Syllabus for CMPTR 120 Programming Concepts

Spring, 2008

Prerequisites:

CMPTR 110 or concurrent enrollment in CMPTR 110 or permission of instructor

Course Description:

An introduction to programming concepts
 

Course Objectives: Upon Completion of this course you will be able to:

1. Understand the general approach to structured analysis and design.
2. Differentiate between the various types of algorithms and their appropriate uses.
3. Construct program logic using Nassi-Schneiderman charts.
4. Understand the different types of program structures.
5. Define data types and program operations, which include logic, I/O, arithmetic, loops and decision.
6. Construct functions (sub-programs).
7. Design programs which utilize arrays and/or files.

Course Outcomes:

• On successful completion of this class, the student will be able to design elementary level computer programs to represent industry standards
• Demonstrate the ability to solve programming problems using structured analysis and design methodologies
• Demonstrate effective, professional written communications skills
• Accurately trace programs through loop and decision logic
• Use acquired skills to design programs using functions and passing parameters so that the functions can share variables
• Use acquired skills to design programs using 1-dimensional arrays

Course Materials:

Course Outline

This course will consist of 10 units covering the following topics:

Chapter 1: Program Design

Chapter 2: Pseudo-code

Chapter 3: Developing an Algorithm

Chapter 4: Selection Control Structures

Chapter 5: Repetition Control Structures

Chapter 6: Pseudo-code Algorithms Using Sequence, Selection, and Repetition

Chapter 7: Array Processing

Chapter 8: First Steps in Modularization

Chapter 9: General Algorithms for Common Business Problems

Chapter 10: Communication between modules, Cohesion, and Coupling

Course Schedule:

Week 1 (Unit 1): Chapter 1 and Chapter 2: Program Design and Pseudo-code

Week 2 (Unit 2): Chapter 3: Developing an Algorithm

Week 3 (Unit 3): Chapter 4: Selection Control Structures

Week 4 (Unit 4): Chapter 5: Repetition Control Structures

Week 5 (Unit 5): Chapter 6: Using Sequence, Selection, and Repetition

Week 6 (Unit 6): Chapter 7: Array Processing

Week 7 (Unit 7): Chapter 8: First Steps in Modularization

Week 8 (Unit 8): Chapter 10: Further Modularization - Communication between modules, Cohesion, and Coupling

Week 9 (Unit 9): Chapter 9: Databases in PHP - General Algorithms for Common Business Problems

Week 10 (Unit 10): TBA

Lecture Schedule: CMPTR 120 meets 2 hours per week - 1 hour on Monday and 1 hour on Wednesday, online. Each week I will use the [virtual] classroom time to introduce or review Programming Concepts topics. Additional online time will be needed for research and study activities, group or partner work, submission of assignments, and assessment.

Chat Sessions

The Instructor delivers two clock hours of real-time chat scheduled at pre-selected times in a seven-day calendar week to accommodate diverse schedules. This time is open to change. You are not required to attend the real-time chats. The real-time chats focus on the Unit topic for each week of the ten-week session and are archived, so you can review the discussion on your own schedule. Real-time chats are not included in the course grade, but serve as a valuable resource for your learning experience.

• Mondays 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. (online – Virtual Classroom)
• Wednesdays 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. (online – Virtual Classroom)

Other Course Components

File naming standards for CMPTR 120 – The following naming standards must be used when submitting assignments by electronic mail or via the “Digital Dropbox” within WAOL.

Unit Analysis – Course name, followed by the Unit Number (Week Number), Last Name, First Name, and the abbreviation for the Assignment type

Example: CMPTR120_U10_Blackwell_Kevin_UA.doc

Chapter Exercises – Course name, followed by the Unit Number (Week Number), Last Name, First Name, and the abbreviation for the Assignment type

Example: CMPTR120_U10_Blackwell_Kevin_EX.doc

Quizzes – Course name, followed by Last Name, First Name, abbreviation for the Assignment type and Assignment number

Example: CMPTR120_Blackwell_Kevin_Q1.doc

E-mail Etiquette – The following guidelines should be adhered to in order to assure a fast, accurate and meaningful response from e-mail sent by the student to the Instructor.  Remember, the Instructor has many students in many classes.  Incorrectly formatted e-mail may hinder/delay a response back from your Instructor.

Use only the e-mail address at the bottom of the syllabus for corresponding with your instructor.

Example:

kblackwell@oc.ctc.edu

The subject line should always include your course number and the student’s name.  Cryptic e-mail addresses are too hard to correlate with “real” student names.  If you don’t put an appropriate subject line on your e-mail, you may not get a response.

