CSCI C201 Introduction to Computer Programming Teaching/Learning Goals

• Mastery means the student will be able to exhibit knowledge of the material and/or skill with the procedure, in a new but appropriate context, even when not instructed to do so.
• Familiarity means the student will be able to answer questions about the material and/or to use the procedure, in a new but appropriate context, when instructed to do so.
• Exposure means the student will have heard the term and/or seen the procedure, but may not be able to discuss or use it effectively without further instruction.

The C201 learning goals cover important areas recommended jointly in a report by the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Computer Society of the IEEE in 1991 for university computing curricula. These international organizations were established to promote academic and professional excellence in the computer sciences. The complete baccalaureate curricula list consists of nine subject areas, of which a portion are covered in this course, primarily those areas which better prepare the student to succeed in subsequent Indiana University Southeast computer science courses and specifically the course C202. Several supplementary areas are covered that have developed since publication of the curricula report. Many of these subjects listed below will often recur in subsequent courses and at a level requiring further understanding.

• Mastery
  1. SE1 - Data types (integer, single, character, Boolean) and expressions. 2 hrs.
  2. PR - Relational and logical operations. 1 hr.
  3. SE1 - Control structures including if, select, do loops, for. 3 hrs.
  4. SE1 - Function and procedure use. 3 hrs.
  5. SE1 - Parameter passing. 2 hrs.
• Familiarity
  1. SE1 - Event driven programming model. 2 hrs.
  2. SE1 - Procedural abstraction. 3 hrs.
  3. AL1 - Basic data structures, arrays and their basic algorithms. 4 hrs.
  4. PR - Function design and variable scope. 2 hrs.
  5. SE1 - Structured programming methodology. 4 hrs.
  6. AL1 - Sorting and searching, insertion and selection sort, serial and binary search. 3 hrs.
• Exposure
  1. PR - Programming environment (debugger tracing). 1 hr.
  2. PR - Objects. 1 hr.
  3. PR - Sequential files. 2 hrs.
  4. PR - *User defined data types. 1 hr.
  5. SE1 - *Recursion. 1 hr.

Computer programming is a creative process based on competency in a range of skills. Therefore, students benefit from the guided practice in the environment of a university class. To facilitate this, C201 includes the following:

1. Students complete weekly programming assignments aimed at developing the foundational programming skills. Assignments are graduated in difficulty as is the amount of programming guidance provided the student which decreases through the course.
2. Class time is divided between instructor lecture and student work. Students work in small groups, on a computer when appropriate, to apply those concepts covered in lecture. Individual student questions serve to guide the class discussion.
3. Structured programming methodology is used throughout the course to assist students in visualizing assignments and solutions. Initial assignments include a completed problem analysis and design for practice in the use of the methodology while in later assignments students are required to develop an increasing portion on their own.
4. To a student new to programming, new skills and concepts are highly dependent upon those previously covered. Programming exercises provide practice in a broad range skills while short, weekly quizzes provide a more focused means of evaluating specific skills and gaining guidance toward areas of remediation.
5. Programming exercises are available as Web-pages and are discussed in class when assigned using the pages available to the student.
6. Most questions arise when students are working on exercises outside of class. Students are encouraged to contact the instructor directly or by emailing their questions and code of the troublesome exercise for guidance.