Syllabus - CIS 255 - Jefferson State Community College

Course Information
CRN	Date and Time	Location
41473	TR 5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.	HSB 442

Instructor Information: Tommy Battles
Office	Health Sciences Building Room 427
Office Hours	See Weekly Schedule
E-mail	tbattles (at mark) jeffstateonline.com
Telephone	(205) 983-5977
Your instructor only checks voicemail during office hours; an e-mail message may receive a more prompt response. Your instructor does not check Blackboard e-mail.

Catalog Course DescriptionThis course is an introduction to the Java programming language. Topics in this course include object-oriented programming constructs, Web page applet development, class definitions, threads, events and exceptions. Upon completion, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the topics through the completion of programming projects and appropriate tests.

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 Java: From Control Structures through Objects, fourth edition, by Tony Gaddis.
ISBN-10: 0-136-08020-0; ISBN-13: 978-0-136-08020-6.

Note: If you have already purchased the third edition (ISBN-10: 0-321-47927-0), that will suffice for this course.

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.

SoftwareWe will use TextPad in class; it is a simple text editor that ties into Sun's Java Development Kit (JDK) tools to compile and run Java programs. There are several free Java development environments available; as long as your code conforms to Java language standards, you may use any environment to code, compile, and run your programs. Students enrolled in CIS courses at Jefferson State may also obtain Microsoft software free-of-charge through the MSDN Academic Alliance; be looking for an e-mail message in your Pipeline account with your login information.

Other MaterialsUSB flash drive for saving documents between classes. Lab computers are used for various classes throughout each day, so you are not guaranteed that any files saved on a given computer will remain there in the future. Additionally, you are not guaranteed to be sitting at the same computer during each class meeting. Having your files on a flash drive protects your files from loss and from academic misconduct. Under no circumstances should you share your flash drive with another student.

PrerequisiteCIS 110 (prior to Fall 2009) or CIS 150 (Fall 2009 or later). Students with prior programming experience, especially those who are not pursuing an Associate in Applied Science degree, may enroll in CIS 255 without this prerequisite. A student currently enrolled in CIS 150 may be able to master a single programming language course during the same semester. Students without prior programming experience are advised not to take this or any other programming course without first completing or enrolling in CIS 150.

Course ContentThe majority of class meetings will be evenly divided between lectures on Java syntax constructs and laboratory assignments in which students apply Java syntax to a particular situation, with assistance from the instructor or (on a limited basis) their classmates. The lecture portion usually consumes the first hour of class time, with the remainder open for laboratory assignment completion.

AttendanceAttending class will be one of the key factors in determining your success in this course. Although the textbook will provide most of the information you need to perform well on assignments and examinations, your instructor will hold you responsible for additional information provided in class. Attendance will be taken promptly at the beginning of each class.

Official Policy: Students are expected to attend all classes for which they are registered. Students who are unable to attend class regularly, regardless of the reason or circumstance, should withdraw from that class before poor attendance interferes with the student's ability to achieve the objectives required in the course. Withdrawal from class can affect eligibility for federal financial aid.

Course WithdrawalA student who wishes to withdraw from a course after the official Schedule Adjustment period and prior to the official start of final exams may do so by completing a "Withdrawal from Course" form. Students who withdraw before the beginning of the twelfth (12th) week of the fall or spring semester or seventh (7th) week of the summer term will receive a grade of "W" for any course withdrawn. After this time, the student will receive a grade of "WP" if doing satisfactory work at the time of withdrawal or "WF" if doing unsatisfactory work at the time of withdrawal.

The deadline for withdrawal with an automatic "W" for the Summer Semester 2010 is July 10. After this date, your instructor will assign a "WP" only if your performance through the date of withdrawal was satisfactory or if extreme unforeseen circumstances hampered your ability to perform satisfactorily. Students with excessive absences, especially those who miss exams or project deadlines, will not be assigned a "WP" and should withdraw before the automatic "W" deadline. Your instructor cannot withdraw you from the course; you must complete the withdrawal form yourself.

WorkThe requirements for this course are non-negotiable. You are expected to complete all assignments by their deadlines regardless of other obligations. You are responsible for ensuring that your schedule allows enough time to satisfy the course requirements. Work scheduling is not considered sufficient grounds for failing to submit assignments on time or being absent during an examination.

AssistanceYour instructor is available in his office at set times for student assistance and can be reached promptly during these office hours. Additionally, you may send an e-mail message or leave a message on voicemail should you have any questions. You will receive a better response if you seek assistance as soon as you experience trouble with an assignment. Your instructor does not guarantee an expedient response to e-mail or telephone messages outside of office hours. You are discouraged from seeking assistance from or giving notice to your instructor between classes -- it is much better to do so when your instructor can focus on you without distraction.

