CISC 190 Java Programming Syllabus
(updated: January 23, 2012)

This course presents basic programming concepts using the Java 2 SE programming language. Structured and object oriented programming techniques are presented and used to design and implement a variety of programming problems. This is an online course using Blackboard Learn. There are no on-campus class meetings for this course.

The Java programming language is used in a wide variety of applications from desktop computers, servers, cellular and smart phones, video games, DVD players, photocopiers, PDAs, microwave ovens, and more. Its popularity as a programming language comes from its ability to run programs on a wide variety of computers and computerized devices.

Advisories & Prerequisites

This is an introduction to computer programming, so no computer programming experience is required. However, you are expected to know how to use a computer and the Internet. This course is not an introduction to computers.

Students must have completed English 051 or higher with a grade of  C or better or have an Assessment Skill Level W5.

Textbook & Supplies

The textbook for this course is available from the campus bookstore as well as other bookstores.

Starting Out with Java - From Control Structures through Objects, 4th Edition, by Tony Gaddis with myCodeMate access. Copyright © 2010, Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0-136-12054-7.
(Textbook only: ISBN 0-136-08020-0)

This book is available from the City College bookstore in a special bundle which includes access to myCodeMate. You can buy the bundle at the City College bookstore or you can buy it from the City College Online Bookstore.

Access to myCodeMate is optional, but I recommend it. The publisher bundled myCodeMate with the purchase of a new textbook at the City College bookstore for no additional cost. If you buy a used textbook or if you buy this textbook from another place and you want to purchase myCodeMate, go to www.myCodeMate.com.

An optional eText version is available from www.coursesmart.com (ISBN 0-13-609513-5) that is accessible, online, for 180 days (our course is 112 days) at about half the price of the printed textbook. You cannot print this book nor can you save it for future reference, but it is an alternative to buying a printed textbook and paying full price.

Software

You will not need to buy any software for this course. We will be using Sun Java 2 JDK and jGRASP. This software is available free. A copy of this software is included with the textbook. If you use your own computer, you will have to install this software, but make sure that your computer meets the recommended system requirements. Go to my web site at www.rpinfo.com and click on the Software link for more information on how to download and install this software.

USB Flash Drive

If you use computers on campus, you will need a USB flash drive to save your work. Floppy disks are not recommended. USB flash drives are inexpensive and can be purchased just about anywhere (Target, Walmart, Sears, etc.) for about $5.00 for 128 MB. Any size will work for this class.

Class Format

This is a fully online course. We use the Internet to access Blackboard Learn for lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations, assignments, tests, email, and discussion board communications. You must log in to Blackboard Learn at least once a week. I recommend that you log in at least three times a week to keep up to date on the latest information. The web address is sdccd.blackboard.com.

This class is not a self-paced class. If you work ahead, you might miss some important information about changes to the assignments. Unlike a traditional classroom-type class, this class does not meet at a specific time, so you are free to log in and do your work at your convenience, as long as you meet the posted due dates.

In our Blackboard Learn class, each chapter from the textbook is organized as a lesson. Each lesson will have lecture notes, a PowerPoint lecture, discussion board, chat room, exercises, assignments, and a quiz. You will have one week to complete a lesson. Late work will be accepted up to 48 hours past the due date.

Also in our Blackboard Learn class there is an icon called Reference Guide and Need Help? The reference guide contains notes and documents like the syllabus, calendar, schedule of assignment due dates, etc. The Need Help? icon contains information about tutoring, financial aid, health and other student services that are available to you.

If you have any questions or need help while online, you can contact me by instant messenger using AOL IM, Yahoo! Messenger, or Windows Live Messenger. All of these are connected to my cell phone. Use the instant messenger to page me and if I am near a computer, I will switch over to it and continue the chat online. See How to Contact the Professor for details.

You can send me an email through Blackboard Learn messages, but do not expect an immediate response. I will check my email at least once a day, Monday through Friday, but if you need a more immediate response, you should use an instant messenger.

There are computers in the City College Learning Resource Center in room R-107. These computers are available in the day and evening. Visit the Learning Resource Center for the schedule. There are some computers available in the T-building computer lab in room T-301, T-328, T-329, and T-331.

If you want to use a computer from home, work, or other place, make sure that the computer meets the necessary system requirements. Go to my web site at www.rpinfo.com and click on the Software link for more information.

Attendance

I expect you to log in to our Blackboard Learn web site at least once a week. I recommend that you log in three times or more per week just to keep up to date on what is happening in this course. Blackboard Learn keeps a log of the times that you have logged in.

