EASTERN UNIVERSITY
CSC 150: Problem Solving With Computers
Fall 2007
Walter Huddell
Email: whuddell@eastern.edu
Office: McInnis 217, x5530
Office Hours: TTH 2:00-3:00
In addition to these posted hours I am often available at other times. Please do not hesitate to make an appointment with me. I can be contacted best via email or voice mail.
Course Prerequisites: None.
Course Description: This course will teach students the skills of problem solving and algorithmic thinking. It has a liberal arts focus, rather than a vocational one. Topics include web development using HTML and scripting using JavaScript, the internet, UNIX including the command line and the X-Window system, and some work in application software such as spreadsheets. The course will touch on some of the history and philosophy of computing and the internet.
Course Objectives: Upon the completion of this course the student should be able to:
Create a web page in HTML.
Post a web page onto a UNIX web server.
Perform basic operations in the bash shell.
Write simple JavaScript code including if statements, and the development of basic functions..
Use functions within an Excel spreadsheet including if/then statements and Boolean arguments.
Describe the basic differences between various operating systems.
Text: Craig D. Knuckles, Introduction to Interactive Programming on the Internet.
Attendance Policy: Your attendance is absolutely essential to your success in this class. If you know you are going to be absent, please notify the professor. 10% of your course grade depends on class participation and your attendance is critical for the class participation portion.
Policy for Students with Disabilities: If you have any documented special educational needs, you are encouraged to work with the Cushing Center for Counseling and Academic Support to prepare a written request for the accommodations you need in this course. To receive accommodations in this course, the professor must receive a written request from CCAS at the beginning of the course, or as soon as the disability is diagnosed. If you have a documented special educational need, please notify me at the beginning of the semester, or at the time you are first able to document the need, and I will work with you and the academic support center to create appropriate accommodations.
College Policies: All college policies for undergraduate students apply to this class. Please consult the undergraduate catalog or see the professor if you have questions. Academic dishonesty is a serious offense that will seriously jeopardize your grade, since plagiarism or cheating results in a double zero on the assignment in question.
Teaching Methods: This course will involve some lecture as well as a great deal of hands on interaction with the computer. Discussion will play a role in some classes especially when we address some of the non-technical topics. In addition, you will be expected to use the computer lab in room 105 or your own computer (if you so choose) to complete some assignments outside of class.
Testing and Grading Procedures: Letter grades will be given using the following breakdown:
93-100 A
90-92 A-
87-89 B+
83-86 B
80-82 B-
77-79 C+
73-76 C
70-72 C-
67-69 D+
63-66 D
60-62 D-
<60 F
Grading will be based on the following percentage scheme:
Computer Evaluations: 40%
Examinations: 50%
Class Participating/Attendance: 10%
The computer evaluations will take the form of hands on tasks to be completed on the computer. These will include constructing the applicable files using the applications spoken of above. These will be handed in on printed-paper, via email attachment or by scp or http depending on the nature of the assignment (instructions as to how to complete these tasks will be given at the appropriate time). These will be due upon the commencement of lab work. There will be two in class exams as well as a final. The two in class exams will be on October 4th and November 15th respectively. The final exam will be on Thursday December 13th from 9:00-11:00.