Your instructor is happy to assist you during his office hours, but he must divide his time fairly between students seeking assistance, class preparation, and grading. Please use the other resources available to you (textbook, lecture notes) before coming to see your instructor!

Americans with DisabilitiesThe Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 state that qualified students with disabilities who meet the essential function and academic requirements are entitled to reasonable accommodations. It is the student's responsibility to provide appropriate disability documentation to the College.

Please note that requests for accommodations must be placed with the ADA Office on campus. Additionally, accommodations should be brought up with the instructor on a case-by-case basis (that is, as each assignment or examination requiring accommodations arises during the semester). Receiving ADA accommodations does not relieve a student of the responsibility to attend class on a regular basis and to meet deadlines given by the instructor.

From the ADA Student Handbook: An instructor is not obliged to provide accommodations to a student with a disability until he/she receives the ADA Office accommodation letter from the student. In addition, it is the student's responsibility to discuss scheduling and details of the requested accommodations with his/her instructor(s). If a student delivers an accommodation letter to an instructor within a few days of an assignment or exam, the instructor may not be able to provide the optimal accommodation requested.

GradesRefer to the following table for the contributions of each course item to your grade.

Item	Number / Points	Total Pts.
Lab Work	10 @ 20 pts. each	200
Projects	2 to 4 @ 50 to 100 pts. each	200
Exams	4 @ 150 pts. each	600
Total Points		1000

Grade ranges will follow the traditional pattern (900 points or more for an A, 800 to 899 points for a B, 700 to 799 points for a C, 600 to 699 points for a D, 599 points or less for an F). Rounding up is at the discretion of the instructor based on a student's dedication to the course and mastery of the material.

Grades will be released via Blackboard (see below). A description of the deductions taken will accompany each grade. Grade disputes must be submitted via e-mail within one week of a grade's release. Your instructor will not respond to general inquiries about grades -- you must consult the instructor's comments on Blackboard and ask specific questions about the point deductions. Please let me know if you have difficulties accessing grades via Blackboard -- it is very easy for me to overlook a setting required for you to be able to see your grades.

My priorities in grading your assignments will be (1) providing valuable feedback to aid you in understanding concepts, and (2) releasing grades in a timely manner. I will make every effort to satisfy both of these priorities, but occasionally one of these priorities may suffer in favor of the other.

Laboratory AssignmentsFor each assignment, you will be given detailed instructions on how to create a complete Java program that relates to material recently covered in the lectures. You are expected not only to complete the code. but also to ensure that the code compiles and executes properly. Grades will be weighted more for effort than for accuracy, but you should aim for as functional a solution as time permits.

The instructions for these assignments will be made available prior to the class meeting (usually the preceding evening). You are encouraged to read the instructions and begin work on your code prior to class so that your time on campus is focused on overcoming any difficulties encountered in the programming process. Submissions are due promptly at the end of the portion of class designated for the laboratory assignment. In general, only students present during the class meeting designated for an assignment will be allowed to submit that assignment.

Although the syllabus calls for 10 laboratory assignments, there are 12 in the tentative schedule, with a potential for bonus credit. Make-up laboratory submissions will only be allowed for students with extreme circumstances preventing attendance.

ProjectsAs we progress through the semester, you will be required to create complete Java programs to specifications that test your knowledge of the material covered to date. A portion of your grade will be based on proper use of the required code elements, but a larger part of your grade will be based on how well the program performs. Individuality is encouraged so long as the added elements do not detract from the required functionality.

Project deadlines are posted on Blackboard, so you should be able to submit an assignment on time even if you miss the day it was announced. Students with extenuating circumstances affecting their abilities to meet a project deadline should notify the instructor well in advance of the deadline to arrange for an extension. Credit for late project submissions is rare and may be reduced.

ExaminationsAfter roughly every two to three chapters there will be an examination. These examinations will test both your understanding of underlying concepts and your knowledge of Java syntax. Examinations will feature a mixture of multiple choice questions, a problem in which you write the output of a Java program included in the exam, and an exercise in which you must provide a complete Java program as a solution to a problem. Unless otherwise specified, examinations are closed-book and closed-note, and they are administered on paper; you must bring your own writing utensil (pencil, blue ink, or black ink) for each exam. 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.).

Submitting AssignmentsYou will use Blackboard as the primary means for submitting laboratory assignments and projects. You may access Blackboard from the link in Campus Pipeline. Your instructor will demonstrate the use of Blackboard during the first week of class; should you have additional questions, contact him during his office hours or via e-mail.