Example:

Subject Line: CMPTR_120, Blackwell, Kevin – This is what I need help with

Course Evaluation

Graded Learning Events

Every Unit has from 2 to 3 Learning Events (known traditionally as assignments). Instructions for each Learning Event are provided within the Unit topic identified for each week. Each Learning Event concludes with a deliverable product. Deliverable products may range from a paragraph narrative, a research paper, a PowerPoint Presentation, programming code, an analysis of the Learning Event, to an HTML Web page. These deliverable products are evaluated using the course evaluation methods.

Student Assessment

A Student Assessment is included for every Unit of instruction. When two Units are covered during one week, a single assessment will be used to cover both units.  The course platform’s testing feature is utilized for this Student Assessment. True/False, Multiple Choice, Yes/No, or Matching are used for students to evaluate their own knowledge acquisition for each Unit’s identified course outcomes.

Assignment Weighting:

Course Evaluation Grading Scale

Policies

Attendance Policy

Attendance and success in this class have a strong correlation. New concepts tend to build on previous concepts rather than stand on their own. If you have to miss a class I suggest you network with other students to gather notes. I often hear the question, "I missed yesterday, did you cover anything important?" My answer is always the same, "Yes." Utilize my office hours to ask for assistance.

Student Conduct:

Everyone deserves to have a good learning environment. I will follow the rules of the college in the classroom. Please see the Student Handbook for the Student Conduct Code. All forms of dishonesty will be subject to immediate disciplinary action (see the section below on Academic Honesty).

Academic Honesty

At Olympic College, students are expected to demonstrate academic integrity by completing their own work assignments and assessments. Effective planning and progress must be accomplished for students to be successful in their degree program of study. Submission of work from another person, whether it is from printed sources or someone other than the student, previously graded papers, papers submitted without proper source citation, or submitting the same paper to multiple courses without the knowledge of all instructors involved can result in a failing grade or be reported to the Olympic College Vice President of Student Services for appropriate sanctions or disciplinary actions. All students are expected to adhere to the standards as set forth in the Student Code of Conduct and Statement on Academic Honesty.

The administration, faculty, and student government of Olympic College believe strongly in the concept of an honor system. This belief is based on the knowledge that in competitive professional environments, greater emphasis is placed on originality and integrity of ideas and work. All members of the Olympic College academic community, including faculty, students, and administration, are expected to assist in maintaining the integrity of the College, which includes reporting incidents that violate the Statement on Academic Honesty.

For Olympic College course work, please note that learning events are to be that of the student’s own work, and group projects are collaborative efforts.

Course Participation

Online students are required to participate in their online courses in an academically-related activity comparable to the minimum of one contact hour of instruction in a seven-day calendar week (Sunday to Saturday) for each week of a 10-week quarter. This participation is captured and recorded as the Last Date of Attendance (LDA) in the student records system and updated with each consecutive login. This provides a dynamic update to the LDA in the student’s academic record for real-time monitoring of course participation throughout a quarter. In the event of a student-initiated or administrative withdrawal, the LDA is used as the official date of withdrawal.

Homework Policy:

You are responsible for doing all online assignments, reviewing the online materials for that week, participating in the group activity for the week, and turning in all assignments on time. You will also have a weekly reading assignment, which will support that week's learning objectives, and which you are encouraged to complete ahead of time. Post any questions that you may have to either the common area of your class, where the questions may be answered by any students, or post them directly to me.

Work turned in late will be given a 25% deduction from the grade otherwise received. Work over one week late will not be accepted for grading. No work is accepted after the last regular class meeting for the quarter.

Make-up exams are available only upon arrangement PRIOR to the exam date.

Withdrawal Policy

If you wish to withdraw from this course, please inform me of your decision and file the appropriate paperwork with the administration office.

Writing Lab

Students are encouraged to make use of the Olympic College Writing Center.  The Writing Center is located in Humanities 115, open from 9 – 5 M & Tu, and 9 – 2 W – F.  Students are encouraged to make appointments, but may also drop in.  The phone # is 475-7318.

If you are struggling with the research papers [Group Projects] or with the requirement for strict APA Style formatting, a tutor in the writing center will be able to provide you with assistance for this course requirement.

Special Accommodations:

Olympic College is committed to providing equal access to students with disabilities.  Any student who has a disability that may prevent full demonstration of aptitude should contact the Access Services Office to discuss appropriate accommodations and facilitate educational opportunities.  Access Services is located in Humanities 114 and may be reached by phone at 475-7540.

Can I Help?

I want you to do well in this class and in college. If you have a problem or situation that is affecting your schoolwork, please let me know. Olympic College has many services to help students be successful. You can contact me by e-mail, voice mail, or talk to me right before or after class.

Instructor Information

Name: Kevin Blackwell
E-mail: kblackwell@oc.ctc.edu

Phone: (W) 360-475-7379

Instructor Office Hours:

Monday through Thursday, 9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M. (T-215)