Beginning Programming, CIS 101, Section 1, First Term 2009
Course Information
| Title | Beginning Programming |
| Number: | CIS 101 |
| Credits: | 3 |
| Prerequisites: | None |
| Location: | GCB 111 |
| Time: | 12:10 – 2:20 PM MWF |
Instructor Information
Name: Aaron Curtis
Office: GCB 130E
Phone:
Email: aaron.curtis@byuh.edu
Web Page: http://aaroncurtis.wordpress.com/
Office Hours: TBA
Course Materials
Web Page: http://aaroncurtis.wordpress.com/teaching/cis101/
Textbook: http://colton.byuh.edu/courses/book2/ipup.pdf
General Course Description
Computers are pretty stupid. But they are fast, reliable, and cheap. They don’t call in sick or take vacation. Many interesting tasks can be broken down into the simple steps that computers can perform. For these reasons, even though they are pretty stupid computers have become very popular.
The art of programming is to convert useful activities into simple steps that a computer can perform. By the end of the course, you will convert an interesting, non-trivial activity into a program for a computer. Further, you will put your program on the Internet as a web page that can be enjoyed by many people. As we complete this project, you will learn the fundamentals of programming. The programming language we will use is Perl.
This course will teach you the basics of programming.
Specific topics include:
- Basic I/O
- Variables
- Expressions
- If Statements
- Loops
- Arrays
- Online Programming
Teaching Approach
This class will be taught using a combination of lecture, readings, and programming projects. Lecture notes containing a list of the topics covered will be available on the course web page. The online schedule, found on the course web page, will include assigned readings in the textbook and projects with their due dates.
You will be mostly graded on your ability to demonstrate certain programming skills on weekly programming tests. Each test will consist of questions for each of the following categories:
- Basic I/O and Strings
- Numeric Expressions
- If Statements with Numbers
- If Statements with Strings
- Loops
- Arrays as Lists
- Arrays
- Subroutines
If you answer a question correctly you will earn points towards your final grade and may skip that section on future tests. You will also earn points by completing a final project. Your grade will be assigned based on the total number of points you have earned.
By using this grading approach, I will grade you on your ability to program. Besides the last project, you will not be required to do any outside of class work. However, you will only be successful on the test if you practice outside of class. I will assign practice problems, and you should work on completing these problems without help from friends, tutors, or myself. You will then learn the skills need to do well on the tests, and more importantly start a successful career in computing.
Grading
Below is a list of questions that will be on each exam, along with the number of points you will earn for successfully completing the problem. In order to receive credit you must follow the coding guidelines in the book and discussed in class.
- Basic Strings – 2 points
- Basic Numeric – 2 points
- Story problem – 1 point
- Choices Numeric – 2 points
- Choices Numeric with and/or/not – 1 point
- Story Problem – 1 point
- Choices Strings – 2 points.
- Repeat or basic loops – 2 points
- If loop normally involves next and last – 1 point
- Nested Loops – 1 point.
- Arrays as lists – 2 points
- Using a foreach loop – 1 point
- Indexed arrays – 2 points
- Subroutines including proper use of local variables and return statements – 2 points
- Handling positional parameters – 1 point
- Handling variable parameters – 1 point
You will also earn points for your online/html projects as listed below:
- Static page – 1 point
- Images – 1 point
- Using CGI to create dynamic pages – 1 point
- Processing inputs – 1 point
- Passing state using hidden fields – 1 point
You will also receive 5 points for completing the Hangman Project, but you must have earned at least 25 points before
earning these points.
Grading Scale
| 30 Points | A | |
| 29 Points | A- | |
| 25 Points | B+ | |
| 24 Points | B | |
| 22 Points | B- | |
| 20 Points | C+ | |
| 16 Points | C | |
| 14 Points | C- | |
| 12 Points | D+ | |
| 7 Points | D | |
| 5 Points | D- | |
| Below | F |
Schedule
This schedule is subject to change. See the class web page for an up-to-date version.
| Week | Dates | Topic | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27-31 July | Introduction, I/O, Variables | Chapter 1-8 |
| 2 | 3-7 Aug | Expressions, Online, If Statements | Chapter 9-16 |
| 3 | 10-14 Aug | More If Statements, Coding Style | Chapter 17-26 |
| 4 | 17-21 Aug | Loops, Arrays | Chapter 27-32 |
| 5 | 24-28 Aug | Arrays, Subroutines, Nested Loops | Chapter 33-40 |
| 6 | 31 Aug – 4 Sep | Online Project | Chapter 47-49 |
| 7 | 7-9 Sep | Review and Final |
Academic Honesty
You will be expected to adhere to the Honor Code as outlined at: http://services.byuh.edu/honorcode.
If you cheat, you will be turned into the Honor Code Office and you will receive an automatic F in the class. Please do not cheat. All work submitted must be your own. Copying code via file transfer, cut-and-paste, dictation, typing in what you see or recollect of another persons program or any other form of cheating or copying is strictly forbidden. It is also forbidden to
share your work with other students. If you have any questions about what is permitted, please discuss your concerns with the instructor. Quizzes, tests, and the final exam are to be strictly independent work.
Preventing Sexual Harassment
Title IX of the education amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an educational program or activity that receives federal funs, including Federal loans and grants. Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, please contact the Human Resource Services at 780-8875 (24 hours).
Students with Disabilities
Brigham Young University-Hawaii is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere, which reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability that may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the students with Special Need counselor Leilani Auna at 675-3999 or 675-3518. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. If you need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures. You should contact the Human Resource Services at 780-8875.
Dress and Grooming Standards
The dress and grooming of both men and women should always be modest, neat and clean, consistent with the dignity adherent to representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and any of its institutions of higher learning. Modesty and cleanliness are important values that reflect personal dignity and integrity, through which students, staff, and faculty represent the principles and standards of the Church. Members of the BYU Hawaii community commit themselves to observe these standards, which reflect the direction given by the Board of Trustees and the Church publication, “For the Strength of Youth”.
The Dress and Grooming Standards are as follows:
Men
A clean and neat appearance should be maintained. Shorts must cover the knee. Hair should be clean and neat, avoiding extreme styles or colors, and trimmed above the collar leaving the ear uncovered. Sideburns should not extend below the earlobe. If worn, mustaches should be neatly trimmed and may not extend beyond or be low the corners of mouth. Men are expected to be clean shaven and beards are not acceptable. Earrings and other body piercing are not acceptable. Footwear must be worn in all public places.
Women
A modest, clean and neat appearance should be maintained. Clothing is inappropriate when it is sleeveless, strapless, backless, or revealing, has slits above the knee, or is form fitting. Dresses, skirts, and shorts must cover the knee. Hairstyles should be clean and neat, avoiding extremes in styles and color. Excessive ear piercing and all other body piercing are not appropriate. Footwear must be worn in all public places.
