Catalog Course DescriptionThis course includes logic, design and problem solving techniques used by programmers and analysts in addressing and solving common programming and computing problems. The most commonly used techniques of flowcharts, structure charts, and pseudocode will be covered and students will be expected to apply the techniques to designated situations and problems.
PrerequisiteBasic computer skills (CIS 130 or equivalent background). You should be familiar with fundamental computer concepts such as accessing the Internet, opening files, saving files to a specific storage device or folder, and printing the contents of a file.
TextbookI highly recommend that you bring your textbook to each class meeting, as I may refer to examples that are present in the textbook.
Starting Out with Programming Logic and Design, second edition, by Tony Gaddis.
ISBN-10: 0-13-607773-0; ISBN-13: 978-0-13-607773-2.
This textbook may be available in different bindings and / or with different ISBNs. Please consult with your instructor should you wish to buy such a variation on the textbook.
SoftwareYou may wish to make use of diagramming / flowcharting software such as Microsoft Visio. Students enrolled in CIS courses at Jefferson State may obtain the software free-of-charge through the MSDN Academic Alliance; be looking for an e-mail message in your Pipeline account with your login information.
Course ContentThis course will deal with good practices for program design. Initially the focus will be on overall design structure, with later lectures delving into specific design elements. Interspersed in the lectures will be opportunities to apply design principles to a particular situation, with individual and / or group exercises culminating in a discussion of what possible correct answers exist.
GradesRefer to the following table for the contributions of each course item to your grade.
| Item | Number / Points | Total Pts. |
|---|---|---|
| Quizzes | 12 @ 5 to 15 pts. each | 150 |
| Codework | 10 @ 25 pts. each | 250 |
| Exams | 4 @ 150 pts. each | 600 |
| Total Points | 1000 | |
QuizzesFor each chapter, you will complete a quiz on Blackboard consisting of five to fifteen questions that range from identifying the proper terms for concepts to applying flowchart symbols or pseudocode statements to solve specific problems. These quizzes will be available between classes and will generally be due the evening before the next class meeting. A quiz for a particular chapter may be assigned before or after the lectures for that chapter are completed. These quizzes will be timed; you must submit your responses within a certain time of starting the quiz.
CodeworkRoughly ten times during the semester, you will complete an assignment consisting of one of the three following types of problems:
Although you may have time in class in which to start work on a Codework assignment, you will likely need to spend time outside of class to complete your solution. Your solution must be in a file in one of the following file formats: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), OpenDocument (.odt or .odg), Portable Document Format (.pdf), or Rich Text Format (.rtf). Files submitted in any other form will receive a zero.
ExaminationsAfter roughly every three chapters, you will be given an examination that tests your knowledge of program design principles as well as your ability to apply them to specific problems. The questions on these examinations will be similar to those from the quizzes, but their contents may not be identical. Because of the cumulative nature of computer programming, you are advised to maintain a thorough understanding of topics covered early in the semester so as not to hinder your performance on examinations covering later chapters.
Make-up examinations must be scheduled with your instructor within one week of a missed examination and will only be offered for those with significant grounds for missing the exam (illness, family emergency, an automobile accident that occurs on the way to class, etc.).