This handout is also available in PDF.
Welcome to one of the Spring 2008 sessions of Grinnell College's CSC 151,
Fundamentals of Computer Science I, which is described
relatively briefly in the official blurb.
My own take on this course is that we'll be starting to develop your
knowledge of Computer Science and Algorithmic Problem Solving.
We will be using Scheme as our development language. As in all Grinnell
classes, we'll also be working on general thinking and work skills.
This year, we are trying a new approach to CSC151. In both sections
of the course, we will be emphasizing media computation - the
application of algorithmic problem solving techniques to media. We
will particularly emphasize algorithms for creating and manipulating
images.
In an attempt to provide up-to-date information, and to spare a few
trees, I am making this as much of a paperless
course as I can.
Hence, materials will be in a course web. If you are puzzled by the
organization of the Course Web, you may want to read the basic instructions for using this
course web. If you find that you want paper copies of pages, please
read the notes on printing copies. If you find
that you are regularly printing pages, let me know and I can provide
them for you.
Warning! Experience shows that CSC151 exercises
different parts of your brain than other courses, even than math courses.
In general, such exercise is a good thing - one of the key points of a
liberal arts education is that it exercises different parts of your brain.
However, it may take a bit of time to get these new parts of your brain
into shape. Expect a few difficult times, but have confidence that you
can get through them and that you'll come out of the course with much
more knowledge.
Warning! Computers are sentient, stupid, and malicious.
When things go wrong, don't blame yourself. Ask me, a tutor, or the class
mentor for help.
Warning! We are using some cutting-edge software, which
means that things will occasionally crash for no good reason.
Meets: MTuWF 9:00-9:50 a.m., Science 3813
Instructor:
Samuel A. Rebelsky,
Science 3824. 269-4410 (office). 236-7445 (home).
Office hours: MTuWF 10-11, Tu 1:15-2:05, MF 2:15-3:05.
I also tend to follow an open door policy: Feel
free to stop by when my door is open or to make an appointment for
another time.
Class Mentor: Max Kuipers
(kuipersb@grinnell.edu).
Office hours TBD.
Grading (subject to change):
- Class participation: 10%;
- Weekly homework: 20%;
- Weekly quiz: 20%;
- Project: 10%;
- Exams: 30% (3 graded exams plus optional final);
- Best of (average quiz, project, average exam, final): 10%.
The final examination for this course is optional. It can be used
as a makeup for one examination. It will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Friday,
May 16, 2008.
I will drop the grade on one quiz (the quiz with the lowest grade).
More information on grading can be found in the
grading policies page.
Labs:
Computer science 151 is taught in a collaborative workshop style.
Each day, you'll work on laboratory problems with other students in
the class. We may start each day with a short lecture/discussion and
end with a reflective discussion.
Extra Credit:
I offer a number of forms of extra credit during the semester. Here
are some of the most common ones.
Throughout the term, I may suggest other forms of extra credit.
- I will often offer 1/2 point of extra credit for attending a particular
talk (e.g., a computer science talk or college convocation) or for
supporting your classmates in their public endeavors (e.g., attending
a concert or a dance recital). Each category is capped at 1.5 points.
Tutoring:
The CS Lab makes tutors for 151 available at regularly scheduled times.
As soon as tutors have been scheduled, I'll let you know what those times
are (and post them on this page).
Good-Faith Grade Guarantee:
Because I realize that computer science does not click
will all
students, I reward effort as well as outcome. Hence, students who make a
good faith
effort in this class will pass the class, with at least
a C+. A good-faith effort includes missing no more than two classes,
turning in every homework assignment, and spending the requisite time
on each examination.
Class Software:
For this course, we are using locally-modified versions of two pieces
of software, DrScheme and
The Gimp. Because we are using modified
versions, you cannot just download the software from these sites to your
personal computer. However, if you use a Macintosh, we can provide you with
Mac versions and instructions for using and updating them. Those
materials will be available in the second week of the course. If you
use a PC or a Linux workstation and are on campus, there are a few ways
to run software directly from the MathLAN. That information is also
forthcoming. Further information will follow.
Printing Pages:
Most of these pages are designed for viewing onscreen. If you'd like
to print them, you may want to use PDF versions, which are designed
for paper. Many pages have links directly to the PDF version. If there
isn't such a link, simply replace the html at the end of
the URL with pdf.
If you do decide to print, you should also consider printing the document
double-sided and two-up (that is, two pages side-by-side on one physical
page) so as to conserve paper. When I distribute documents, I will do my
best to distribute them in this form.
Kelsey, Richard,
Clinger, William, and Rees, Jonathan, eds. (1998).
Revised5
Report on the Algorithmic Language Scheme. February 20, 1998.
The concise and complete definition of the Scheme programming language.
You won't need to understand all of it, but you'll find it helpful
to keep it by your side.
The PLT Team
Languages Team (2006).
DrScheme Manual.
The guide to the
Scheme development environment we'll be using.
Rebelsky, Samuel (2008).
The CS151.01 2008S Course Web. The hypertext that
you are currently reading. Many of these materials (particularly those
under Readings and Labs
are required. You should make it a point to load the page of the day
at the beginning of each class to check announcements and such.
Davis, Janet (2008).
The CSC151.02 2007F Course Web. The course web for the other section of this class.
Springer, George and Friedman, Daniel P. (1989). Scheme and the Art
of Programming. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. The textbook that we
formerly used in the class. We try to keep copies around the department.
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