Published on IST 240 Fonseca (https://online.ist.psu.edu/ist240fonseca) Home > Syllabus Syllabus Course Syllabus IST 240 Introduction to Computer Languages (3 credits): Introduction to the specification and application of languages and language paradigms that interact with computers. General Information Course Description Course Objectives Materials Library Resources Technical Requirements Assignments and Grading Academic Integrity Writing Tutoring Available Accommodating Disabilities Statement on Nondiscrimination and Harassment General Information IMPORTANT: There are graded activities every week including the first week of classes. Course Description This course provides an introduction to computer languages. The term computer language is used in a general sense to include programming languages (Java), modeling and design languages for information systems specification (UML), and markup languages (XML). This is a problem-based course in which students will formulate and solve problems by themselves and also in assigned teams. Course Objectives Course Objectives Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: Develop, test, and execute a graphic application for simulations using Java. Create a Java application. Given a set of events, choose the appropriate programming actions. Work with Java in a way that demonstrates understanding of the principles behind the programming language. 1 of 8 8/27/15, 11:01 AM
Demonstrate understanding of the principles of object-oriented programming including classes and inheritance. Create UML class and Use Case diagrams. Integrate an understanding of XML and apply this understanding with Java. Materials Most students do well in the course using only my notes and examples. Some students like to have a text book to support their learning. The recommended textbooks are available free at Safari Computer Books online through our Library [1]. If you want to buy the books, any edition would do. You might also use other basic Java, UML and XML texts although I will be making references to the editions mentioned below. Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days, Sixth Edition http://proquestcombo.safaribooksonline.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu /book/programming/java/9780672329432?bookview=overview [2] UML Destilled http://proquestcombo.safaribooksonline.com/book/software-engineering-and-development /uml/0321193687 [3] or Sams Teach Yourself UML in 24 Hours, Third Edition http://proquestcombo.safaribooksonline.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu /book/software-engineering-and-development/uml/067232640x [4] We will also make references and require some readings from: The Java tutorials at http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/ [5] Optional Text This optional textbook is also available at Safari Computer Books online through our Library. If you want to buy the book, any edition would do. You might also use other basic XML text although I will be making references to the edition mentioned below. Sams Teach Yourself XML in 24 Hours, Third Edition http://proquestcombo.safaribooksonline.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/book/xml /067232797x [6] Library Resources [7] 2 of 8 8/27/15, 11:01 AM
Safari books are on the Databases link on the Library website. http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/databases.html#s-content [1] http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/databases/databasefaq.html [8] Technical Specifications [9] Java The required software tool is NetBeans, fromoracle. The installation instructions are on the tutorial. Look for the latest version of NetBeans and the latest version of the Java JDK. Start here http://www.oracle.com/technetwork /java/javase/downloads/index.html [10] I just installed NetBeans 8.0 myself (updated to 8.02 already). Older versions will also do the job. NetBeans versions are tied to specific Java versions. So, the option I like use when installing is the NetBeans plus Java. Look for the link "JDK with NetBeans IDE Java SE bundle". I found it here [11]. You might use a different IDE such as Eclipse, which is also very good, or the command line. You might also use different versions of Java. But keep in mind that I will not be able to answer specific questions about alternative tools. UML: you might use any UML drawing software. Some students use Microsoft VISIO available in some classroom labs. Others use ARGO UML. It is free and easy to use, available at http://argouml.tigris.org/ [12]. There are plenty of tools, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/list_of_unified_modeling_language_tools [13]. The important thing is to have the submission as a PDF file. XML: we will be using a library of special Java classes that deal with XML. No special software needed beyond the standard Java installation. Grading and Assignments This course is assignment intensive. It is very important that you follow the deadlines and do your labs and assignments every week. No late assignments are accepted. The course builds incrementally from your pre-requisite CMPSC 101 or IST 140 (IST 297D) to a fairly developed knowledge of Java. The sharing of knowledge is strongly encouraged. Working together to understand and learn during the semester is essential; however, COPYING (from the Web or peers) assignments or Java code is unacceptable. This will be considered cheating. There will individual and group assignments. All of them should be submitted individually. 3 of 8 8/27/15, 11:01 AM
