Course Description

• CIS 200 Digital Thinking: Introduction to Programming: Animation and Games

  This course for non-majors and majors introduces the basic concepts of computer programs in a visual environment. Beginning with program flow, the course introduces data description, control structures, and object oriented techniques. By focusing on algorithmic thinking, the course offers a mode of critical thinking that has become increasingly important as computers become ubiquitous. For Spring 2010 we will also be integrating Alice 3.0 - the newest version that introduces direct access to the computer code generated by visual programming.

• Prerequisites: None
  

Course Objectives

Programmers represent actions in the world through programs. Programming is as much artistry as it is science. Programmers, like artists, tease out a world of their creation from a medium. Their medium is a computer program. Modern object-oriented, event driven programming requires a logic of design for the computer to process and a rhetoric of interaction to communicate with the computer user.

At the conclusion of the course, you will be able to

• Create an animation using Alice
  
• Create an interactive program using Alice
• Identify and use
• planning tools such as storyboards, pseudocode, and algorithms
  
• classes, objects, methods, parameters, and inheritance
• events and event handlers
• control structures - functions, if/else, loops
• recursion
• list and arrays
• Relate concepts from the visual environment of Alice to a fourth generation object-oriented language
• Understand the purpose of an Integrated Development Environment
• Modify programs by using Java programming language
  
• Integrate Alice 3.0 worlds using a Java IDE
  

Text and Other Materials

	Learning to Program with Alice (2nd Ed.) Wanda P. Dann, Ithaca College Stephen Cooper, St. Joseph's University Randy Pausch, Carnegie Mellon University ISBN: 978-0132085168 Publisher: Prentice Hall Copyright: 2008 Format: Paper; 384 pp
Free	Alice 2.x Software http://alice.org
Free	Alice 3.0 Software http://kenai.com/projects/alice/downloads/directory/Alice%25203.0.0.0.64
Free	Alice 3.0 NBM http://kenai.com/projects/alice/downloads/directory/Alice%25203.0.0.0.64
Free	NetBeans http://www.netbeans.com/

Course Communications

Course Requirements

Readings and Labs
Read the chapters and complete the lab assignments. Assignments are due when assigned as class activities depend upon them. All assignments must be completed to pass the course. Assignments a week late or more will get a zero. You are responsible for keeping your completed lab sheets. Some of the lab assignments may require on-line quizes.

Projects
There are three projects to complete during the semester. Projects are open ended assignments where you can display your knowledge.Project details will be discussed in class.

Tests
Frequent testing (approx. every 3 weeks) and a final exam. Lowest or missed test grade eliminated (no make-up test) if the final is taken. Final average incorporates class attendance, participation, completion of case assignments, project and test results. Accommodations for learning issues will be in accordance with Roger Williams University policy. 

Attendance Policy
You are expected to attend class. If you miss class, you will need to get the material from another student, the text, or web resources. If you miss more than six  classes your maximum grade will decrease by 1/2 letter grade for each additional absence. Participation in chat/IM sessions, or exchanging e-mail during class is equivalent to an absence. We will discuss and come to an agreement regarding cell phone usage in class.

Academic Integrity
You are encouraged to work with others in your class because an alternate explanation can be helpful. However, assignments you submit and projects you present are your own work alone unless specified otherwise. You are expected to credit intellectual property sources for all media used in your projects. Intellectual theft results in a zero for the assignment.

Services for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities (learning, medical, physical, etc.) who wish to receive academic accommodations or auxiliary aids are required to submit the appropriate documentation to verify their eligibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).  The Learning Specialist with the Center for Academic Development coordinates the arrangement of reasonable and appropriate academic accommodations.  Details regarding the accommodations may be found on page 19 of the Undergraduate Catalog.

Course Calendar
The attached calendar is your guide to the course. It is my best estimate of the course at the date of publication. I reserve the right to make changes depending upon the pace of the class and external events. The calendar will be updated on-line. You are responsible for schedule changes.

 

 

Course Grading

 

Component	Weight
Attendance/Participation	100
Cases/Labs/Log	100
Performance Assessments & Final	400
Project 1	100
Project 2	100
Project 3	200
Total	1000

Course Materials
Course materials are covered by the appropriate copyright. Locally prepared course materials are the property of the faculty, which includes hand-outs, website content, and other presentation materials or assignments. Use beyond the classroom requires permission.

Course Recordings
Audio and video recordings of the course are permitted with the instructor's consent. These materials are to assist you  in completing your coursework and are not authorized for redistribution.

Student Course Materials
Completed assignments, especially projects, may be used to build instructional portfolios and serve as instructional examples for future classes, or in instructional workshops. All reasonable attempts to remove personal identification while maintaining the integrity of the project will be made. Permission to use your class projects at academic conferences may be requested.

National Science Foundation (NSF)
The development of Alice has been supported by the NSF, you may be requested to participate in evaluation or assessment of the program. Participation is voluntary and will be anonymous and confidential unless you provide written release.