Text: The Analytical Engine: An Introduction to Computer Science Using the Internet, Decker & Hirshfield, PWS Publishing, 1998.

CS131 is intended to be the entry point in the Computer Science curriculum for students with no previous programming experience. In addition to teaching the basics of programming and problem-solving, it introduces Computer Science as a major scientific discipline, with topics including computer organization, networking, and operating systems. Special emphasis is placed on problem-solving and experimentation through Web-based programming using JavaScript.

The majority of class time will be spent working semi-independently on the computer -- completing online lessons, experimenting with existing programs, and studying general resources over the World Wide Web. In addition to three 50 minute class meetings per week, each section has a scheduled 2 hour lab. If you must miss a lab session for a valid reason, discuss this with your instructor prior to missing the lab so that alternative arrangements can be made.

Policy on Collaboration

When working in the lab, you are encouraged to discuss ideas and results with fellow students. However, the answers to specific questions in the Lessons and Lab Assignments must be your own work. Any person guilty of plagiarism, the submission of another person's ideas or work as one's own, most likely will suffer the consequences of academic censure and at least a failing grade in the course. If you have any doubts as to the meaning of plagiarism as it applies to this course, you should discuss them with the instructor.

Grade Determination

Most class periods will be spent working through Online Lessons which introduce programming and general computer science concepts, and contain numerous exercises to demonstrate and reinforce these concepts. You should complete all of the exercises in each lesson. Within each lesson you will be required to turn in selected exercises. The exercises that you must turn in will be marked with an icon (). A printout of your solutions to the selected exercises must be submitted at the beginning of the next class period. For example, the exercises from a Monday Lesson must be completed and handed in on Wednesday. You may note that Lessons that are based on readings from the text are divided into two parts. Part A must be submitted via email by 8 am on the specified date. Part B will be due at the beginning of the next class period, as with other Lessons.

Solutions to the odd numbered exercises in the Online Lessons will be posted by late afternoon on the due date. Accordingly, late submissions will not be accepted. You will be allowed to drop your 5 lowest Lesson grades, however.

Lab Assignments are to be completed during the scheduled lab period and submitted at the end of that period. Lab Assignments may not be submitted late without prior consent of the instructor.

Tentative Schedule