Syllabus

Instructor:

Name: Calli Higgins
E-mail: cehiggins@citytech.cuny.edu
Alternate e-mail: callihiggins@gmail.com (to be used if there is an issue with CUNY email)
Office Hours: By appointment or via Skype: callihiggins

 

Course Description:

Creating computer applications, instead of just using them, will give you a deeper understanding of the essential possibilities of computation. Through weekly problems, students will learn the fundamentals of programming the computer (variables, conditionals, iteration, functions, arrays, and objects).  These tools are the basic building blocks of programming needed to create cutting-edge graphics applications including interactive art, live video processing, and data visualization. The Java-based ‘Processing’ programming environment is the primary vehicle for the class. The end of the semester is spent developing an idea for a final project and implementing it using computer programming.

Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the steps required in solving a problem using a computer.
2. Demonstrate understanding of core programming concepts including variables, conditionals, iteration, functions, arrays, and objects
3. Create an object-oriented application using Processing.

HIGHLY Suggested Textbook – “Learning Processing” by Daniel Shiffman, Morgan Kauffmann, 2008

Other Suggested Reading – “Processing: A Programming Handbook for Visual Designers and Artists” by Casey Reas and Ben Fry, MIT Press, 2007

Recommended Web sites:
www.processing.org – Students can download Processing from this site. Download is free of charge. The site also contains a lot of information, tutorials, and forums on how to use Processing.

www.learningprocessing.com– Textbook website

www.openprocessing.org – Like the Flickr of Processing. We will be using this site to host our sketches so we can embed them on the blog.

COURSE OUTLINE

Meeting			Topic to be Covered
1.1			Introduction to programming and the Processing environment
1.2			Pixels and shapes
2.1			Syntax, code structure, and variables
2.2			Events; Variable Workshop
3.1			NO CLASS SCHEDULED
3.2			Conditional statements, Booleans, IF/ELSE/THEN;
4.1				Buttons, rollovers, switches; Workshop
4.2				Images and Video Workshop
5.1			Loops
5.2			Loops Workshop
6.1			Review Workshop
6.2			Functions and modularity
7.1		Functions and modularity; arguments and return types
7.2		Workshop – Midterms Project
8.1		Midterm Project Presentations
8.2		Midterm Project Presentations
9.1		SPRING BREAK CONTINUES
9.2		Review
10.1		Intro to Object and Classes
10.2		More object and classes; Workshop- Reorganize your code; Thinking through Algorithms
11.1		Arrays
11.2		Workshop- Arrays
12.1		Present Final Project Plans; Arrays of Objects
12.2		Arrays of Objects Lab
13.1		Workshop- Present where you’re at with your final project
13.2		Workshop- Present where you’re at with your final project
14.1		Java; Array lists
14.2		Programming in Eclipse Workshop
15.1		Workshop- Continue to work on your final project
15.2		Workshop- Continue to work on your final project
16.1		Present Final Project
16.2		Present Final Project