The course has labs, assignments, and the final project. Labs These are done during the week using the discussion forum for questions. The instructor will be moderating the discussions and responding questions when necessary. The idea is this to be a student forum to understand and solve the labs. Quizzes One or two short questions/coding problems to be resolved quickly. Weekly Logs a short summary of what you did in the week, questions, comments, written in a way to give the instructor feedback on what to highlight or change in the coming weeks. Assignments Will wrap up the week with a problem that will gather what was discussed that week. Should be done individually without any discussions on the forum. Clarifying questions might be asked directly to the instructor. Final project The final project is a large Java project performed in groups of two or three students. It will be developed incrementally with many deliverables along the way to assist in its completion. Teamwork will be monitored closely. Based on observations, the instructor may decide to reassign students to a new team at any time during the semester (this is common). The objective is to have balanced and functioning teams. If moves a student from team A to team B during the semester, this should not be seen as a punishment, but as an attempt to improve team performance and optimize learning. Once teams are assigned see here [14] how to find your team. Assignments 8,9,10 and 11 are partial deliverables of the final project. It is very important that you do each of them. With each submission, you will receive early feedback on the final project and will get points for work you would have to do anyway to get the final project done. Each Lab/Assignment is built around the three core pedagogical beliefs that guide this class. First, the problem-based approach puts more control of the learning into the hands of the student. Second, the group-oriented nature of the problems reflects that much of learning is a balance between personal effort and social interaction. Third, problem-based learning requires students to develop excellent problemsolving skills. For this class, the problems are designed to be more like what you will face in your professional life. Thus, the course design is PROCESS oriented than CONTENT oriented. As a student, your responsibility is to develop a product and the instructor's role is to help guide, interpret, assess and evaluate your efforts. The instructor's role is to be a guide and facilitator. The central point is that the problem-based nature of the course provides you, the student, a chance to both pursue topics and draw on material and resources in ways that best help groups respond to the problem that has been posed. In doing this, you can learn about how to assess your own knowledge and develop strategies for how to improve your problemsolving skills. There are three types of deliverables. Most of labs will ask for Java code. There will be 4 of 8 8/27/15, 11:01 AM
also UML diagrams, and some XML files. Java: You will submit the.java files, the Java source code. They should be zipped using NetBeans export to zip function. For instance, if the lab asks for app.java and student.java, submit one zip file with your name+lab/assignment number. For lab 01, the student John Smith would submit jts1_lab01.zip containg app.java and student.java. See the item "submissions" on the menu on the top left. UML diagrams: always submit a PDF file. XML: if requested just submit the plain file something.xml Your grade is based on the total number of points your earn and you earn points with each assignment, lab, and quiz (see below). This is a much different grading approach than what you are used to seeing. The grading systems and scale are developed to encourage and reward learning. Early in the semester, the assignments are weighted less so that you can learn (typically by failing to get the full assignment) by doing problem-based work without being punished for making mistakes. A well-developed final project will give you a good grade. You should see the labs and assignments as the stepping-stone to get to the final project. Activity Valued at (of the final grade) Final Project (Java, UML and XML) 60% Labs, Assignments, Logs and Quizzes 40% Total 100% Grading is based on 100 possible points with letter grades being assigned as follows: A: 100-94 A-: 93-90 B+ 89-86 B: 85-82 B-: 81-79 C+: 78-76 C: 75-70 D: 69-60 F: 60-0 5 of 8 8/27/15, 11:01 AM
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses [15] for additional information about University grading policies. If you are prevented from completing this course for reasons beyond your control, you have the option of requesting a deferred grade from your instructor. For more information, please see "Deferred Grades" on the Student Policies Web Site [16] Academic Integrity [17] [18] According to the Penn State Principles and University Code of Conduct: Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at Penn State University, allowing the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest, and responsible manner. In according with the University s Code of Conduct, you must not engage in or tolerate academic dishonesty. This includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person, or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students. Any violation of academic integrity will be investigated, and