CMSC 100: The World of Computing

Links for CS100

Instructor: John Dougherty, Stokes 8A, 610.896.4993 office, jd@cs.haverford.edu

Semester & Year: Spring 2001

Schedule:

• Lecture in Chase 104:
  • MWF 10:30 am - 11:30 am
• Discussion/Lab in Stokes 8 (one session per week per student - TBA):

Text:

• The Analytical Engine, by R. Decker and S. Hirshfield, PWS: 1998. (required, available at the bookstore)
• The Limits of Computing, by H.G. Walker, Jones and Bartlett: 1994. (supplement - on reserve in the Stokes Library )
• Being Fluent with Information Technology, by the National Research Council: 1999 (supplement - available online)

Requirements: There will be three examinations along with periodic quizzes, laboratory assignments and a term project. The examinations are cumulative by nature of the material. The term project is designed to demonstrate proficiency in a specific topic relating to computing, and can be a programming exercise or a term paper on a technical subject in computing.

Scheduled Due Dates: There have been many concerns expressed by both faculty and students over "relaxed" deadlines for assignments, especially in a large class where feedback and consistency are difficult to maintain. Therefore, all due dates must be met to receive any credit for all assignments and examinations. Partial credit will be given for incomplete but timely assignments. Please refer to the schedule to see in advance (i.e., before it's too late) when all assignments are due. Exceptions to this policy will be strongly discouraged, and only granted cooperatively by the instructor and the dean for the student needing the exception.

Collaboration: You are encouraged to discuss the lecture material and the labs and problems with other students, subject to the following restriction: the only "product" of your discussion should be your memory of it - you may not write up solutions together, or exchange written work or computer files. Collaboration is not allowed on exams.

Prerequisites: None

Description: There are two explicit goals of this course:

1. an introductory survey of computing, with emphasis on the issues found in computer science; and
2. an understanding of the role of information technology in society now and in the future.

The required laboratory/discussion sections will reinforce concepts in lecture with the help of supplemental readings and an interactive computing evironment.

No previous experience with computers or computing will be assumed, and programming will not be emphasized in general (but one lab does involve programming in JavaScript). Students with a strong(high school) background in mathematics or programming should take Computer Science 205. Students who complete this course will be prepared for Computer Science 205 if they choose to continue.

CMSC100 should include as many of the following topics as we can cover:

• History and Foundations of Computing
• Computer Applications and Information Technology
• Networking, including the Internet
• GUI Issues and HTML
• Introduction to Programming using Javascript
• Hardware Design & Logic Circuits
• Introduction to Theory of Computation
  • Unsolvability
  • Nonfeasibility
  • Program Correctness
• Limits of Computing
  • Algorithm Specification and Data Representation
  • Speed and Reliability
  • Human Factors
  • Security
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Impact of Computing on Society
  • Computer Ethics
  • Social Implications
  • Security/Privacy

Evaluation:

• Laboratory Assignments - 30 %
  • Labs 0, 1, 3, and 4 - 5 % each
  • Lab 2 - 10 %
• Periodic Quizzes - 10 %
• Examinations - 50 %
  • Examination 1 (February xx, 2001) - 15 %
  • Examination 2 (March yy, 2001) - 15 %
  • Final Examination (early May 2001) - 20 %
• Term Project - 10 %

Note: Senior deadlines are earlier in the spring.

Page maintained by John Dougherty, Computer Science, Haverford College