NOTE: Read this syllabus. It is a contract describing the way this course will be conducted. If there are statements that are unclear, or that you disagree with, please contact the instructor. Specifics are subject to change with appropriate notice.

Course Description

The catalog describes this course as follows: "Using images, sounds, and movies to introduce problem solving, data representation, data manipulation, and programming principles including recursion. Introduction to basic ideas in hardware, software, and computing."

Course Moodle (where all the action happens)

Course Learning Objectives

• Students will be able to read, understand, modify, and assemble from pieces programs that achieve useful communication tasks: Image manipulation, sound synthesis and editing, text (e.g., HTML) creation and manipulation, and digital video effects.
  • I will always give you examples to use when I ask you to program
• Students will learn what computer science is about, especially data representations, algorithms, encodings, forms of programming.

Materials

Text: Introduction to Computing and Programming in Python: A Multimedia Approach by Mark Guzdial

Software: Jython Environment for Students - JES

You should feel free to download a free version by following this link. This software will be installed in the computer laboratory in the science building, but if you wish to work in your own home/room, feel free to download this software (it also comes on a CD-ROM with your book).

Web materials:

You are expected to check the Course Moodle at least one time between course meetings. Any updates or news will be posted on the Moodle, and I will expect that you have seen it once since the previous course meeting (thus, a change made on Monday afternoon might be missed by Wednesday since you might check right after class, but by Friday, I know you will have seen the posted change).

Contact Guidelines

I will be in my office with the door open during office hours. Please feel free to stop and see me during those times. If I can not be there during the scheduled hours, I will attempt to let the class know in some fashion.

I tend to prefer email over telephone contact, though I will accept either. Please make certain that you sign your e-mails, include the course number in the subject line, and that you make it clear what the e-mail is about. This will help me to help you.

If my office door is closed, don't try to get my attention by knocking. I am either NOT THERE, or I am attempting to get work done. If the door is propped open even a little bit, I am willing to speak with you. But, if it is closed and latched, I request that you respect my need to get something done (but please yell and knock if the building's on fire!)

Policies

All class policies are based on responsible and respectful behavior and actions. Flexibility within the framework of any class is always more possible as long as requests follow these principles.

You may appeal any grade or policy you feel is inappropriate. Provide an appeal in writing (on paper). Outline why you think the decision or policy is wrong. Set a meeting time to discuss the issue and so that you can advocate for your position. Decisions regarding your appeal will be made at that meeting. If you feel the process was unsatisfactory, you may use the grievance process provided by UMM.

• Communication is important. If something is unclear, please ask. If there is a problem, please bring it to my attention. It is impossible to be responsive to your needs if you do not make it clear that help is needed.
• Remember, feedback helps make the class and my teaching better!
• If you have a disability or medical situation that requires attention or accomodations (e.g., alternative testing procedures), please inform me as early in the class as possible (and see Coleen in disability services). Even if you are not sure that you want to utilize accomodations that are available to you, I encourage you to see Colleen as soon as possible so that you have a plan. I will endeavor to keep these situations confidential and I will do my best to accommodate you. You are responsible for providing UMM with the proper documentation so that we, as instructors, can support you.
• It is important that the class environment feels like a SAFE learning environment to you. You should not be subjected to harassment based on gender, race, ethnicity, orientation or creed. If there are problems regarding the learning environment, please let me know what can be done to improve the situation. If I am the source of the problem, and you are not comfortable with bringing it to my attention, contact another CSci faculty member or the Division Chair for help.

• Attendance is encouraged, but not mandatory. I reserve the right to refuse to repeat myself incessantly due to your absence. But, I will work with you if I am forewarned of an absence. In-class activities will occur in this class frequently.
• We will have quizzes and "whaddayaknows" in class on a regular basis. If you miss a "whaddayaknow", you can make it up as a quiz (which basically means that your performance impacts your grade as opposed to a "whaddayaknow" where the points are automatically awarded just for trying). If you need to make up a "whaddayaknow", you need to do so before the next class period unless prior arrangements have been made. Quizzes can only be made up if arrangements have been made prior to class.

• Assignments are due at the BEGINNING of class on their due dates.
• You may use two grace days on assignments however you would like throughout the term - this means you may turn in one assignment two "school days" late, or two assignments one "school day" late with no penalty (where a "school day" is a day that classes, though not necessarily this one, meet on campus - e.g. no weekends or holidays will count against you). I will try to grade your assignment quickly, but you might not get your grade with everyone else.
• Late assignments not using grace days will be accepted until two weeks after the due date for 75% of the points as the new maximum number of points possible. Note: If the asignment has been graded and returned (or feedback posted on the Moodle), you will have to make an appointment and sit in my office while I grade the assignment. You will have to show me what you did and why. This will show me that you understand the work and it will prevent me from letting ungraded work pile up. This policy will enable me to give you prompt feedback on your work (which will help you learn more and be more productive in this course). So, if you turn it in late, you run the risk that you will have to show me every step of what you did to solve the problem, and you will be docked 25%.
• Exams must be taken at the given exam times unless you have contacted me at least 24 hours prior to the event and have worked out an alternative with me.
• Do your own work. It will be clear when you are expected to do work without collaboration. It will be equally clear when collaboration is encouraged. However, even when you work with others, you are expected to provide an equal share of the effort. Please see UMM policies if you feel you must review the consequences of failure to comply with this.

