CS 102X Intro to Engineering Computing

 

Note: It is strongly recommended that you enroll in all three of the Introduction to Engineering Computing courses in the same semester.  The courses are sequenced so that what you learn in the earlier courses make it easier for you to grasp the knowledge and skills in the subsequent courses.  Staggered starting times throughout the semester also make it difficult to remember when individual courses begin meeting, but taking all three courses will seem like you are taking only one three-credit course.

 

CS 1021 Intro to Engineering Computing 1: Spreadsheets

CS 1022 Intro to Engineering Computing 2: Mathematical Software

CS 1023 Intro to Engineering Computing 3: Computer Programming

 

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?

What will I learn?     Note: The topics, order of presentation, and depth of coverage may change depending on student background, number of actual class meetings, etc.

Who teaches this course?

Where and when is this course taught?

What textbooks do I use?

What Software do I need?

 

Instructor:

Professor Mark Kerstetter                                    E-Mail: mark.kerstetter@wmich.edu

B254 College of Engineering (Parkview Campus)                              Phone: 276-3110

 

Location
& Time:

Lecture: 9:00-9:50 a.m. M-W                                            (Room: Parkview Campus)

Lab: Various Days: 9:00-11:50 a.m. –or– 1:00-3:50 p.m.

Note: All courses meet on the same days and times during the semester.  CS 1022 picks up where CS 1021 ends and CS 1023 picks up where CS 1022 ends.

 

Course Description:

(1 credit hours – 2 hours lecture & 3hours lab each week)

These courses introduce first-year engineering students to computing tools they will use throughout their careers.  The courses, both lectures and labs are very practical and taught in a hands-on manner.

 

Courses will attempt to illustrate and teach tool use by sampling problems from various engineering disciplines and problems common to many disciplines of education.  Realistic examples and assignments will motivate you to learn to use the tools.

 

CS 1021 Intro to Engineering Computing 1: Spreadsheets

An introduction to computing for engineers and technologists using spreadsheets.  Basic concepts and structures of spreadsheets are presented.  Examples come from diverse disciplines of engineering, technology, and computer science.  Students learn how spreadsheets are different from and similar to mathematical software and computer programming.  Practical experience with spreadsheets is gained in laboratories built into this course.

 

CS 1022 Intro to Engineering Computing 2: Mathematical Software

An introduction to computing for engineers and technologists using mathematical software.  Basic concepts and structures of mathematical software are presented.  Examples come from diverse disciplines of engineering, technology, and computer science.  Students learn how mathematical software is different from and similar to spreadsheets and computer programming.  Practical experience with mathematical software is gained in laboratories built into this course.

 

CS 1023 Intro to Engineering Computing 3: Computer Programming

An introduction to computing for engineers and technologists using elementary computer programming.  Basic concepts and structures of computer programming are presented.  Examples come from diverse disciplines of engineering, technology, and computer science.  Students learn how computer programming is different from and similar to spreadsheets and mathematical software.  Practical experience with elementary computer programming is gained in laboratories built into this course.

 

Prerequisite:

1. 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.

2. MATH 1180

 

Textbook:

Introduction to Excel 2002 - David C. Kuncicky
Prentice-Hall - Pearson Education Inc. © 2003 [ISBN: 0-13-008175-2]

 

Introduction to MATLAB 7 - Delores M. Etter, David C. Kuncicky, Holly Moore

Prentice-Hall - Pearson Education Inc. © 2005 [ISBN: 0-13-147492-8]

 

Introduction to C - by Delores M. Etter
Prentice-Hall - Pearson Education Inc. © 1999 [ISBN: 0-13-011854-0]

 

Software

CS1021 uses Microsoft Excel 2002 (or higher)

1. Excel is available for free student use in the CAE Computer Lab.

2. Students may purchase an educational copy of Microsoft Office, which they can run on their own machines, from Microcomputer Sales in OIT.

 

CS1022 uses Mathworks MATLAB 7 (or higher)

1. MATLAB 7 is available for free student use in the CAE Computer Lab.

2. Students may purchase an educational copy of MATLAB & SIMULINK (Release 14) from the WMU Bookstore.

 

CS1023 uses a version of the C programming language

1. The C programming language is available for student use in the CAE Computer Lab.  Copies of public domain versions of C are available on the Internet.

