instructor.
1 pla-gia-rize vt. to
steal and
pass of as one's own (the ideas or words of another) to present as
one's
own an idea or product derived from an existing source - pla-gia-riz-er
n.
(source: Webster's New World Dictionary).
2 The Association for Computing Machinery
is http://www.acm.org/, the IEEE is http://www.ieee.org/ and the IEEE
Computer
Society is http://www.computer.org/.