CS112: Introduction to Computer Programming (Spring 2018)
Section 004/005/006

1 Course Basics

Meeting Time and Location:

Instructors: 

Professor
Email
Office
Section
K. Raven Russell
krusselc
ENGR 5328
004/005/006

Course Outcomes:

Mason Core IT Learning Outcomes:

Prerequisite:

C or better in MATH 104, 105, or 113 (or sufficient score on the math placement test).

1.1 Textbook: ZyBook

Required - Zyante online textbook.

Quite optional - The Practice of Computing Using Python, second edition. William Punch and Richard Enbody. This is for students who want extra reading resources. You might be able to view a copy for free at Fenwick Library.

1.2 In-class Participation

We will use an online tool, Pytania, to interactively answer questions in class. That means you'll need access to something (a laptop, phone, tablet, etc.) that is wifi-enabled, so you can log in, answer questions, and get credit for the day. Note that attempting to answer questions from home is not permitted. That would be a violation of the honor code.

1.3 Discussion Board: Piazza

1.4 Blackboard

2 Grading

Category
Percent
Notes
Projects
40%
drop 1 lowest
Labs
10%
drop 2 lowest, average others evenly
Zyante reading
 3%
drop 3 lowest-completion sub-sections (not chapters)
Participation
 2%
up to 1% extra credit for correctness
2 Tests
20%
10% each, lowest midterm replacement (see section on 2.4 on Exams)
Final exam
25%
must pass final to pass class class (see section on 2.4 on Exams)

Assessment

2.1 Projects

Programming projects will be a primary focus of your grade - each one should take multiple sessions of coding, with questions asked in between. This is the practice you need to learn, master, and internalize various concepts of the course. Don't be surprised if you're spending 5-20 hours on each one. All project grades will be averaged together evenly.

2.2 Labs

2.3 Zyante

2.4 Exams

2.5 Contested Grades

If you feel points have been incorrectly deducted, contact the grader. For all projects and lab work, that is your GTA. For the tests and final exam, that is your professor. Contesting of grades on any/all submissions must be requested within one week of receiving the grade (on BlackBoard). No grade changes will be considered subsequent to that deadline.

3 Office Hours and Discussion Board

There is substantial support available to you outside of lecture time in the form of office hours and and the online discussion board (Piazza). If you are having difficulty on a project or lab, we encourage you to reach out as early as possible. That said, to ensure fairness and facilitate learning, we have some basic rules for seaking help outlined below.

Please note that the is a discussion forum for you, the students, to discuss the course and the course material. There will be UTAs assigned to check on this forum regularly and try to moderate the discussion, but this is NOT a replacement for office hours, lecture with your professor, or labs.

3.1 Rules for Office Hours

3.1 Rules for the Discussion Board

4 Honor Code

5 Learning Disabilities

Students with a learning disability or other condition (documented with GMU's Office of Disability Services) that may impact academic performance should speak with the professor ASAP to discuss appropriate accommodations. Even if you don't know whether you plan on utilizing the accommodations for any assignment/test, it's in your best interest to prepare and get documented ahead of time.