Welcome to CIS 231 – Fundamentals of Computer Science I


Fall 2010:  CRN 72195

There is a MANDATORY on-campus orientation for this class scheduled for
Saturday, August 21st, 2010 from 1:30-3:00 pm in room 3413 on the SLO campus. 
In order to retain your seat in this course you must do one of the following:

1)    Attend the orientation at the time/place listed above, OR

2)    Complete and turn in Lab 1 before the orientation (details will be online the 1st week of the semester)

 

Welcome to the Fundamentals of Computer Science I 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 elementary principles of computer science while programming in two distinct high-level languages (C and Java.) Our primary objective in this course is to give you the ability to apply these principles 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 transferable to both the UC and CSU systems. It satisfies the D2 section of the Cuesta General Education Requirements and is the equivalent of CSC/CPE 101 (and half of 102) at Cal Poly.

 

Is this the right course for you?

CIS 231 is a demanding first course in the core sequence for computer-oriented majors, as well as serving as a support course for other majors (notably EE and Math.)  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 what you understand that you need.  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 16 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.

 

Or put another way:  “Get ahead, stay ahead.”  The course will start gradually and give you an opportunity to get ahead.  That way if you become sick or have a personal matter to attend to you still won’t be behind.

 

It is vital that you check in to the course site daily for updates.  Some labs and quizzes have a narrow window and getting into a rhythm of checking in daily will help you plan and use your time in an optimal fashion.

 

Book Requirements

You will need to purchase textbooks for the class, and we have provided multiple options so that you can choose the best one to fit your educational plans:

 

·         If you are planning to take CIS 231 through 233, get both the “Problem Solving and Program Design in C” by Hanly/Koffman and the full “Data Structures and Problem Solving Using Java” by Mark Allen Weiss.  (The Weiss book is also the text for 232/233.)

·         If you are just taking CIS 231, we have worked with the publisher to provide a special version of the Weiss book that has just the 231 material and costs much less.  So if this is your only CIS course buy the Hanly/Koffman book and the Weiss special version.

 

(Both books are available at the Cuesta Bookstore, and the Weiss special version is only available there.)

 

Online Components of the Course

This course is taught using an online course management system (e.g. Blackboard.)  Students will have access to the system at the start of the semester - watch your myCuesta email for login information.  This is a Web-based tool used to facilitate teaching an online class. This platform provides the framework for the course and will provide announcements as well as access to the variety of instructional materials that we will use. 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.

 

We will also be using Java development software, and you also have the choice of program there as well.  Our default program (for ease of use, cost, etc.) is JCreator LE.

 

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.  The SLO Open Lab also has 12 Mac Minis that have Xcode installed.

 

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
All major tests will be held in person. These tests and other key meetings will be held Wednesday evenings on the SLO campus in room 3412.  Exams may last up to 2 hours.  The final exam will be held Wednesday night of Finals Week (12/15) from 7-9pm in room 3412. Please make sure your class schedule allows you to come at that time.  Please do not take the course this semester if you are not available at these times.

 

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*