CSC 171 : Problem Solving With Computers

Fall 2001

Welcome! I'm your Instructor! J. Barry DeRoos PhD Associate Professor Office Frey 328 Phone 717-766-2511 Ex 3180 Home Page deroos@messiah.edu ( Updated 8-1-02)

Course Description:

• A broad and hands on exposure to the capabilities and uses of the computer to solve various types of problems. In this course you will study a number of problems that computers can solve and various tools or programs used for solution. There will be an emphasis on applications programs such as spread sheets and data bases and their integration with one another. This course satisfies the mathematical sciences general education requirement.

  A More complete description of the course is available in the Department of Mathematical Sciences Home Page.

Course Objectives:

• -To observe and practice various methods of problem solving using a variety of software packages.
• -To learn and to use the Windows operating system to manage and organize files.
• -To learn how to use the internet to find information.
• -To learn to write HTML and design web sites.
• -To learn to use spreadsheets to solve numerical problems ,present data graphically, and integrate these with a word processor.
• -To learn and use LOGO for algorithmic problem solving including simulations, graphics and sound.
• -To learn to use a spread sheet for elementary data base applications.

EVALUATION:

A students evaluation will be based upon projects, two hour exams, and a final.

• Exams - 30 %
• Final - 20%
• Projects - 50%

Grade Assignment :

Course Policies:

• Attendance
  • Each student is expected to attend each class. Grade reduction will occur after 3 absences.
  • Each student is responsible for the material covered, the labs performed or assigned, and the announcements made during the class period. If you are sick, try to notify me , have another student take notes for you and pick up any handout sheets for you.
    A grade deduction will be used of 2.5 % per class for unexcused absences above 3.

• Each student should have a loose leaf (Three ring notebook) with the following sections : class notes and hand outs, homework or problem solutions, and laboratory data and reports.
• Laboratory reports must be written individually. Each student will write their own report.
  PLAGIARISM IN ALL FORMS MUST BE AVOIDED. Use quotes when using material written by others and use footnotes for closely allied material.
• All written work is to be submitted on the due date. Late assignments will be penalized. Late assignments will be penalized at 10 % per day and will not be accepted after the class period in which the graded assignment is returned.
• Each student MUST DO THEIR OWN WORK!
  Getting help on a concept is acceptable, but copying another's work will be treated as plagiarism resulting in a zero for the project. You may get help on a problem, but copying someone's work (so easy to do on computers) is forbidden!!

Computers and Software at Messiah College

• Computers in the labs at Messiah College are used by many persons and have been setup so that users can not modify desktop settings and options. You will find that some operations you are used to using will not work. (Rt mouse click on the Start, Rt mouse click for menus, and other options.) Disk space to store files on the lab computer is limited. You will need to use a floppy or zip disk for file storage or the network space provided for each student on the K drive.
• If the computer you are using is not working properly notify the instructor or lab assistant and file a report of the computer problem. We all need to help keep the lab computers operating properly.
• At the beginning of each lab period, login to the computer you will be using in the lab.
• Some of the Software used in this course is found under the Computer Science menu of Messiah Programs.
• The only folder that you can write to on the lab computers is c:\temp or one of its subfolders. This is known as the "c:\temp folder". For additional information about lab computers look at the following site:http://www. messiah. edu/addept/its/home.htm
• The k:\drive is where you can store your own files including your web page and where your email files are stored (up to 20 MB). HTML files in your "web" folder on your k:\ drive are viewable anywhere in the world. All the rest of your files and folders on the k:\drive are only viewable by you. Be sure to manage your k:\ drive carefully. If you reach your space limit you will not be able to receive email. You can access your k:\drive from Messiah College computer labs and from your dorm room.
• The k:\ drive has a web folder (k:\web). This folder is where web page files will be stored and accessable by the student web server at the URL webstu.messiah.edu/~XX##### where XX#### is your messiah netweork user name.
• The q:\InstructorFiles folder is where faculty put files for students to view and copy. Students can read and copy files from it but cannot overwrite them. You should use Windows Explorer to move copies of files off of the n:\ drive. Do not open files on the n:\ drive with their native applications. Files for this course are at q:\InstructorFiles\DeRoos_Barry\CSC171.
• The t:\ drive is a temporary public drive that anyone can read from and write to. It is cleaned out each morning.

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by J Barry DeRoos edited July 31, 2002