CMSC 101 / IS 101Y: Computational Thinking and Design

Fall 2013

Dr. Seaman’s and Dr. Martin’s section (T/TH afternoons)


Last updated: August 28, 2013

 

Important Links

 

·  URL for syllabus: http://userpages.umbc.edu/~cseaman/syllabus.html

·      URL for online schedule: http://userpages.umbc.edu/~cseaman/schedule.html

·  Direct link to Blackboard site

·      Dr. Seaman’s homepage

 

Course Description

Broad survey of computing topics and fields for new majors, along with the academic and professional skills necessary to succeed in those fields. Students will work with a team to complete a semester design and implementation process.

Objectives

After this course, students should be able to:

  1. Discuss the characteristics and challenges of key areas of the computing disciplines.
  2. Analyze and present data to support informed decision making.
  3. Write basic programs using variables, conditional logic, and loops.
  4. Demonstrate the skills necessary to succeed as a computing student and professional.
  5. Work effectively in a team to solve a complex technological challenge.

 

Course Schedule

The course schedule is posted here.
Direct link:
http://userpages.umbc.edu/~cseaman/schedule.html

 

When and Where

Your section:

CMSC 101-04 (lecture) / CMSC 101-02 (discussion) / IS 101Y-06 (lecture) / IS 101Y-04 (discussion)

 

The “other” section:

CMSC 101-01 (lecture) / CMSC 101-03 (discussion) / IS 101Y-03 (lecture) / IS 101Y-05 (discussion)


Instructors

 

Your section:

Dr. Carolyn Seaman (cseaman < at > umbc.edu)

Dr. Susan Martin (susan < at > umbc.edu)

·         ITE 452 (x52822)

·         Office Hours: Tue 11:30am-12:30pm, Thu 8:45-9:45am

 

 

The “other” section:

Dr. Marie desJardins (mariedj < at > cs.umbc.edu)

 

Course Staff

Your section:

 

The “other” section:

 

NOTE: Teaching fellows hold office hours in ITE 470.

                                           

Course Logistics

Required Textbooks

Grading Policies

Grades will be based on the following work. The final weights for each category will be set near the beginning of the semester; they will be announced in class and posted on this syllabus page.

Note on Team Grades

Each team deliverable for the project will receive a grade, but individual students' grades on the deliverables may vary (i.e., be higher or lower than the deliverable grade), based on individual contributions to that assignment, as assessed through peer feedback and self-assessments.

The group peer evaluation grade will be based on your team members' assessments of each member's contribution to the work throughout the course of the semester (inside and outside of class). We will perform several peer evaluations over the course of the semester, so that you know where you stand on this measure and have an opportunity to adjust your performance before the final peer evaluation at the end of the semester.

Late Policy

Assignments are due by the beginning of class on the day listed. Unless otherwise stated in the assignment itself, late assignments will not be accepted. Extensions will be granted only for documented, legitimate reasons (significant illness, death in the family, athletic or business travel, religious observations) and must be requested in advance. Extensions after the fact will only be granted in extraordinary circumstances, as outlined in the UMBC student handbook (significant illness with a doctor's note, death in the family with documentation).

Programming Assignment #1 must be completed on time and cannot be submitted late. The one exception to the late policy stated above is that Programming Assignments #2 and #3 may be submitted late, with a 15% penalty for each 24 hours or fraction thereof. For example, if you submit Programming Assignment #3 an hour after class on the day it is due, your grade will receive a 15% penalty. If you submit it exactly 48 hours late, your grade will receive a 30% penalty. No credit will be given for Programming Assignment #1 or #2 if they are submitted more than one week after the due date.

Students with IEPs (accommodations for documented medical situations) must discuss all extensions, extended-time exams, and other accommodations in advance with the instructor. In particular, exams to be taken with extended time or in a different room than the usual classroom must be explicitly scheduled in consultation with the instructor at least one week in advance. Last-minute accommodations cannot be granted; it is your responsibility to work in advance to make the necessary arrangements.

Missed quizzes and exams can be made up ONLY if arrangements are made with the instructor in advance, and only if the instructor agrees that missing the quiz or exam is unavoidable. Quizzes missed because of an unforeseen emergency cannot be made up. Exams missed because of an unforeseen emergency will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Academic Honesty

This course adheres to the Provost's statement on academic integrity:

"By enrolling in this course, each student assumes the responsibilities of an active participant in UMBC's scholarly community in which everyone's academic work and behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and helping others to commit these acts are all forms of academic dishonesty, and they are wrong. Academic misconduct could result in disciplinary action that may include, but is not limited to, suspension or dismissal. To read the full Student Academic Conduct Policy, consult the UMBC Student Handbook, the Faculty Handbook, or the UMBC Policies section of the UMBC Directory."

All individual assignments and exams in the course are expected to be your individual work. You may discuss assignments with anyone, but at no time should you copy someone else's work or allow someone to copy yours. Neither should you copy work or text from published or web sources without proper citation. Team assignments are expected to be the work of all team members, where interactions outside the team follow guidelines for individual work (i.e., group assignments must be the work of the team, and any help from sources other than team members must be documented). If you are ever in doubt about what constitutes appropriate collaboration, consult with a course staff member.