CSE 16: Multimedia Introduction to Computer Science

CSE 16: Multimedia Introduction to Computer Science
Professor Glenn D. Blank, Spring 2010
Office: 328 Packard Lab, TTh 1:30-2:15pm, 610-758-4867

Catalog description: Survey of topics in computer science. Multimedia laboratory only. No prerequisites. Instructional mode: multimedia laboratory sections, simultaneous with the lab for CSE 16.

Rationale: This course is a good way to learn about computer science as a discipline and light introductions to object-oriented design in Java, HTML and Flash programming, primarily through web-based multimedia. It provides a way for Engineering students to meet the breadth of computer science requirement of the Computer Science minor, supplementing the programming experience of Engineering 1 and can also complement BIS 120 (Business Applications of Java) for Business students.

Class meetings: Thursdays 1:10-2:25pm, Packard Lab 502.

Requirements: CSE 16 will have no homework assignments other than reading the textbook (The Universal Computer), which will be available in PDF form via Blackboard, and going through the multimedia that accompanies this book (either in lab or on their own). They will have a six-weeks exam and final exam. CSE 16 students will also learn some Java and Flash along with CSE 12 students in lab, will show their work to the TA in lab, and may be asked questions about Java on exams, but will not be required to submit programming assignments.

Lab attendance: 10%
6 weeks exam: 40%
Final exam: 50%

Syllabus:

Th 1/21 Introducing the Universal Computer
Th 1/28 Problem Solving Before Programming
Th 2/4 Programming languages and their translators
Th 2/11 Software engineering
Th 2/18 Computer architecture
Th 2/25 6-weeks exam
Th 3/4 Operating systems
Th 3/18 Networks
Th 3/25 Algorithms
Th 4/1 User interface and web site design
Th 4/8 Flash and dynamic web design
Th 4/15 Social and ethical issues
Th 4/22 Artificial intelligence
Th 4/29 review for final exam

Resources:

The web-based multimedia is available here. Note that it requires Microsoft Internet Explorer as the browser. Since it uses sound extensively, speakers or plugging in a headset is also recommended. (If you don't have access to sound, the Preferences button provides an option to display most of the audio content in text boxes.) Click on the link, The Universal Computer, and it starts. Select a chapter from the menu on the left. Note that you can also review a summary of the content by clicking on the Just the Facts button at the bottom.

The textbook, The Universal Computer is available at the Bookstore.

Web site for the textbook: The Universal Computer. Links to solutions to chapter review exercises, web links by chapters, etc.

Instructions for the Operating Systems simulation program.

The following resources are no longer necessary for CSE16.

Eclipse Java programming environment. A professional, open-source integrated development environment. We have included plug-ins for UML and DrJava to help novices program in Java.

Knobby's World. Also on LANs and CDROMs.

WinZip. An file archiving tool, widely for compressing and uncompressing files, for faster trasfer via the web or disks.

ws_ftple. A file transfer tool, free to students for educational use.

ASCII code table. (Note that this isn't a complete table.)

Sample exams:

Answers to chapter review questions. After you've studied a chapter and tried to answer the Chapter Review questions at the end of a chapter in the textbook, The Universal Computer, you can check here for the answers.
Sample 6-weeks exam. CSE16 students are will not be asked to write code in Knobby's World or Java, so you can ignore these questions. Otherwise,This will give you some idea what this exam will be like.
Sample questions that might appear on a final exam.