CSIS 10A -- JAVA

Computer Science -- Beginning Programming
Spring 2011 grades

Instructor:  Tom Rebold   Phone:  645-1327                Office: BH-104A Office Hours: M/W/Th 2-3, W5-6,F4:30-5:30	Credit:  4 units Classroom: GC103   Time: Tue/Thur 10:00 - 12:30 Tell me about yourself!  (delete last letter of URL)
Class web site:  http://www.mpcfaculty.net/tom_rebold/CSIS10A.htm Tom Rebold's faculty     HOMEWORK UPLOADER   FEEDBACK MPC CSIS Student Discussion Forum

Installing BlueJ       Cross Enroll at CSUMB     Computer Majors Compared       

Text:              Eck, Introduction to Programming Using Java, a FREE online text. Paper copies may be ordered on the first day of class for a nominal fee. Also available in HTML and you may purchase a copy of Chapters 1 - 7 here.

Materials:       Storage media (USB thumb drive) for shuttling programs between home and lab
                       A spiral notebook for taking notes during class
                       A personal computer with BlueJ and Java installed on it will be very helpful in completing this class.

Special thanks to Michael Kowalczyk for kindly allowing use of his personal lab materials.
See http://cs.nmu.edu/~mkowalcz/ for more information.

Tutoring:         1) Steve Bruemmer, our Instructional Tech, is available in GC101 M-Th 9-5, F9-2
                        Email: sbruemmer (at) mpc.edu.  646-4289

Course description:

The overall goal of this course is for you to learn the basics of designing algorithms and programming computers in an object-oriented language.  You will express your algorithms using the basic features of the Java programming language and develop strategies for constructing clear, understandable, and efficient code. You should already have some exposure to the elements of programming from a class like CSIS 1 or your own self study. These topics will be developed further in CSIS10B.

Student Learning Outcome:
    Students will be able to take a problem statement and write a computer program that solves the problem.

Objectives--Students will be able to 

a) Analyze a problem statement and design a solution for the problem.
b) Construct Java computer code to implement the solution of the problem.
c) Debug and test the coded solution for syntax, logic and runtime errors.
d) Comprehend the factors involved with structured and object-oriented programming. 

Course Content           
(Hit CANCEL for any PASSWORD prompt)   

Attendance:

Anyone who stops participating with the class for 2 weeks can expect to be dropped. To avoid being dropped, you may keep in touch by email to inform me of any conflicts in your work/life.

Class Work:

Programming Labs                    20%
Final Project                             10%
Midterm Exam                          35%
Final Exam                               35%

 Grades will be based on the following curve:
            A - 90%  
            B - 80%
            C - 70%
            D - 60% 

Homework Grading:

Each week there will be a number of programming activities for you to solve.  When you are finished, zip your program files, and upload them to the class website. Your programming lab grades will be based on the following table:

Program Success Score:
5 pts.     Program about 50% working
8 pts.     Program about 80% working
10 pts.   Program works completely  (max is 10 points, although a point may be given for extra features added.)

Deductions:
1/2 pt.       Lack of meaningful variable names used in declarations
1/2 pt.       Lack of informative comments
1/2 pt.       Poor or inconsistent formatting
1/2 pt.       Poor choice of Java commands
1/2 pt.       Improperly zipping files (see Homework Uploader for instructions)

Homework more than 1 week late will not be accepted.

Note on Academic Honesty 

Working with others on assignments is a good way to learn the material and is encouraged. However, there are limits to the degree of cooperation that is allowed in this class. Working together to find a good approach for solving a programming problem is acceptable cooperation.  On the other hand, copying someone else’s work is cheating. Anything that you hand in must be your own work. For assignment of penalties, there is no difference between cheaters who copy others' work and cheaters who allow their work to be copied.

Violators of this rule will be given zero points for the assignment or project (or exam) involved. If you have any questions about what constitutes cheating, please ask. I have been getting more strict in my application of this rule.