Grading

A standard 90%(some kind of A), 80%(some kind of B), 70%(some kind of C), 62%(some kind of D) (The D- grade is considered an F) scale will be used. Results are NOT curved.

• Assignments
  • are done outside of class. I encourage you to work with others in the class. In most cases, you still need to turn in your own version of the assignment. You should indicate any students you worked with so that I can grade them side by side (and save some time). You are responsible for all the course material, even if you collaborate with others for assignments.
  • are given to encourage you to exercise your skill at coding and problem solving. These will be evenly spaced through the semester and will be made due at some point prior to the midterm exam that will cover the material found in that assignment.
• Exams
  • must be taken at the given exam times unless you have contacted me at least 24 hours prior to the event and have worked out an alternative with me. (There are some obvious exceptions involving extreme circumstances, of course, so do let me know if you feel you have some kind of extreme case. That being said, if you could have contacted me before the exam and failed to do so, that complicates things.)
  • are individual work, closed book (unless otherwise stated).
  • will occur as scheduled. A review sheet will be available.
  • will contain code - sometimes you'll need to read code and understand it (describe what it is doing or find mistakes), and sometimes you'll be asked to write some code (but there will be examples to help you, even on the exams).
• The final exam
  • will be comprehensive in nature and may include questions related to any aspect of the course.
• Quizzes
  • will be given in class as scheduled on the Moodle (I posted the tentatively scheduled dates to the Moodle, but I will update them before the class meeting that precedes the class meeting of a quiz if anything changes).

Your Focus

You should always focus on learning the material. I realize that there is a great deal of pressure to receive high marks/grades. However, if you focus on the grade, you will fail to focus on the very thing that can earn you the grade you want. Achieve the goal of becoming confident in your knowledge of the material. If you do this, you will find that you will earn a grade you will be pleased with. I want you to be successful in this course, so please communicate your needs/questions/concerns so that I can help you.

My Focus

It is important that I show you respect by being responsible for facilitating your learning to the best of my abilities. I will do my best to be approachable and to be timely in my work. I am willing to discuss things with you as needed. I will do my best to honestly and accurately answer your questions. I will admit when I don't know an answer, but I will try to either find the answer later or point you to a good resource.

Official Grading policy:

• A -- achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements.
• B -- achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements.
• C -- achievement that meets the course requirements in every respect.
• D -- achievement that is worthy of credit even though it fails to meet fully the course requirements.
• S -- achievement that is satisfactory, which is equivalent to a C- or better (achievement required for an S is at the discretion of the instructor but may be no lower than a C-).
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• F (or N) -- Represents failure (or no credit) and signifies that the work was either (1) completed but at a level of achievement that is not worthy of credit or (2) was not completed and there was no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be awarded an I (see also I)
• I -- (Incomplete) Assigned at the discretion of the instructor when, due to extraordinary circumstances, e.g., hospitalization, a student is prevented from completing the work of the course on time. Requires a written agreement between instructor and student.

For undergraduate courses, one credit is defined as equivalent to an average of three hours of learning effort per week (over a full semester) necessary for an average student to achieve an average grade in the course. For example, a student taking a three credit course that meets for three hours a week should expect to spend an additional six hours a week on coursework outside the classroom.

Academic dishonesty: academic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for a course shall be grounds for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is essential to a positive teaching and learning environment. All students enrolled in University courses are expected to complete coursework responsibilities with fairness and honesty. Failure to do so by seeking unfair advantage over others or misrepresenting someone else's work as your own, can result in disciplinary action. The University Student Conduct Code defines scholastic dishonesty as follows:

"Scholastic Dishonesty: Scholastic dishonesty means plagiarizing; cheating on assignments or examinations; engaging in unauthorized collaboration on academic work; taking, acquiring, or using test materials without faculty permission; submitting false or incomplete records of academic achievement; acting alone or in cooperation with another to falsify records or to obtain dishonestly grades, honors, awards, or professional endorsement; altering forging , or misusing a University academic record; or fabricating or falsifying data, research procedures, or data analysis."

Within this course, a student responsible for scholastic dishonesty can be assigned a penalty up to and including an "F" or "N" for the course. If you have any questions regarding the expectations for a specific assignment or exam, ask.

This page: http://www.morris.umn.edu/~lamberty/cs1201/index.html last updated 8-23-2008

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.