CSCI 100 Introduction To Computing For Scientists

Welcome to CSCI 100. This is the syllabus for the course. It is a "contract" that defines what will be taught in the course and what you as students will be responsible for. It can be found on the web server at Introduction To Computing.html.

Basic Information

Course Description

This course is designed for students in the Natural and Social Sciences who want to learn how to program. Talking to a computer involves learning a computer language and also learning how to formulate a problem - how to think. We start off by thinking about thinking; how do we humans go about solving a problem? We do this in the context of talking about "Can Computers Think?".

Once you have some idea of how people think, then you're ready to apply this thinking process to the programming of computers. You'll be learning the Java programming language, using numerous
scientific examples. You will apply your knowledge of the language by designing and implementing a coding project of your own choosing.

This courses serves as a prerequisite to CS102 and BINF 101. It carries FA credit.

Textbook

Lewis, John and Loftus, William "Java Software Solutions", 4th Edition, Addison Wesley, ISBN 0-321-32203-7

Minsky, Marvin, "Why People Think Computers Can't", AI Magazine, vol. 3 no. 4, Fall 1982. Available here.

Your Evaluation

Lectures

In the Table below is an outline of the topics we will be discussing during the course. Also included is the reading you will be expected to do in order to sound intelligent in class.

Date	Topic	Assignment For Next Class
Jan 19	Course Introduction.	ForClass2
Jan 22	Taxonomy of Problems. Willingham, pp 365 - 377.	ForClass3
Jan 26	Cognition Theory - Willingham, pp 411 - 421.	ForClass4
Jan 30	Do People Reason Logically? - Willingham, pp 386 - 399. Minsky pp 1 - 7	ForClass5
Feb 02	Logic Problems! Minsky pp 7 - 11	ForClass6
Feb 06	Writing Rules Minsky pp 11 - 17	ForClass7
Feb 09	Solving New Problems - Willingham, pp 420 - 441.	ForClass8
Feb 13	Solving New Problems - Willingham, pp 420 - 441.	ForClass9
Feb 16	Problem Solving Wrapup. ++ EXAM ++

Learning Integers

Date	Topic	Assignment For Next Class
Feb 20	Talking To The Computer. Introduction - What can a computer do?	ForClass10
Feb 23	Talking To The Computer. Learning the language	ForClass11
Feb 27	Talking To The Computer. Learning the language	ForClass12
Mar 02	Talking To The Computer. Learning the language	ForClass13
Mar 06, 10	SPRING BREAK
Mar 13	Talking To The Computer. Learning the language	ForClass14
Mar 16	Talking To The Computer. Learning the language	ForClass15
Mar 20	Talking To The Computer. Learning the language	ForClass16
Mar 23	Talking To The Computer. Wrapup ++ EXAM ++	ForClass17
Mar 27	Doing It. Define a problem we want the computer to solve.	ForClass18
Mar 30	Doing It. Designing a program.	ForClass19
Apr 03	Doing It. Designing a program.	ForClass20
Apr 06	Doing It. Writing a program.	ForClass21
Apr 10	Doing It. Writing a program.	ForClass22
Apr 13	Doing It. Writing a program.	ForClass23
Apr 17	Doing It. Writing a program.	ForClass24
Apr 20	On designing and writing programs ++ EXAM ++	ForClass25
Apr 24	Doing It. Presentations.
Apr 27	Doing It. Presentations.
May 01	Doing It. Presentations.

	NO FINAL EXAM

Professor:	Dr. Jerry Breecher, Mail to: jbreecher at clarku.edu
	(508)793-7396
Meeting Time:	Lecture: Monday, Thursday 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Office Hours:	Monday, Thursday 1:15 - 2:45
	Office hours can be walk-in -- otherwise make appointment to be sure I'll be there. e-mail is great.