Computer Science Principles
2019-2020

Day/Time: Sunday 1:00 - 3:00
Prerequisites: none
Instructor: Mrs. Devorah Goldberg
email: devorah.goldberg@htc.edu



Syllabus Index HTC Policies
Syllabus Index
Objectives Exams  
Texts and Software Grades
Class Format, Attendance Programming Environment
Homework/Assignments Course Schedule
Project
HTC Policies
Accommodations Attendance
Academic Integrity Incomplete Policy
Technology Policy HTC Resources
Conceptual Framework Mid-semester Progress Reports
Course Evaluations


Conceptual Framework

Conceptual Framework

"To Learn, To Teach, To Observe, and To Do."  The student should be a Critical Thinker, Effective Communicator, Proactive Educator, and Moral Practitioner.



Course Objectives:
NOTE:  We are using the Python 3.x.  We will install Python on our lab computers.  You can install Python on your own computer if you are interested in working at home.
 
Course Materials:  

Course Format:

The course includes lectures that are punctuated with activities, break-out groups, and student explorations.  Activities include group discussion and innovations; hands-on application of concepts (such as building a web page, exploring RGB color codes, compressing graphics and so forth).  Students must be present to participate in these activities and get credit for the course.

 


Homeworks/Assignments:

Lab Assignments:  For most labs, you  are required to participate and to show me your work at the end of lab.  This will count for lab credit.

Homework Assignments:  While there is no take-home homework, students are responsible to review the material covered in class, and there is a midterm and a final exam or project.


Exams:  There is a midterm exam, and either a final exam or a final project in lieu of an exam.  There will be a review one week before each exam.


Grading:


MIdterm Exam
25%
Final Exam or Project 30%
In-class labs and activities 40%
Participation 5%



Course grades are assigned as follows:
A+ 97
A
93
A-
90
B+
87
B
83
B-
80
C+
77
C
73
C-
70
D+
67
D
63



Course Schedule:

The dates below give the sequence and a general idea of the time spent, though we may get ahead or behind this time schedule at different points, depending on the needs of the class.   Links for supporting docuements and files, and submission links for assignments are on the course website.


Week
Topic
Activities
1

The Impact of Technology   ppts  
Getting Started
  • Using the TI labs:  login, password and policies
2

The Internet:  Before and Behind the Scenes  ppts
  • Browsers
  • html
  • URLs
  • Clients and servers
  • Video:  What is the Internet?
  • Creating a simple web page--plain text and Word, no html
  • Activity:  Net Neutrality
  • Activity: Koan 6 from "Blown to Bits" by Hal Abelson
3
Navigating the Internet  ppts
  • Modems/Routers/Hubs
  • Packets
  • IP Addresses and the Domain Name System
    • ipv4 and ipv6
    • public vs. private
  • Protocols:  TCP/IP
  • Video:  Hubs, Routers, Switcher
  • Video:  Analog vs. Digital
  • Video:  Packets
  • Video:  TCP/IP
  • Activity:  Find a URL's IP address
    • tracert
    • hosting domains (fastley)
4
Number systems:  notes   worksheet
  • motivation: 2-state systems:  communications media; storage
  • binary, decimal and hexadecimal conversions
  • Number system conversion worksheet
5
Data Representation and encoding:  ppts   links
  • encoding numbers
  • encoding text:  the ASCII and UNICODE tables
  • encodling complex data (pictures, sound, video, etc.)
  • word processors vs. plain text
  • Exploring Word and plain text documents
6 hierarchy of data (bits, bytes, ... megabytes, etc.)
file types and data size
representing color

  • Activity:  How much data do I need?
  • Activity:  File types and data size
  • Activity:  RGB and CYMK Color Slider
7
Representing grapics:
  • raster vs. vector graphics
Compression:
  • text files (zip)
  • graphics files (lossy and non-lossy)
  • Video:  Raster vs. Vector Graphics
  • Activity:  Raster vs. Vector Images
  • Activity:  Best file types for images
  • Activity:  Compressing using zip files
  • Video:  How does jpeg work?
  • Acivity:  Compressing images

8 Using html to build a webpage
What is javascript, Ajax and scripring?
  • Activity:  building a web page in html using an online WYSIWYG tool
9
http superglobal variabales (GET, POST, SESSION, COOKIE)
Explore http requests  ppts
  • Activity:  using GET to pass variables
  • Activity:  http traffic:   the browser developer tools
10 Midterm Exam