where warranted, punitive action will be taken. For every incident when a penalty of any kind is assessed, a report must be filed. Plagiarism (Cheating): Talking over your ideas and getting comments on your writing from friends are NOT examples of plagiarism. Taking someone else's words (published or not) and calling them your own IS plagiarism. Plagiarism has dire consequences, including flunking the paper in question, flunking the course, and university disciplinary action, depending on the circumstances of the offense. The simplest way to avoid plagiarism is to document the sources of your information carefully. Writing Tutoring Available Need help with writing? You can have an online meeting with a writing tutor. More information: http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/academic-support-resources/tutoring/writing-tutoring [19] Accommodating Disabilities [20] Americans with Disabilities Act: The School of Information Sciences and Technology welcomes persons with disabilities to all of its classes, programs, and events. If you need 6 of 8 8/27/15, 11:01 AM
accommodations, or have questions about access to buildings where IST activities are held, please contact us in advance of your participation or visit. If you need assistance during a class, program, or event, please contact the member of our staff or faculty in charge. Access to IST courses should be arranged by contacting the Office of Human Resources, 332 IST Building: (814) 865-8949. Students with Disabilities: It is Penn State s policy to not discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities in its educational programs. (You may refer to the Nondiscrimination Policy in the Student Guide to University Policies and Rules.) If you have a disability-related need for reasonable academic adjustments in this course, contact the Office for Disability Services (ODS) at 814-863-1807 (V/TTY). For further information regarding ODS, please visit the Office for Disability Services Web site at http://equity.psu.edu/ods/ [21]. In order to receive consideration for course accommodations, you must contact ODS and provide documentation (see documentation guidelines at http://equity.psu.edu/ods/guidelines /documentation-guidelines [22]). If the documentation supports the need for academic adjustments, ODS will provide a letter identifying appropriate academic adjustments. Please share this letter and discuss the adjustments with your instructor as early in the course as possible. You must contact ODS and request academic adjustment letters at the beginning of each semester. Statement on Nondiscrimination and Harassment (Policy AD42) [23] The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment against faculty, staff or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. You may direct inquiries to the Office of Multicultural Affairs, 332 Information Sciences and Technology Building, University Park, PA 16802; Tel 814-865-0077 or to the Office of Affirmative Action, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901; Tel 814-865-4700/V, 814-863-1150/TTY. For reference to the full policy (Policy AD42: Statement on Nondiscrimination and Harassment): http://guru.psu.edu /policies/ad42.html [24] Accessibility Contact Webmaster Copyright 2015 College of IST Source URL: https://online.ist.psu.edu/ist240fonseca/syllabus 7 of 8 8/27/15, 11:01 AM
Links: [1] http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/databases.html#s-content [2] http://proquestcombo.safaribooksonline.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/book/programming /java/9780132841641 [3] http://proquestcombo.safaribooksonline.com/book/software-engineering-and-development/uml/0321193687 [4] http://proquestcombo.safaribooksonline.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/book/software-engineeringand-development/uml/067232640x [5] http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/ [6] http://proquestcombo.safaribooksonline.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/book/xml/067232797x [7] http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/academic-support-resources/library-services [8] http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/databases/databasefaq.html [9] http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/technical-support/technical-requirements-for-world-campus-courses [10] http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html [11] http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk-7-netbeans-download-432126.html [12] http://argouml.tigris.org/ [13] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/list_of_unified_modeling_language_tools [14] http://kb.its.psu.edu/cms/article/83 [15] https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/id/shared/undergrad_grading_policy.html [16] http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/your-courses-how-to-guide/deferring-a-grade [17] http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/your-courses-how-to-guide/policies/academic-integrity [18] http://www.sa.psu.edu/ja/ [19] http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/academic-support-resources/tutoring/writing-tutoring [20] http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/academic-support-resources/students-with-disabilities [21] http://equity.psu.edu/ods/ [22] http://equity.psu.edu/ods/guidelines/documentation-guidelines [23] http://guru.psu.edu/policies/ad42.html [24] http://guru.psu.edu/policies/ad42.html 8 of 8 8/27/15, 11:01 AM