Syllabus

Course Description:

This course introduces the student to concepts of problem solving using constructs of logic inherent in computer programming languages. The student studies the nature of problems, common solution approaches and analysis techniques.

This base of problem solving skill is augmented by high level computer tools. These tools enable students to construct solutions to common algorithmic problems. The course concludes with the students utilizing flowcharts to diagram problem solutions. Computer programming code is introduced to the student via the code generated by the flowcharting tool.

The major emphasis is on teaching the student to identify solutions to a problem and translate them into various forms,  that will enable the computer to perform some of the steps in a solution of an actual problem instance. These forms include an objected oriented packages, flowcharting tool and viewing generated software code.

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

1. Understand the steps required in solving a problem using a computer.
2. Demonstrate broad problem-solving experiencing by referring to solutions from    a problem bank covered during class
3. Create an application based upon object-oriented concepts using a code generation tool.
4. Understand and use the flowcharting techniques to solve an algorithm.
5. Read and comprehend  software showing the coding paradigms of  loops, decision statements, arrays and modules.

 

Prerequisite – CUNY certification in mathematics, reading and writing.  General knowledge of a personal computer is needed.  Students may enroll in a workshop at the Academic Learning Center, located in the Atrium.

Required Texts –

• Starting out with ALICE , Tony Gaddis, Pearson, 2nd edition, ISBN 0-321-54587-7
• Starting out with JAVA , Tony Gaddis, Pearson, 4th edition, ISBN 0-13-608020-0

Meeting	Topic to be Covered	Assignment
1	Discussion of  general problem solving methods. Introduction to logical step solutions	Read Lecture 1
2	Review of functions and their use in logical solutions	Read Lecture 2
3	Continue to discuss Lecture 2	Assignment 1 in BlackBoard
4	Writing specific step of algorithms – English pseudocode – decision making, logical operators, IF/THEN/ELSE	Read Lecture 3
5	Using repetition, with WHILE loops and FOR/NEXT loops	Read Lecture 4
6	Continue to discuss Lecture 4	QUIZ 1, Assignment 2 in BlackBoard
7	Storing information in lists, tables and arrays.	Read Lecture 5
8	Combining techniques to solve real problems.  Identifying appropriate techniques	Read Lecture 6
9	Introduction to Flowcharting (RAPTOR)	Objectives, Basic Symbols
10	Flowcharting Continued	Assignment 3 in BlackBoard
11	Flowcharting Simulation, Variable Watching
12	More Flowcharting  Problem Solving	Assignment 4 in BlackBoard
13	Introduction To ALICE	DownLoad environment, Review Tutorial 1
14	Classes, Galleries, Objects, Properties	Review Tutorial 2-4Assignment 4 Do 3 of the exercises on Pages 54 and 55
15	Methods and Parameters	Read Chapter 2.1-2.5 and Chapter 5 of Alice Book
16	MIDTERM
17	Decisions and Loops	Read Chapter 4 of Alice BookProject Flowchart
18	Alice Classwork	Work on ProjectAssignment 6 – 3 exercies on pages 191 and 192
19	Events	Read Chapter 6 of Alice Book
20	Alice Classwork	Work on Project
21	Alice Project Presentation	Assignment 7 Class Presentation of Project Video
22	Introduction to NetBeans/Java	Read Chapter 1 of Java Book
23	GUI Objects in NetBeans, Data types	Assignment 8 on BlackBoard
24	Java variables	Read 2.4 through 2.7 of Java Book
25	Coding Events in NetBeans	QUIZ 2
26	Java If then Else	Read 3.1 through 3.5 of Java Book
27	Nested If then Else	Assignment 9 on BlackBoard
28	While Loop	Read Chapters 4.1-4.4
29	Final Review	Assignment 10 on BlackBoard
30	FINAL EXAM