Otterbein College
Department of Mathematical Sciences

C SC 120
Introduction to Computer Programming

Winter 2009 Syllabus

Class TR 7:25 - 9:25 p.m. in Towers 114 & 127
Instructor Pete Sanderson
Office Towers 134
Office Hours TR 10-11 and 2-3, anytime my door is open, or by appointment
E-mail, Phone PSanderson@Otterbein.edu, 823-1317
Objectives This course is an introduction to computer programming using the Java programming language. By the end of this course, you will be able to construct animated video sequences by programming the Alice system. You will also be able to construct correct Java solutions to small and well-defined logic problems. Your solutions will apply Java constructs for sequential, conditional and iterative logic. You will be able to work with numeric and character-oriented data values and collections. You will be able to utilize tools and techniques for composing, testing and debugging Java programs. You will know the basic activities involved in developing software and where those activities are taught and applied in the Otterbein computer science curriculum.
Description The student will create implementations based on stated requirements. The imperative language constructs of variables, arrays, assignment, sequence, selection and iteration will be used. The student is introduced to system design by working within larger systems in which they implement components.
Corequisites C SC 100 and MATH 115 (or higher) must be taken prior to or in the same term as C SC 120.
Texts Alice in Action : Computing Through Animation, by Joel Adams. Published by Course Technology, 2007.
Additional resources are available at http://faculty.otterbein.edu/PSanderson/CSC120/, the course web site.
Web Tutorial http://math.otterbein.edu/home/Class/Csc120/WebPages/ contains the Java course materials for this class. The tutorials consist of work-at-your-own-pace readings and exercises that will help you learn the basics of the Java Language.
Labs and Projects About three-quarters of class time each week will be spent hands-on in the laboratory, working through textbook exercises and the web-based programming tutorials, with the instructor present for guidance and to answer questions. There will be time to work on the projects during the lab sessions, but additional time will almost certainly be required. I will accept a project one class period late for up to 80% of the original points. It is easy to become confused and spend an hour or more trying to do one step. Work smart by asking questions when you are stuck.
Exams There will be two closed-book quizzes and a comprehensive final examination. Quizzes and exams cover lecture and tutorial material, lab exercises, and projects. Make-ups will be scheduled only for documented emergencies.  The final exam will be given at its scheduled time of Tuesday, March 17, from 7:25 until 9:25 p.m.
Attendance In order to maximize your and your classmates' learning experience, you must attend and participate in classroom and lab sessions. In addition, individual projects are due every week and you are required to demonstrate them for me during the lab session to receive credit. I do not assign attendance points per se, but have observed over the years that poor attendance leads to poor performance and grades.
Academic
Integrity
Policy
All members of the Otterbein College community of learners are expected to follow the rules and customs of proper academic conduct. Proper conduct includes avoiding academic misconduct as defined in the Campus Life Handbook.  This class will include both individual and collaborative assignments. In either case, you are encouraged to help each other learn the course material. Participants in these discussions enjoy the benefit of deeper and greater learning.  However, any individual projects must be your own, created yourself while thinking it through.

Any individual project or exam submitted for evaluation that includes work done by another or copying of another's work is a case of academic misconduct. If this occurs, you will receive a zero grade for that project or exam. The misconduct may also be reported to the Office of the Academic Dean.

Grading Your grade is based on your total points out of a possible 250 points. The components of this score and their weights are as follows: Lab projects 150 points (60%), quizzes 50 points (20%), final exam 50 points (20%).
 
RangeGradeRangeGrade RangeGrade
230-250 A 200 - 204 B- 170 - 174 D+
225 - 229 A- 195 - 199 C+ 150 - 169 D
220 - 224 B+ 180 - 194 C 0 - 149 F
205 - 219 B 175 - 179 C-  


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Last updated:
Pete Sanderson (PSanderson@otterbein.edu)