Welcome to CIS 217 - “C” Programming
Spring 2010: CRN 30908
There is a MANDATORY on-campus orientation for this class
scheduled for
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 from 6-7 pm in
room 4111 on the SLO campus.
You MUST ATTEND THIS MEETING in order to retain your seat in this online
course.
Welcome to the “C”
programming course in our CIS (Computer Science) transfer program at Cuesta
College. My name is Randy Scovil, and I will be your instructor in the upcoming
online section. This letter is to inform you of some important details prior to
the start of the class. Please read this document carefully!!
Course Description and
Objectives
The purpose of this course is to introduce you to
introductory principles of computer science while programming in a high-level
language (in this case, "C".) Our primary objective in this course is
to give you the ability to create computer-based solutions and become familiar
with software development tools and principles. This course will also serve as
a foundation should you decide to pursue more advanced topics in computer
science in school or on your own. This course is acceptable for credit at both
the UC and CSU systems. It is the equivalent of Computer Science 234 at Cal Poly.
Is this the right course for you?
CIS 217 is an introductory
programming course primarily for majors other than Computer Science. No previous programming experience is
assumed, though it is imperative that you stay current with the course and do
the assigned work.
If you are taking this as
a support course, check the table linked below to see if it matches your
understanding. Requirements vary at
four-year schools – the table references Cal Poly majors but is fairly
universal. Be sure to check with your
counselor with any questions you may have.
http://academic.cuesta.edu/rscovil/WhichCISCourse.htm
If you have questions
regarding the best course for you and/or transfer-related questions, please
feel free to email me at rscovil@cuesta.edu.
Please be prepared to
spend an amount of time commensurate with a traditional lecture course for
reading, reviewing the course presentations, and doing assigned class work –
about 12 hours a week. The course is
linear in nature and each topic builds on the previous work so it is important
that you work through each section before moving on to the next.
Book
Requirements
You will need to purchase
your textbook for the class, which is “Engineering
Problem Solving with C” by Delores Etter.
The third is the current edition, though any edition should
suffice. Be aware that earlier editions
may have different examples than the ones we use in class.
You may also want to
purchase a C reference guide (any will do, the “C Pocket Reference” by Prinz, et al is very cost-effective) or
locate an online resource on the C programming language to supplement the other
class materials.
(Both the Etter and Prinz
books are available at the Cuesta Bookstore.)
Online Components of the Course
This course is taught using Blackboard CE8.
Students will have access to the Blackboard class the Friday before the
semester begins. This is a Web-based tool used to facilitate teaching an
online class. This platform provides the framework for the CIS 217 class
including PowerPoint presentations, student data files, the tools to receive
and send course materials, and a grade book. There will also be tools that you
can use to communicate with the instructor and other students as appropriate.
Software You Will Need
There is no required
purchase for the course, as free software will suffice. If you are running Windows, the most
beginner-friendly suggestion is to download the latest version of Microsoft
Visual C++ Express Edition at the following site: http://www.microsoft.com/exPress/
(Note: This is a C class, so don’t let the name of
the program mislead you. The C++ Express
Edition can compile and run C programs very well.)
You are not required to
use this program. If you run another
operating system (e.g. OS X, Linux) and/or prefer to use another program, you
are welcome to do so. There will be
instructions provided for installing and using Visual C++ Express.
The Open Labs (SLO and
NCC) have Visual Studio (the commercial version of Visual C++) as well as other
compilers installed for your use on an as-available basis.
Minimum Computer Requirements
This configuration has been found
to be sufficient for online computer-oriented courses:
· Intel® Pentium® III / 500 MHz processor (or
equivalent AMD processor)
· at least 512 MB RAM -- 2 GB hard disk space · Sound
Card
· Reliable DSL or Cable (not dial-up modem) Internet
Connection · Speakers or Headset
It is strongly recommended that you obtain a flash drive to
store your work and also investigate another location (e.g. another
computer/flash, email) to save an additional copy of your files in case of
mishap.
You must have access to a computer, an email account, and
a reliable Internet connection. You must have a backup plan in case your
internet provider or computer goes down. All of your assignments and tests will
be sent to me via Blackboard. It is essential that you understand the
basic concepts of email; web navigation; computer security including firewalls,
cookies, trusted sites; and online communication to succeed in this course.
Required
Meetings
The only required meetings will be on the 3 exam days and the
final, which will be weekday evenings on the SLO campus. Please make sure your class schedule allows
you to come at that time. Exams may last up to 2 hours.
Exam dates and times will
be provided at the orientation. There
are no provisions for anyone who misses any of these exams. Let me know if you
are having problems with anything related to the course by the end of the first
week of the semester.
*See the course syllabus and
web site for more information*