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CMPU-101-04 Computer Science I and Lab. (Fall 2018)

Overview

<html> <center><h3></html> “A computer will do what you tell it to do,<html><p></html>but that may be much different from what you had in mind.” <html><br></h3><h4></html> — Joseph Weizenbaum <html></h4> </center><br></html>

Course Information

Personnel

Faculty

  • Professor Simon Ellis. Website.
  • Office hours: To be scheduled.
  • Location: Sanders Physics 309.

Coaches

  • To be confirmed.
  • Coaching Hours: To be scheduled.
  • Location: Asprey Lab. (Sanders Physics 307).

Coordinates
Time: Tuesday & Thursday, 10.30 – 11.45 a.m. (class).
Friday, 9.0 – 11.0 a.m. (lab.).
Location: Sanders Physics 309.

Textbook

The textbook for this class is freely downloadable to students in this course.

Class Sessions

The regular class sessions are intended to augment and support the material in the textbook by providing an opportunity for in-depth discussion of topics, working through examples, and the chance for you to ask as many questions about Scheme and computer science as we have time for! They are there to help you learn and grow as programmers and computer scientists.

That said, the material we cover each week will build on what was covered in previous weeks. And there is a lot of material to get through, so we will at times have to move quite quickly. Please be prepared by doing any reading assignments, and don't forget to keep practising your programming: it really is the best way to get better.

Technical Stuff

CS Computer Account

Each student will be provided with a CS computer account for you to use during this course. This account is discrete and separate from your Vassar computer account.

This account will be set up during Week I.

Software

The computers in the lab are set up for you to use the drRacket software we will use in class.

If you wouldd like to set up drScheme on your own computer, go to the drRacket download page to download the software. Please make sure you obtain the most up-to-date version of the software.

If you have any problems installing drRacket on your computer, please see the instructor or one of the coaches without delay.

Coursework & Grades

To assess your understanding of the topics presented in this course, there will be weekly quizzes, labs and assignments, a midterm exam, and a final exam. The exams will be held in class, as scheduled.

Policies & Procedures

I support wholeheartedly and implement all the general policies of Vassar College, including but not limited to those relevant to students with disabilities, Title IX, plagiarism, and classroom etiquette.

Late Policy

Assignments

  • Assignments are due at the beginning of the class following the one in which they were assigned.
  • Late work will be subject to a 10% penalty per day late, up to a maximum of four days.
  • Submissions for an assignment will not be accepted once solutions have been discussed in class.

Lab. Problems

  • Lab. problems are intended to be solved during the lab. itself.
  • If you find you cannot complete a problem during the lab, you may get a problem checked off in the following week but before the next lab. for half credit.
  • Once solutions are posted to problems (usually at the start of the next lab.), they are not eligible for score.

Examinations & Quizzes

  • If you are unable to attend class on the day of an examination, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor in advance to make other arrangements.
  • “Make-up” examinations or quizzes are not usually offered except in the case of academic accommodation or extenuating circumstances.

Academic Accommodations

Academic accommodations are available for students registered with the Office for Accessibility and Educational Opportunity (AEO). Students in need of disability (ADA/504) accommodations should schedule an appointment with me early in the semester to discuss any accommodations for this course that have been approved by the Office for Accessibility and Educational Opportunity, as indicated in your AEO accommodation letter.

Attendance

<html><center><h5></html> We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another. <html><br></html>— Luciano de Crescenzo <html></h5></center></html>

We are a community of learners, and we must be present to help one another in order to learn at our best.

Your contributions and insights are unique and valuable in every class. The questions you ask will help everyone to understand the course material. The ideas you express may start discussions which lead to ideas for new and exciting projects.

Missing class deprives all of us of your insights, understanding, knowledge, experience and enthusiasm.

I understand that sometimes events occur which will preclude attendance. Please let me know in advance if you will have to miss a class. Do be aware that this is a difficult course, and missing too many lectures may hurt your overall performance in the class.

When Life Just Gets in the Way...

Sometimes, Life happens: it's the nature of the beast.

If something unexpected occurs which will prevent you from being able to submit project phases on time, preclude attendance at class, or otherwise interferes or conflicts with, or has a deleterious effect upon, your ability to work, it is important to let me know as soon as possible so we can devise a work-around.

Extenuating Circumstances

The term “extenuating circumstances” includes, for example, unexpected personal illness, a family emergency, or any other significant event which is likely to have a significant negative impact.

I am happy to work with students to reschedule work or provide extensions as necessary. Please let me know as soon as possible that there is an issue, either privately after class, in office hours (or by appointment) or by email.

I appreciate that it is not always possible to make contact in a timely manner. In this case, please just be in touch when you can.

Sports & Athletic Fixtures

You're on a team? Great! Fantastic! The very best of luck to you!

If you are on a team, please let me know well in advance (e.g. as soon as you get your schedule) when your sports fixtures might clash with the class.

If there is a last-minute cancellation and rescheduling of a match, perhaps due to bad weather or illness, and you find out one morning that you're shipping out that evening… this is not a problem. Again, please reach out to me as soon as possible and we'll make it work.

Evidence

Any request for academic easement must be supported by evidentiary material. For example:

  • In the case of extenuating circumstances, the Dean of Studies' Office will send me an email.
  • For sports fixtures known well in advance, an email from the team coach outlining which students will be away, and when.
  • For last minute changes to sporting fixtures, please forward to me the email from the coach with the changed schedule.

Finally...

All arrangements for academic easements are made on a case-by-case basis and without prejudice as necessary throughout the semester.

Academic Integrity

<html><h4><center></html>Please don't cheat.<html></center></h4></html>

Read Going to the Source.

Any course fundamentally based on composition, development, imagination and creativity – which this course is, to a large degree – is subject to the same kind of guidelines that apply to writing, creativity, research and development in general. Writing code is no different from writing anything else, whether it's a plot for a story or a scholarly work.

<html><h4><center></html>Copying someone else's work without attribution amounts to plagiarism.<html></center></h4></html>

If someone helps you out by providing you a substantial chunk of code (e.g. a section of function or more), or your work is improved by discussion with someone (since talking about your work with someone else is always a great idea), give proper attribution for the help you receive.

<html><h4><center></html>“In suspected cases of plagiarism, the instructor prepares a written statement of complaint to the Academic Panel.”<html><p></html>—Going to the Source, Chapter X (p. 13).<html></center></h4></html>

This means that all cases where plagiarism is suspected — even ones where we are, in fact, incorrect, and students are completely innocent — must be reported to the Dean of Studies. The department is not able or permitted, legally, to intervene or intercede in any way.

Please don't put yourself or your professor in that position.

(This section was based on text by Professor Marc Smith.)

Title IX

Vassar College is committed to providing a safe learning environment for all students that is free of all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, relationship abuse, and stalking. If you (or someone you know) has experienced or experiences any of these incidents, know that you are not alone. Vassar College has staff members trained to support you in navigating campus life, accessing health and counseling services, providing academic and housing accommodations, helping with legal protective orders, and more.

Please be aware all Vassar faculty members are “responsible employees,” which means that if you tell me about a situation involving sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship abuse, or stalking, I must share that information with the Title IX Coordinator. Although I have to make that notification, the Title IX office will only provide outreach by email. You will control how your case will be handled — you don’t have to read or respond to the email, and it is completely up to you whether to pursue a formal complaint. Our goal is to make sure you are aware of the range of options available to you and have access to the resources you need.

If you wish to speak to someone privately, you can contact any of the following on-campus resources:

<html><br/></html> The SAVP website and the Title IX section of the EOAA website have more information, as well as links to both on- and off-campus resources.