Web CIS 101

Summer, 2003

Instructor: Eli Minkoff

Web
I.T.V. from Augusta Wednesdays, 1:00-3:45pm

Introduction to
Computer Science

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DESCRIPTION
CIS 101 focuses on the major topics in Computer Science and Information Science through use of the Internet.   Each student will develop an interactive Web site using both HTML and JavaScript.

For the latest version of this syllabus (in full COLOR ), go to any of these locations:
Http://skyscraper.fortunecity.com/scsi/968/cis101.htm
Http://maine.maine.edu/~eminkoff/cis101.htm

USEFUL CONTACTS
UMA Bookstore: 1-800-621-0083
E-mail to instructor: [email protected]

CLASS SCHEDULE


CLASS DATES
    & READINGS 		ASSIGNMENTS & DUE DATES
1. May 21
Keeping in touch
How this course works
Using a browser
History of computers
Read AE ch. 1

Obtain what you need for this course:
  • Access to a Personal Computer (PC) with the software listed below;
  • Books (with CD-ROMs included);
  • A computer account number on a Web server, such as:
    1. a University of Maine "mainframe" account #, or
    2. an account with Fortune City or similar company.
Software that you will need (already installed on public computers available at all University of Maine locations):
  • browser software such as Netscape Navigator, Netscape Communicator, or Microsoft Explorer, any of which may be downloaded from the World Wide Web; and
  • a file transfer program, such as WS-FTP (for Windows) or Fetch (for Macintosh). You can download these programs FREE from the World Wide Web; see below for details.
As soon as you are able, send me an E-mail message to say hello. Please include your name, your class location, and your E-mail address. Send your message to [email protected] . If you are unable to send such a message, please phone (207)-784-6353 and leave a recorded message.
Assignment due by 10 p.m. on Monday, May 26

2. May 28
How to use computers
Some local applications
Read AE ch. 2
  1. E-mail me to say hello if you haven't yet. (If you can't succeed, then phone me!)
  2. Find a word processor, and do AE labs 1.1(‡), 1.2(‡), and 2.1(steps 1,2,&3).
    NOTE: The double-dagger symbol (‡) means that any results you get are for your own use-- you should save them on your own computer or on disks, but there is no need to pass anything in or post it to the web.
  3. Save your general excuse letter, using ASCII Text format, with a name like "Excuse me" or "EXCUSEME". NOTE: giving the file a name ending in ".txt" does not make it an ASCII file unless you specify ASCII Text format when you "SAVE" the file (or "SAVE AS").
  4. Start setting up your web site (**) (click here to get started).
    NOTE: The symbol (** ) is for assignments whose results need to be posted to your web site.
Assignment due by 10 p.m. on Monday, June 2

3. June 4
Global applications
Browsing and surfing
Read AE ch. 3;
  Carey sect. 1.1

  • Make sure you obtain a file transfer program, such as WS-FTP (for Windows) or Fetch (for Macintosh); click here for details.
    Use this program to download the prototype file. Change the name and other details of the prototype file to start your own web page; then use FTP (or Fetch) to upload the resulting file to the web server you are using. (If you already have a web page built by other means, you may bypass this step and keep building it your own way.)
  • Upload your general excuse letter from last week, keeping it as an ASCII file (not HTML or .doc). Add a link from your home page to this letter.
  • Send me a brief E-mail message to give me the URL of your home page.
  • Do AE lab 1.3(‡).
  • Start thinking of topics for your term paper. Several term paper ideas may be found in AE lab 10.2 or on AE page 342, but you are not restricted to these topics and may choose more widely.
Assignment due by 10 p.m. on Monday, June 9

4. June 11
Programming and algorithms.
Tests for prime numbers.
  • Do AE labs 3.1(‡) and 3.3(‡).
  • Design an algorithm to ask for a number and determine whether or not it is divisible by 2 (‡).
  • Design an algorithm to ask for a number and determine whether or not it is prime. For a number like 7 or 11, display a result like "7 is prime"; for a number like 6 or 15, display something like "divisible by 3; not prime". (Click here for helpful hints.)
        Write a description of your algorithm; save this description as an ASCII text file. Post this file to your web site, and create a link to it from your home page (**). An ASCII listing of the source code for a computer program (in any language) will do fine instead.
  • Begin looking for books, articles, and web sites for your term paper.
Assignment due by 10 p.m. on Monday, June 16

5. June 18
Structured programming. Loops. Sorting.
Intro. to HTML.
Write a description of a sorting algorithm. Test it out on a list of words or names that need to be put into alphabetical order.
    Save a description of your algorithm as an ASCII text file; post this file to your web site, and create a link to it from your home page.
(**). An ASCII listing of the source code for a computer program (in any language) will do fine instead. Assignment due by 10 p.m. on Monday, June 23

6. June 25
HTML: text, lists
Read AE ch. 4   to p. 111;   Carey tutorial 1

  		Do AE module 4, lab 4.1 (‡but do not post-- just continue with the web page that you have already started). Also do AE module 4, labs 4.2(** ) and 4.3(** ).
Assignment due by 10 p.m. on Monday, June 30

7. July 2
HTML: links, graphics
Read Carey tutorials   2, 3.1, 3.2
  		Practical exam: post results to your web site. ( ** DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED ** )
Also do AE module 4 lab 4.4 (‡posting is optional).
Assignment due by 10 p.m. on Monday, July 7