According to district policy, students must not be absent for more than twelve percent of the total class hours in order to receive credit for the course. Since this is a web based course, I will use weeks as the unit of measure. Twelve percent comes to around two weeks for a 16 week course. If you don’t log in to this course for a week, I will consider that an absence of a week. After another week of absence, you may be dropped from this class.

If you plan to drop this class, do so officially. It is your responsibility to drop yourself from classes before any deadlines. If you stop coming to a class without officially dropping yourself from the class, you may find an F grade on your student record.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to...

1. Create simple to intermediate level applications using the standard I/O routines in Java SE.
2. Understand and be able to apply the various data types and structures in Java SE.
3. Understand and use basic object oriented programming techniques.
4. Understand and use procedural abstraction and top-down design.
5. Create programs that store and access data to and from files.
6. Create simple Java applets for use in web pages.

Course Topics

These are the topics to be covered in this course (not necessarily in this order)...

1. Introduction to Java Programming
2. Data Types and Variables
3. Using Methods, Classes, and Objects
4. More Object Concepts
5. Conditions and Logical Expressions
6. Loops
7. Strings
8. Arrays
9. Java Applets
10. Graphics
11. Swing Components

Method of Evaluation

Your grade will be based on points earned from the class participation, exercises, programming assignments, and quizzes.

The average of each of the above items will be multiplied by the weight. The sum of the weighted scores will be a number from 0 to 100 that will be applied on the 100 point scale to determine your grade.

Class Participation is measured by the amount of activity you do for this class in Blackboard Learn. Every time you log in, post or read a discussion board or email message, take a quiz, read notes, turn in an assignment, that counts as class participation. I will grade this on a 10 point scale. Not doing quizzes, not turning in assignments, leaving messages unread will take away points from this grade.

PC Assignments (aka Programming Challenges) are graded on a 10 point scale. All programs must run without errors to be graded above 5 points. Excellent work is work that has very few logical errors and follows the programming specifications. Good work is above satisfactory work. It may have a few logical errors, but nothing serious. It must follow the programming specifications. Satisfactory work is work that has a few logical errors and may deviate from the programming specifications, but is a good indication that the student understands Java and the programming concepts presented in the lesson.

Do not apply advanced programming techniques that are not covered in the lesson or in previous lessons without first getting permission from me. This is important. If you apply advanced programming techniques without first going over it with me, I will assume that you did not do the work or you do not know how to correctly apply the techniques covered in the lesson and your grade will suffer from it.

Quizzes are multiple choice quizzes from the textbook publisher which covers the topics in the chapter. A quiz consists of 20 to 25 questions at 4 or 5 points each for a total of 100 points. There are no make-up quizzes, but I will drop the lowest score, so if you miss a quiz, it won’t count on your final grade.

Responsibility to Add, Drop, or Withdraw

It is your responsibility to add, drop, or withdraw from classes before the deadlines stated in the class schedule. Petitions to add, drop, or withdraw after the deadline will not be approved without proof of circumstances beyond the student's control which made the student unable to meet the deadline. Lack of money to pay fees is not considered an extenuating circumstance. Students anticipating difficulty in paying fees before the add deadline should check with the Financial Aid Office about sources of funds or other alternatives for which they may be eligible.

Classroom Behavior & Student Code of Conduct

Students are expected to respect and obey standards of student conduct while in class or on the campus. The Student Code of Conduct, Disciplinary Procedure, and Student Due Process (policy 3100 and procedure 3100.2) can be found in the college catalog, student handbook, and the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs (room D-106). Charges of misconduct and disciplinary sanctions may be imposed upon students who violate these standards of conduct or provisions of college regulations.

Academic Integrity

This class will be conducted in accordance with the college Student Code of Conduct and basic standards of academic honesty. Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty are not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Violations of standards of academic honesty will be reported to the college disciplinary office for appropriate action.

Accommodation of Disability

Students with disabilities who may need academic accommodations should discuss options with me sometime during the first two weeks of class.

Changes to This Syllabus

From time to time this syllabus may need to be changed. Students will be notified of syllabus changes during a regularly scheduled class meeting and by email. It is your responsibility to make sure that you possess the latest version of this syllabus.

Calendar

The dates may change. I will notify the class of changes by Blackboard Vista email. Note, on this schedule, chapters start and end on Tuesdays.

(1) Due date extended to Tue, Apr 10 because of Spring Break.
(2) May 19 is the final due date. No work accepted past this date.