(Latest Revision -- Aug 26, 2008)
Course Description
for Personal Computing: CS 4000
TERM: Fall 2008
CLASS INFO FROM SCHEDULE:
42226 CS 4000 007 Personal Computing Lec 3.0 MW 11:15-12:13 P-102
42249 CS 4000 017 Personal Computing Lab 0.0 F 11:15-12:13 P-107
(For technical reasons, you are required to sign up separately for lecture and
lab sections.)
INSTRUCTOR: John Sarraille, Professor of Computer Science
OFFICE:
P-286,
Professional Schools Building, aka "Demergasso-Bava Hall", Cal State
Stanislaus
OFFICE HOURS:
MWR, 13:30-15:30,
or by appointment
(The first day of office hours is Thursday, September 4, 2008 and the last day
of office hours is Monday December 8, 2008.
There will be no office hours on days when classes do not meet.)
E-MAIL:
john@ishi.csustan.edu
HOMEPAGE:
http://www.cs.csustan.edu/~john/js.html
COURSE PEREQUISITE: Upper Division Standing
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
CS 4000 - Personal Computing is about using computers effectively for
personal work. The student learns to employ a computer as a communication
device and as a processor of words, numbers and images.
REQUIRED TEXT:
"Beekman-Quinn":
Computer Confluence (7th edition);
written by George Beekman and Michael J. Quinn;
published by Pearson Prentice Hall;
ISBN 0-13-152530-1
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Portable storage for your data and backups. For example, two 3.5" 1.44 MB
diskettes or a USB flashdrive.
(There are many brands of flashdrive with various storage capacities and
compatibilities. If you get a flashdrive make sure it is compatible with the
computers and operating systems you plan to use.)
SOME COURSE DETAILS:
Class time will be divided between lecture, discussion time, quizzes, and lab
activities. You will need to spend a very considerable amount of the time
outside of class doing assignments and practicing with software.
I expect that you will complete each day's reading before the class begins and
I prefer that you participate in class discussions.
There are lots and lots of little, yet critical, details involved in doing
course projects. Many of those details are not mentioned or explained in
assignment documents. I will spend time during the lecture part of the class
covering such things. Please be on hand for those presentations.
Students may use a Macintosh, Windows, or other type of personal computer for
doing assignments.
For those who need it, I'll be available during the weekly lab time to give
instruction on the basics of using a Mac or Windows computer. Students will
have the opportunity to get step-by-step help on parts of their projects.
However, the time for such activity will be limited. Most students will find
that they have to do a lot of this work outside of class. Forming a study
group with other students is a good way to get additional help. I can help
you during my office hours too.
COURSE COVERAGE: We will read all of Beekman-Quinn and discuss parts of
it in lecture, as time allows.
TESTS & GRADING:
You will need to:
- write two article reviews,
- take three quizzes, and
- complete eight projects.
Each of these items will be graded on a 100-point scale and each will
contribute equally to your final grade. You will lose a significant number of
points on any assignment that does not completely satisfy its requirements.
Read assignment announcements carefully and attend class to get other
essential information. If you have questions, please raise them in class or
office hours, well before the assignment is due.
COMPUTER LABS:
We'll meet in P-107 on Fridays. Windows computers are available there.
Macintosh and Windows computers are available in the open lab L-145, and also
in the Computer Science Lab in P-288.