8. July 9
HTML: tables; frames.     Read AE, rest of ch. 4;   Carey tutorials 4, 5

Do AE module 4, labs 4.5(‡posting optional), 4.6(‡optional), and 4.7(‡optional).
Assignment due by 10 p.m. on Monday, July 14

9. July 16
HTML: forms; clickable maps
Intro. to JavaScript
Read AE ch. 5;   Carey tutorials 6, 3.3

  • Add some JavaScript to your Web site (** ), e.g., automatic date-stamping.
  • Look at and critique the web sites of several other students in the class.
  • Send messages to at least two classmates (more if you wish), with suggestions for improving their web sites.
  • Begin writing an outline or first draft of your term paper.
Assignment due by 10 p.m. on Monday, July 21

10. July 23
Program translation, assemblers
Read AE ch. 6

  • Do AE module 6, labs 6.1(‡), 6.2(‡), 6.3(‡), and 6.4(‡).
  • Modify your web site (**) on the basis of any criticisms received from your classmates.
Assignment due by 10 p.m. on Monday, July 28

11. July 30
Hardware: circuits, gates
Read AE ch. 7;
  Carey tutorial 7

Do AE module 7, labs 7.1(‡), 7.2(‡), and 7.5(‡).
Assignment due by 10 p.m. on Monday, August 4

12. Aug. 6
JavaScript functions & objects; intro. to Artif. Intelligence.
Read Carey tutorial 8; also AE ch. 9

Do AE module 9, labs 9.1(‡) & 9.2(‡).
Assignment due by 10 p.m. on Monday, August 11

13. Aug. 13
More Artif. Intelligence; Computers & society
Read AE ch. 10 		Do AE module 9, lab 9.3, asking a person who is NOT taking this course to judge which haiku is which. Post a description of your results to your web site (**).
 Assignment due by 10 p.m. on Monday, August 18

14. Aug. 20
Computers and society 		Finish up your web site (**), including posting your term paper to your web site.
Assignment due by 10 a.m. on Sunday, August 24


INSTRUCTOR
Eli Minkoff's Photo Hi, I'm Eli Minkoff, course instructor. I teach full-time at Bates College during the school year, and also summers at Lewiston-Auburn College.   I wrote my first computer program as a college student in 1963 and have been writing programs professionally ever since. I also very much enjoy teaching. Over the years, I have taught courses in computer science, math (including statistics), chemistry, and biology. I hold a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

I can always be reached by e-mail at [email protected].


TEXTBOOKS
Required books for this course are: For Web page design, the Beginner's Guide to HTML is recommended; you may download your own copy directly from the Web. Other useful references include:

ABOUT ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS
Class exercises in this course will be of a practical nature, conducted with open book, open web, and days or weeks allowed to complete each assignment. Tests will be conducted on-line. Assignments will include:
  • A practical examination, scheduled midway through the course.
  • A series of laboratory assignments in connection with the Analytical Engine text; these assignments can be conducted using the CD-ROM that comes with the textbook, or else on-line without the CD-ROM. Some of these assignments are important practice for you to do on your own without passing anything in; other assignments produce results that need to be posted to your web pages.
  • A required term paper on any of the topics covered in the course or in our texts. No minimum or maximum length is required, but the paper should be well researched and should contain references to both printed sources and on-line sources (clickable "hot links" to the on-line sources are optional). The paper, like all other assignments, should be posted to your web site.
Assignments will involve using e-mail, doing research on the Web, and HTML authoring. Assignments are assumed to be a student's individual work; however, students are encouraged to work together and to seek help when necessary.
Deadlines for each of these assignments are given above.

Students are encouraged to check the course web site several times each week, for late notices. When major due dates loom near, students should check for late postings at least daily, if not more often.
Click for class assignments and due dates.



SETTING UP YOUR WEB SITE
One of the requirements of this course is to set up and maintain your own web site. This is becoming easier to do all the time.
  • University-hosted web sites: If you intend to continue taking U.M.A. courses for some time, we recommend setting up a University-hosted web site. To set one up, you first need to request a CMS account, which will allow you to post your HTML files to the UMA web server. See instructions about computer access that came with your registration materials.
  • Commercially hosted web sites: If you would like a web site that you can keep after you finish taking courses, we recommend that you set up a commercially hosted web site. For example, fortunecity.com will host your web site free of charge (and give you lots of storage space for your web files) as long as you let them insert an advertising banner at the top of your page. Their sites also offers many web-related resources for both novices and experts, including people to contact when you need extra help.
Click here for further details about setting up your web site.





COURSE POLICIES
Grading, Deadlines, and Make-ups
Your grade will be based on a series of assignments, most of which will result in a document or page that you should post to your own web site. Assignments are expected to be completed on time, and most can be submitted over the Web even if you cannot come to class. Normally, projects or assignments turned in late will automatically be reduced by one letter grade, unless there is a very compelling reason for the tardiness. If you miss any assignments or scheduled deadlines, be sure to talk to me (or E-mail me) as soon as possible.

Attendance
Attendance is not required but is highly recommended. In addition to class attendance, this course requires considerable student work outside of class. Students who put in little effort are almost assured of a poor (possibly failing) grade in the course.

Cheating and Plagiarism
Although working collaboratively is encouraged, any work that you turn in should be yours and yours alone. Cheating and/or plagiarism will result in a failing grade.




MISCELLANEOUS




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