The Basics
“Introduction to Computer Science”
COSC 107-02, Spring 2010, TR 1-2:50PM
Office Hours: By appointment
Instructor
Brian Toone [email protected]
Samford University, 320 Russell Hall
205-726-2960 (Office), 205-823-1615 (Home)
Required Textbook and Course Materials
Title:
Authors:
ISBN:
Publisher:
Publish Date:
List Price:
Computer Science: An Overview
J. Glenn Brookshear
0321-52403-9
Addison-Wesley
January 2008
USD 96.60 (Buy online, overnight or 2-day shipping, still save $$$)
This textbook contains online resources that we will be using throughout the course.
The URL for the online resources is: http://www.aw.com/brookshear
Blackboard
You will be using Blackboard throughout the semester to submit assignments, retrieve
lecture notes, check your grades, respond to discussion questions, and take exams. Yes,
all exams in this class will be taken online outside of class time (except for the final
exam, which will be in-class on Tuesday, May 11 at 10:30AM). Exams will be openbook, open-notes, but not open-person! In other words, you are not allowed to consult
with ANY person while taking an exam.
Your Grade
35% - Homework Assignments (including
programming assignments)
20% - Midterm Exam #1
20% - Midterm Exam #2
Grading Scale
A (100-92), A- (91-90), B+ (89-88), B (8782), B- (81-80), C+ (79-78), C (77-72), C(71-70), D+ (69-68), D (67-62), D- (61-60),
F (59-0)
25% - Final Exam
My Expectations

For this and every course you take at Samford, your grade will be affected by your attendance.

I expect you to dive into this material. You may think you know something about computers and how they
work, but I expect that this course will expose you to things you've never heard or seen before.
Furthermore, I expect that you will find this course to open your eyes to a whole new way of thinking.

You must work independently on all programming assignments unless specifically instructed otherwise.
You will soon discover that programming is in some ways an art form in the amount of freedom that you
have to organize and craft a solution to a particular problem. Therefore, it is easy for me to detect
whenever code has been copied or shared between individuals. Any such violation of academic
integrity will cause you to immediately receive a zero on the assignment. Repeated violations may
result in a failing grade for the course.

You must also work independently on midterm exams and the final exam.
Your Rights
 You have the right to seek help for disabilities as described below:
Samford University complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with
Disabilities Act. Students with disabilities who seek accommodations must make their request by
contacting Disability Support Services located in Counseling Services on the lower level of Pittman Hall,
or call 726-4078 or 726-2105. I will grant reasonable accommodations upon written notification from
Disability Support Services.

You have the right to seek help. This is part of the Samford uniqueness – ready access to the professor.
Classes are small so we can provide you with individual assistance, but you must seek it. You may call me
at home (823-1615) anytime before 9PM. Also, if I am not in class, then I am usually in my office. Feel
free to stop by, or call my office (726-2960), or send me an email.
Your Expectations
 From reading the course catalog description or talking to your advisor, you may realize that this course
explores the science of designing, operating, and applying computing devices as tools in society.
Specifically, this course illustrates how computers operate based on simple principles of logic and
abstraction and how we communicate with computers via algorithms and programming languages. This
course provides hands-on programming experience with a programming language called Small Basic. This
course examines several alternative computing paradigms and considers emerging technologies such as the
Internet, virtual reality, and intelligent systems as part of an exploration of the science of computers.

This course is not a computer literacy course. It does not cover the very basics of operating a computer
(i.e., how to use a mouse, keyboard, printer, etc...). Nor is the intent of this course to improve students'
ability to use Microsoft Windows or any specific application such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint,
etc... This course also does not provide advanced study of any one particular concept in computer science.
Instead, this course gives a broad overview of computer science concepts such as algorithm development
and programming. Specific computer science and closely-related disciplines (e.g., graphics, bioinformatics,
robotics, information security, etc...) are discussed at a high level.

Here are the course objectives stated as things you will be able to do by the end of the semester:
1. Articulate how a computer operates and describe each significant part of a computer and its purpose.
2. Learn about End User Programming (EUP) and gain experience with EUP tools.
3. Create programs in Microsoft Small Basic that solve simple problems.
4. Understand and recognize differences in programming languages.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of emerging technologies covered in class.
6. Demonstrate competence when discussing social issues involving computers.
7. Identify and describe several computer science and closely-related disciplines.
8. Demonstrate competence when discussing the use of a computer in a particular discipline or career.
9. Doing all of the above while addressing a big question through discussion, assignments, exams...
BIG QUESTION - How is computer technology reshaping society?
COROLLARIES
- What constitutes a society?
- What does a society look like now?
- What does a society look like 25, 50, 100, 1000 years from now?
- What impacts does the reshaping of society by computer technology
have on broader levels (community, national, world, (universe) relations)?
Course Outline
This outline is tentative and subject to change at the professor's discretion.
Week 1 (Jan 26 & 28) – Chapter 0, Chapter 1
 Introduction. What is computer science?
 Data Storage
Week 2 (Feb 2 & 4) – Chapter 1
 Data Storage, cont’d
 HW1 – Due on Friday (Feb 11)
Week 3 (Feb 9 & 11) – Chapter 2
 Data Manipulation
 HW2 – Due on Friday (Feb 18)
Week 4 (Feb 16 & 18) – Chapter 2
 Data Manipulation, cont'd
 HW3 – Due on Friday (Feb 25)
Week 5 (Feb 23 & 25) – Chapter 3
 Operating Systems
 No homework
Week 6 (Mar 2 & 4) – Chapter 4
 Networking and the Internet
 HW4 – Due on Friday (Mar 11)
Week 7 (Mar 9 & 11) – Chapter 4
 Networking and the Internet, cont'd
 First midterm (Chapters 0-4): Available online TBA
SPRING BREAK - March 16 & 18
Week 8 (Mar 23 & 25) – Web programming powerpoint
 Web Programming
 HW5 – Due on Friday (Apr 1)
Week 9 (Mar 30 & Apr 1) – Web programming powerpoint
 Web Programming
 HW6 – Due on Friday (Apr 8)
Week 11(Apr 6 & 8) – Microsoft Small Basic (pdf, powerpoint, web)
 Programming in Microsoft Small Basic
 HW7 – Due on Friday (Apr 15)
Week 12(Apr 13 & 15) – Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Microsoft Small Basic (pdf, powerpoint, web)
 Algorithms and Programming
 HW8 – Due on Friday (Apr 22)
 Second midterm (Chapters 5, 6, Web programming, Microsoft Small Basic): Available online
Week 13(Apr 20 & 22) – Chapter 8, Chapter 9
 Storing data in programs (Ch 8), Storing lots of data (Ch 9)
 HW9 – Due on Friday (Apr 29)
Week 14 (Apr 27 & 29) – Chapter 8, Chapter 9
 Storing data in programs (Ch 8), Storing lots of data (Ch 9), cont'd
 HW10* – Due by last day of class (May 6)
Week 15 (May 4 & 6) – Chapter 10, Chapter 11
 Computer Graphics (Ch 10), Artificial Intelligence (Ch 11)
 Review for the final exam
Week 16 (May 11) – Final exam @10:30AM in Russell 311-ONLINE IN-CLASS
(College Policy)!