11
  • Introduction to Programning
  • Python Installtion, IDLE shell and code editor
  • variables
  • printing
  • data types
  • Python Installation, using the Shell and Code editor
  • Python Shell Exercises:  variables, printing, data types
  • Homework:  arithemtic operations in Python
12
  • Motivating Example:  madlibs
  • The input() function
  • more printing
  • first introduction to functions
  • Shell and program exercises using input() and print()
13
  • combining input() print() and formatted print()
  • Shell and program exercises using formatted prints
14
  • dictionaries
  • Functions
  • Lists
  • Exercises using dictionaries with user input and formatted stirngs
  • Activity:  write your own madlibs story
  • Activity:  Lists
15
  • For---loop  --looping with lists
  • Activity:  Shell and program exercises using loops
16
  • While loop (only briefly)
  • If...Elif...Else
  • Activity:  Shel andprogram exercises using conditional execution, combined with previous topics
17
  • Begin graphics.  A graphic object, and graphic methods (functions)
  • Activity:  Shell and program exercises uisng graphic objects, combined with previous topics
18
  • More graphics
  • Major assignment uisng graphics, looping and conditional execution
19
Final Exam or Final major assignment



HTC Policies

Attendance and Participation

  1. Students are required to attend, be prepared for, and actively participate in all classes.
  2. Students are required to attend all classes. In the case of absences, a student must communicate with instructor immediately via email.
  3. Students absent for over 25% of scheduled classes will have their final grade lowered by one letter grade.
  4. Students absent for over 50% of scheduled classes will receive an F (failure) in the course.

Please note that without extenuating circumstances, this policy may not be changed by the instructor. If you have any problems or concerns, please see Dr. Tessler.

Academic Integrity

Hebrew Theological College is committed to providing an academic community and learning environment based on honest inquiry and pursuit of knowledge that fosters commitment and adherence to Judaic tenets. The faculty and administration of Hebrew Theological College have specified the following acts as serious violations of personal honesty and academic ideals that jeopardize the quality of education within a Torah environment:

More information about HTC’s Academic Integrity policy can be found on page 15 of the Student Handbook.

Accommodations 

Any student, who, because of a disability, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make necessary accommodations and share appropriate documentation from the Office of Special Services, provided by HTC’s Disabilities Officer, Dr. Richard Aronoff.

Accommodations will be made, but instructors must be aware of your needs in order to make proper accommodations. It is the responsibility of the student to make these needs known in a timely fashion and to provide documentation prior to the beginning of any semester in which accommodations are desired.

Incomplete Policy-- Crisis Management

This is available ONLY to students with extreme and/or extenuating circumstances who

  1.  have completed 50% or more of the required course work.
  2.  have a grade of "C" or better on completed work.
  3.  request the "Incomplete" prior to the week of final examinations of the semester.
  4.  complete and submit an "Incomplete Contract" prior to final examinations.
  5. The "Incomplete Contract" must be signed by the course instructor and the Dean. Non-compliance by agreed date will result in a permanent grade of FI (Failure/Incomplete).

Students who have not satisfactorily completed 50% of class assignments are not allowed to receive an incomplete grade. Students who do not have a grade of “C” or above average are not allowed an incomplete. Students must request an incomplete prior to the week of finals. The instructor may refuse an incomplete request. It is the student’s responsibility to request an Incomplete Form from the school office, have the form signed by the instructor, Dean, themselves, and return it to the instructor prior to the final. If the student fails to return the completed form to you when grades are due, the student is to receive the grade they would have received if they had not requested an incomplete. Instructors will define the amount of time allowed to complete the missing work, however, the time allowed cannot exceed 12 weeks after the end of the semester in which the incomplete was requested. If the student fails to remove the incomplete within 12 weeks, the grade will be recorded as an “IF,” meaning failure due to an incomplete. An “IF” will be counted as an “F” in the student’s GPA and will be part of the student’s permanent record.

Technology Policy

HTC bans the use of cell phones, computers and other devices for texting,

web-browsing or other non-class related activities during class. This behavior may result in expulsion from the course after a single warning. Electronic devices may not be used during exams, and their use in class is subject to faculty discretion and permission. Only students with documented disabilities who must use such devices may request exemptions as documented.

HTC Academic Resources

Hebrew Theological College is committed to providing all of our students with various resources and support for academic success. Tutorial services through the Writing Clinic, Math Center, and Hebrew Tutoring Center provide assistance in a variety of disciplines. Students should make arrangements to avail themselves of these services. Librarians at the Saul Silber Memorial Library are available to assist students with all their research needs. Students can find information about the library services and resources at http://htclibrary.weebly.com. 

 Mid-Semester Progress Reports

Mid-way through the semester, your instructor will evaluate your progress in this course and share this feedback with the deans. This information will be used for advising purposes. You can view the form at http://tinyurl.com/HTCMSPR.

 HTC Course Evaluations

In order to help make the course evaluation process more convenient and ensure student privacy, you can now submit secure, anonymous course evaluations online via LiveText! Your instructors will provide time in class to complete the form, but you can also fill it out on your own at any time. Your feedback will be shared with your instructors after grades have been turned in. Instructors are eager to know how they can improve and rely on your feedback as a central part of their professional development. This is your opportunity to express your thoughts about your experiences at Hebrew Theological College. Your voice matters.