CS 1011 What is Computer Science? - Lab

 

Note: If you are interested in this course you MUST enroll in BOTH
CS 1010 What is Computer Science? AND CS 1011 What is Computer Science? – The Lab

See http://cs.wmich.edu for more information about this course.

 

What's this course about?

Who should take this course?

What are the course prerequisites and co-requisites?

What will I learn or do?

What textbooks do I use?

Who teaches the course?

Where and when is the course taught?

 

Instructor:

Professor Mark Kerstetter

B254 College of Engineering (Parkview Campus) Phone: 276-3110
E-Mail: mark.kerstetter@wmich.edu

 

Location
& Time:

Lab: 1:00-3:50 p.m. Tues. #42601 (Room: C229 – Parkview Campus)

 – Or –

Lab: 9:00-11:50 a.m. Thurs. #42606 (Room: C228 – Parkview Campus)

 

Course Description:

(1 credit hours – 3 hours in a closed lab)

This laboratory course gives you hands on experiences with aspects of computer science, computer engineering, information processing, and other areas of study of computing and computing technology.  This lab offers exercises associated with the regular course accompanying it.  As part of this lab you will also learn to write computer programs in a high-level language.
Note: This course and its associated lecture meet General Education Area 7 – Science and Technology: Applications & Implications.

 

Prerequisite:

You must have access to a computer and already know how to use it to perform basic tasks like: send/receive e-mail, browse the Web, perform basic word processing, save or copy a file, etc.  You do not need to know how to program.

 

Co-requisite:

1. If you have not already taken the regular course associated with this lab, you must take CS 1010 What is Computer Science? at the same time you take the this lab.

 

2. MATH 1110 or equivalent is a co-requisite for this lab.

 

Textbook:

Computer Science Illuminated 2/e
by Nell Dale and John Lewis
Jones and
Bartlett Publishers © 2004
ISBN: 0-7637-2711-3

Explorations in Computer Science:
A Guide to Discovery 2/e

by Mark Meyer
Jones and Bartlett Publishing Co. © 2005

 

The textbook and lab manual are bundled together with a FREE student lecture companion using the single ISBN specified.

 

Audience:

1. Students who want to know the nature of computer science without making a commitment to the discipline.  If you think you may only be taking one true course in computer science, this should be it.

2. Students who may be interested in taking a major or minor in computer science but who do not have sufficient programming or mathematics background for CS 1110 Computer Science I or who wish a breadth first approach to CS.

3. Engineering students or potential engineering students who have not yet taken a computer science course (excluding CS 1000, CS 1040, CS 1060, or CS 1070).

 

This is NOT a course designed to teach computer literacy or computer usage.  It will NOT teach basic applications like word processing, spreadsheet use, presentation software, telecommunications, etc.  This course will NOT satisfy the University’s computer usage graduation requirement.

This course is NOT suitable for students who feel comfortable writing computer programs.  In order to encourage free exchange and a comfortable competitive atmosphere for students for which this course is intended, students with more experience will not be allowed to enroll or remain enrolled in this course.

 

 


 

Topics:

CS 1011 What is Computer Science? -- Lab

Introduction:

Laboratory 1: Introduction to the Labs (Week #1)
Hardware & Software Resources

Using WebCT

Creating a Personal Web Page 1

 

Information
Layer:

Laboratory 2: Exploring Number Systems (Week #2)

Creating a Personal Web Page 2

Laboratory 3A: Representing Numbers (Week #2)

Laboratory 3B: Colorful Characters (Week #2)

Laboratory 3C: Compressing Text (Week #2)

Enhancing a Personal Web Page 3

 

Hardware
Layer:

Laboratory 4: Logic Circuits (Week #3)

Enhancing a Personal Web Page 4

Laboratory 5: Computer Cycling (Week #3)

Enhancing a Personal Web Page 5

 

Programming Layer:

Laboratory 6: Problem Solving (Week #4)

Laboratory 7: Low-Level Languages (Week #4)

Laboratory 8: Using Algorithms for Painting (Week #5)

Laboratory J1: Reading Java Code 1 (Week #6)

Laboratory 9: Searching for the Right Sort (Week #7)

Laboratory J2: Reading Java Code 2 (Week #7)

 

Operating Systems
Layer:

Laboratory 10: Operating Systems (Week #8)

Laboratory J3: Java Programming – Basic Tools: I/O, Scalars, & Computation (Week #8)

Laboratory 11: Disk Scheduling (Week #9)

Laboratory J4: Java Programming – Program #1 Decisions (Week #9)

 

Applications
Layer
:

Laboratory 12B: Databases (Week #10)

Laboratory J5: Java Programming – Program #2 Loops (Week #10)

Laboratory 13: Artificial Intelligence (Week #11)

Laboratory J6: Java Programming – Program #3 Canned Subprograms (Week #11)

Laboratory 14: Simulating Life & Heat (Week #12)

Laboratory J7: Java Programming – Program #4 Used Defined Functions (Week #12)

 

Communications Layer:

Laboratory 15: Networking (Week #13)

Laboratory J8: Java Programming – Program #5 Structures (Week #13)

 

Limitations of
Computers:

Laboratory 17: Limits of Computing (Week #14)

Laboratory Examination (Week #14)