Deadlines are strictly enforced by Blackboard, so be sure to take into account any clock differences that might occur between your computer and the Blackboard server. Submissions will not be accepted via any means other than that specified for the assignment: you must use the submission tool set up for the particular assignment you are submitting. You are responsible for sending the correct file; you will not have the opportunity to resubmit an assignment should you discover that you submitted the wrong file.

Although projects are available via Blackboard and can be submitted from any computer, your instructor cannot guarantee the ability to complete and / or submit projects on any computer other than those on campus. If your computer lacks the software or functionality to complete a given project, you are expected to complete it in a campus computer lab. There are open labs in the General Studies Building on the first floor as well as in room 451 of the Health Sciences Building; these should be available at any time when the building is open (with some exceptions). You should check ahead of time to be sure that the computer from which you plan to work has the software you need to complete the project. Deadlines will not be extended for computer malfunction unless the problem is related to a campus computer (Blackboard / campus network outage, lab computer issues, etc.).

CorrespondenceYour instructor will communicate course requirements, grades, and other important information via Blackboard. You should check the course home page on Blackboard frequently to ensure that you receive this information in a timely manner. Your instructor is not responsible for miscommunication caused by your failure to consult Blackboard on a regular basis.

The Lab EnvironmentThe computers in this classroom are used throughout the week for various courses and for other activities. Thus it is important that you are careful not to leave any files containing, or related to, assignments on any lab computer once you leave the classroom. Use alternate means (e.g., e-mail attachments or USB flash drives) to store your files between class periods. Assignments found on lab computers after class ends are subject to an automatic zero due to the potential for academic misconduct.

In order to protect classroom equipment from vandalism and theft, all classrooms will be locked when not in use. If you need to use a computer beyond class time, please use the open computer lab (HSB 451).

HonorStudents are expected to complete their own work regardless of circumstances. Peer assistance (whether from current students, former students, or those otherwise knowledgeable of the programming field) should be limited in scope; consult with your instructor if there is a question of how much assistance can be offered. Any student involved in cheating on an assignment or examination will receive a zero for the assignment and may be subject to additional penalties, such as being assigned an F with notation of the academic misconduct on your permanent transcript.

Under no circumstances should you post the details of any assignment on a public discussion board, forum, or newsgroup. Likewise, you should not post any portion of your solution to any assignment, even in progress, on such a public resource. Making such information available on the Internet will be considered academic misconduct.

RespectWhile in the classroom you are expected to show respect both to your instructor and to your classmates. Harassing, threatening, or otherwise disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. Students who engage in such behavior will be asked to leave the classroom and may suffer grade penalties. We all have different perspectives on what is "in good fun" and what "crosses the line", so keep in mind the diverse makeup of the class as you make comments.

Statement on Discrimination / Harassment: The college and the Alabama State Board of Education are committed to provide both employment and educational environments free of harassment or discrimination related to an individual's race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Such harassment is a violation of State Board of Education policy. Any practice or behavior that constitutes harassment or discrimination will not be tolerated.

DisturbancesDuring lectures, students are expected to remain silent unless recognized by the instructor for a question or comment. When completing laboratory assignments, conversations that relate to the assignment are allowed so long as they do not reach a disruptive volume. However, students should not carry on loud and / or personal conversations in the classroom during class time. Lab computers should be used for the completion of assignments, not for personal entertainment that may distract adjacent students. Cell phones and pagers should be placed in silent mode or turned off, and calls should be answered outside the classroom. In addition to sound, students should avoid causing sight-based (clothing) or smell-based (cologne, perfume, etc.) distractions. Causing a disturbance shall be considered disrespectful behavior and will be treated as such.

PrintingThe Department of Business and Information Systems maintains the lab printers, including the addition of paper and toner when necessary. The department has a limited budget with which to purchase additional toner and paper. When students abuse the privilege of unrestricted printing, supplies may run out before the department is able to order replacements. Please use our print supplies in a responsible manner. If you would like assistance in reducing the number of pages required to print a document (especially PowerPoint slides), please let an instructor or lab assistant know.

ScheduleA tentative schedule is available on Blackboard. Changes to this schedule will also be communicated on Blackboard. Reasons for schedule changes may include, but are not limited to, instructor illness, inclement weather, or classroom unavailability. Students are responsible for following the schedule regardless of prior class meeting attendance.

Overall, my advice to you is to do your best! If something unforeseen comes up during the semester, I'm much more likely to work with you if you've proven to be a trustworthy student. Don't hesitate to ask questions on any topic relevant to the course.

CIS 255 • Java Programming

Jefferson State Community College • Shelby-Hoover Campus • Summer 2010