Computer Science and Programming 1

Idaho State University

Liang, Introduction to Programming with C++, Second Edition, (c) 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 0136097200

Syllabus

Cobhomepages.cob.isu.edu/beard/cs181

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Liang, Introduction to Programming with C++, Second Edition, (c) 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 0136097200

Computer Science - 1 Beginning programming using C++

– Not C++ course, minimal C++ gadgets– Not a great deal of OOP– Same basic course I have taught in Pascal & Algolw.

Straight C++, but will be operating within visual studio in class. – Software available for free (Visual Studio)– You can use another complier, but you are on your

own.

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Liang, Introduction to Programming with C++, Second Edition, (c) 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 0136097200

Grading and Assignments

Everything listed on the course web page Turn in code using Moodle

– As .txt file.– Structure charts as file (scanned, word, etc)

Weighting:– 50% homework, 50% tests, but must pass tests.

Cheating: Ok to get some help, but…..

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Liang, Introduction to Programming with C++, Second Edition, (c) 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 0136097200

My Approach How should I teach creative problem solving

which is the essence of programming? How would I teach you to compose music?

– Scales, how to read music, lots of examples of good music (Bach, Corelli, Hendrix, etc), but

– Eventually you have to create new music, turn it in, I shred it, and you re do it over and over again till it starts being acceptable.

– Thus, this is a course on composing code.

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Liang, Introduction to Programming with C++, Second Edition, (c) 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 0136097200

Demanding Course Start Early

– Most bugs are found in the shower the next morning– You need time to stop by my office and ask questions.

Work Carefully!– Make haste slowly– A stitch in time saves nine– Measure twice, cut once– The fastest way to fix a bug is not to make it– Uncle Frank

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Liang, Introduction to Programming with C++, Second Edition, (c) 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 0136097200

You often necessarily willbe on your own

I cannot tell you how to solve the assignment without risking your doing worse on the final.

Often a bit frustrating, but very rewarding when you finish. Therefore:– Don’t give up– When stuck, print out a hardcopy and take a walk– Bugs are found in the shower the next morning– Avoid “the fear of starting”– Start early

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Liang, Introduction to Programming with C++, Second Edition, (c) 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 0136097200

Context Switching

Context switching is essential to creative problem solving:

How do you get down off an Elephant? You don’t, you get down off a duck!

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Liang, Introduction to Programming with C++, Second Edition, (c) 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 0136097200

Context Switching

Learn how to think “out of the box”– Free association, rapid context switching:

Psychologists call this “changing prospective” Essential problem solving skill

This is a course on problem solving, not just coding Lectures often move to topics that may at first

glance not seem related to coding– The more you can follow, keep up, and begin to do this

yourself, the better your problem solving skills.

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