Introduction to Computers

2006/07 Catalog description

Introduction to computer programming together with the consideration of the impact of computers on society. Emphasis on logical problem-solving and algorithms. No credit given to students with credit for CS 151, 213 or MATH 446, 471. 

Logistics

Instructor

Dr. Stan Kurkovsky, Associate Professor of Computer Science

Office

MS 303-08

Phone

(860) 832-2720

Fax

(860) 832-2712

E-mail

kurkovskysta@ccsu.edu

Office hours

MW 4:30-5:00pm TR 10:30-12:30pm or by appointment

Class meetings

Section 4: TR 12:30 pm-1:45 pm @ MS 210
Section 70: MW 5:15 pm-6:30 pm @ MS 210

Textbook and other reference materials

• David I. Schneider, An Introduction to Programming with Visual Basic 6.0, Update Edition, 4th Edition, ISBN 0131427075
• In-class handouts
• Companion web site available at http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_schneider_vb6_4
• Instructor's web site available at http://www.cs.ccsu.edu/~stan/ and other web sites recommended by the instructor
• Blackboard Vista will be used to turn in all assignments

Course objectives

Upon a successful completion of this course the students should be able to:

• Be familiar with the use of computers as a prime tool in solving of common problems within various facets of our society;
• Understand the generic principles of computer programming as applied directly to common situations;
• Comprehend the procedures, algorithms, functions and processes of an appropriate computer language;
• Use the knowledge both of algorithmic functions and of computer programming in definite application settings;
• Demonstrate the use of these concepts and knowledge in the direct production of programs applied to diverse problem settings.

Tentative schedule

Reference: S - Schneider, An Introduction to Programming with Visual Basic 6.0

Week 1: January 22 - January 25

• Lecture: Introduction; course overview and objectives.
  Reading: none
• Lecture: Introduction to computers and VB
  Reading: S 1

Week 2: January 29 - February 2

• Lecture: Problem solving
  Reading: S 2
• Lab 1: Flowcharts

Week 3: February 5 - February 9

• Lecture: VB objects and events; numbers
  Reading: S 3.1-3.3
• Lab 2: Numbers

Week 4: February 12 - February 16

• Lecture: Strings; input and output
  Reading: S 3.4-3.5
• Lab 3: Strings, IO

Week 5: February 19 - February 23

• February 16-19 - President Holiday break (no classes)
• Lecture: none
  Reading: none
• Lecture: Built-in functions
  Reading: S 3.6

Week 6: February 26 - March 2

• Lab 4: Built-in functions
• Lecture: Sub procedures (I)
  Reading: S 4.1

Week 7: March 5 - March 9

• Lab 5: Sub procedures (I)
• Lecture: Sub procedures (II)
  Reading: S 4.2

Week 8: March 12 - March 16

• Lab : Sub procedures (II)  (school closed due to bad weather)
• Midterm
• March 16 - Last day to withdraw from full-semester courses without approval

Week 9: March 19 - March 23

• March 19-25: Spring recess (no classes)

Week 10: March 26 - March 30

• Lecture: Function procedures
  Reading: S 4.3
• Lab 6: Function procedures

Week 11: April 2 - April 6

• Lecture: Decisions
  Reading: S 5.1-5.2
• Lab 7: Decisions

Week 12: April 9 - April 13

• Lecture: Select case blocks
  Reading: S 5.3
• Lab 8: Select case blocks

Week 13: April 16 - April 20

• Lecture: Do loops
  Reading: S 6.1-6.2
• Lab 9: Do loops

Week 14: April 23 - April 27

• Lecture: For/Next loops
  Reading: S 6.3
• Lab 10: For/Next loops

Week 15: April 30 - May 4

• Lecture: Creating and using arrays
  Reading: S 7.1-7.2
• Lab 11: Creating and using arrays

Week 16: May 7 - May 9

• Lecture: Sorting and searching
  Reading: S 7.4
• Lab 12: Sorting and searching

Finals: May 14 - May 19

• Final exam (Section 4): May 17 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
• Final exam (Section 70): May 14 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pm

Midterms

Midterms are non-cumulative and are designed as elementary evaluation devices and to prompt the student to stay abreast of assigned topics. Each test will take 50 minutes. Make-up tests may only be given if a student can provide a written proof of a serious reason for missing a test (such as illness or accident).

 Questions on a test may include:

• True/false questions,
• Multiple choice questions,
• Fill in the blank questions,
• Short answer questions.

Final exam

Final exam is a cumulative objective test of representative content of the entire semester's course offerings.

Lab assignments

During the labs students will work on hands-on problems focusing on the material covered in class lectures and reading assignments. Students must work on each lab assignment individually. Deliverables for each lab assignment must be submitted via Blackboard Vista - no other submissions will be accepted. Lab deliverables are due in WebCT Vista within two days after the lab date.

There will be 13 lab assignments in this course and each of them will be graded. The lowest grade will be dropped and will not count towards the course total.

Honesty policy

It is expected that all students will conduct themselves in an honest manner (see the CCSU Student Handbook), and never turn in any work which is not their own. Violating this policy will result in a substantial grade penalty, and could result in expulsion from the University. However, students are allowed to discuss assignments with others and receive debugging help from others.

Attendance

All students are expected to attend class sessions regularly. However, recognizing individual differences, each student is responsible for his/her own attendance and for making-up any missed study or work. Limited assistance will be offered to those with plausible reasons for absences; unexcused absences will result in the student being totally responsible for the make-up process.

Help with computers

The University offers some student assistants who may be of value in helping students with basic computer functionality only, not with program writing.

Students with disabilities

Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. I will need a copy of the accommodation letter from Student Disability Services in order to arrange your class accommodations. Contact Student Disability Services, Room 241, Copernicus Hall, if you are not already registered with them. Student Disability Services maintains the confidential documentation of your disability and assists you in coordinating reasonable accommodations with your faculty.

Grades and evaluation

Students will be evaluated regularly during the semester and should be aware of their progress continuously during the semester. The final course grade will be reported according to the stated University policy.

The final course grade will be calculated according to the following distribution of points:

Course letter grade will be determined as follows:

A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	C-	D+	D	D-	F
95-100	90-94	87-89	84-86	80-83	77-79	74-76	70-73	67-69	64-66	60-63	0-59