 

 

Audience:

0.      These are excellent courses for any first-year engineering student.  Because we use interesting and useful examples and assignments from various engineering disciplines and from other aspects of college life, we hope you will find these courses among the most valuable you may take during your entire college years.

1.      CS 1021 introduces the use of spreadsheets as an engineering tool.  MS Excel will be used as an example throughout the course.  Knowing how to use a spreadsheet will be very valuable in many college courses and throughout your life.  Spreadsheets are introduced first because we feel they are most general, most useful, and easiest to learn.

2.      CS 1022 introduces the use of mathematical software as an engineering tool.  MATLAB will be used as an example throughout the course.  Knowing how to use mathematical software will also be very valuable in mathematics and physics courses you may take.  Mathematical software is introduced after spreadsheets, because they are more specialized, i.e., focused on the use of mathematics and mathematical notation.

3.      CS 1023 introduces elementary computer programming as an engineering tool.  The programming language C will be used an example throughout the course.  The principles and techniques you learn will be valuable not only for reading and for writing computer applications, but will be useful in creating macros and functions and scripts to enhance spreadsheets and mathematical software.  Elementary computer programming is introduced last because of the three tools taught in these courses, it is the most difficult to master.  In addition, concepts introduced using spreadsheets and enhanced when learning mathematical software reoccur in computer programming.  Having seen and worked with these concepts earlier, their use in computing programming is easier to grasp and apply.  These concepts include data storage, data structures, constants, variables, expressions, and use of functions.

4.      The Introduction to Engineering Computing courses will eventually replace CS 1040, CS 1060, and CS 1070.

 

These courses will NOT teach computer literacy or computer usage.  They will NOT teach basic applications like word processing, presentation software, telecommunications, etc.  These courses will NOT satisfy the University’s computer usage graduation requirement.

These courses will NOT cover advanced topics in any of the tools.  The courses will provide a good foundation in computing tool use, so students can become more proficient as they advance in their particular engineering discipline.

 

Topics:

CS 1021 Introduction to Engineering Computing 1: Spreadsheets

Week 1:

Introduction (2 lectures + 1 lab)
What Computing Tools Do Engineers Use?  Why Three Different Tools?
Introduction to Spreadsheets – MS Excel Environment
Entering and Formatting Data
Pair Programming
Worksheet and Workbook Elements & Navigation; Printing
Selecting Cells & Regions; Copying, Cutting, Moving, & Pasting
Inserting/Deleting Cells, Columns, & Rows
Data Types – Numbers, Text, Dates/Times, & More…
Formatting Cells, Columns, & Rows; Generating Series

Ch. 1 Microsoft Excel Basics

Ch. 2 Entering and Formatting Data

Fun Examples: GPA Calculation, NCAA Basketball Bracket Form, Flowcharts, Twelve Month Calendar, Timeline of Events, Checkbook Register, Personal Monthly Budget, College Cost Calculator

Week 2:

Formulas and Functions (2 lectures + 1 lab)
Formula Syntax (=)
Arithmetic Operators, Predefined Functions, & Cell References
Naming Cells & Ranges; Absolute & Relative References
Error Messages; Debugging Errors
Built-in Functions & Macros

Ch. 3 Formulas and Functions

Week 3:

Working with Charts (2 lectures + 1 lab)
Charts, Graphs, & Plots
Adding and Editing Chart Data
Multiple Data Series
Formatting Charts & Scaling an Axis

Ch. 4 Working with Charts

Week 4:

Performing Data Analysis (2 lectures + 1 lab)
Using the Analysis ToolPak
What's a Histogram?
Descriptive Statistics (mean, standard deviation, etc.)
Correlation, Linear Regression, Trend Analysis; Goal Seeker
Operations Research (Optimization Problems)

Ch.5 Performing Data Analysis

 

Topics:

CS 1022 Introduction to Engineering Computing 2: Mathematical Software

Week 1:
(Week 5 of Semester)

Introduction (2 lectures + 1 lab)
What Computing Tools Do Engineers Use?  Why Three Different Tools? (If necessary)
Introduction to Mathematical Software – MATLAB Environment
Pair Programming (If necessary)
MATLAB IDE
Variables, Vectors, Matrices & Number Display
Script M-Files

Ch. 1 An Int