Syllabus, Policies, Description

CSE 203: Computational Thinking in Context: Interactive Animations and Games

Website

http://www.cse.ohio-state.edu/~wolfann/cse203/

Description

This course is an introduction to computational thinking, focusing on problem solving and programming concepts and skills needed to create interactive graphics, animations, and games.  It includes many opportunities to exercise your creativity and imagination.

Objectives

The main object is learning how to program a computer.  We keep it fun by solving problems in the domains of interactive graphics, animations, and games.  Some technical jargon that names some of the things you will be learning is found in the following list of intended learning outcomes.  Impressive, isn't it?

Prerequisites

None

General Information, Exclusions, Cross-listings, etc.

Texts and Other Course Materials

Topics

Many of these hours are spread throughout the course at different times.  This is a preliminary list, highly subject to change!

Number of Hours Topic
3 Course introduction, software configuration, first program, and window coordinate system
2
Basic iteration and movement of sprites
4 Sequencing and drawing
4
Continuation conditions and collision detection
3
User interaction, polled input, and selection
4
Managing sprite velocities
14 Course project: discussion and evaluation of preliminary ideas; discussion of problems encountered and possible solutions; presentation and evaluation of final projects
3
Quizzes on computing fundamentals
3 Midterm and exam reviews

Communication

You will be expected to be able to use email to communicate with the instructor and grader.  The instructor will routinely send email to your osu.edu address, so please get in the habit of checking email at least once per day.

Carmen (http://carmen.osu.edu/ ) will be used to record your grades.  Be sure to check Carmen from time to time to help ensure the accuracy of your recorded grades.  Carmen will also be used as the dropbox for your labs.

Three criteria may be used to assess the quality of your class participation, both in the classroom and in on-line discussions:
  1. the ability to provide regular and thoughtful questions and comments on the readings, instructor questions, and other students' questions, answers, and arguments;
  2. the willingness to hear out, in a respectful manner, a range of perspectives and reactions;
  3. the ability to articulate your questions and answers in a manner that extends the conversation in positive ways.

You don't need to agree with other people's views, but you are expected to engage in civil discourse and be considerate of the perspectives and ideas of your peers.

Computing

The only public room where computers have Phrogram installed is CL 112 D.  This is a small room connected to CL 112 (do not confuse it with the section of computers in CL 112 labeled "D" on the wall).  You're free to work in there whenever it is not in use by another class.  For more information see the CSE Labs page at http://www.cse.ohio-state.edu/cs/labs.shtml.

If you want to work on a computer of your own, you can download Phrogram online (http://phrogram.com/).  Phrogram Express costs $35, and contains all of the features we will use in class.  Since no book is required for this course, this cost is considered reasonable.

Exams and Assignments

If you expect to be unavailable for an exam, you must make arrangements in advance (unless there is a life-threatening emergency, etc.).  You will need a documented, valid excuse for missing an exam.  For other class periods, you may contact the instructor in advance to see if you can complete something ahead of schedule.  You will be expected to attend class regularly as part of your participation grade, and to participate in providing feedback on other students' course projects.

Homework and other written assignments should be done in a "professional" manner.  This does not mean "expensive".  It means that you should make your reports look nice in addition to having the right content. You are strongly encouraged to use a word processor to prepare them.

You should consider keeping a copy of each homework assignment you turn in.  There are many homework assignments and sometimes the grader gets behind in returning them.  Keeping a copy might help you when it's time to study for an exam, if the assignment hasn't yet been returned.

Late-Work Policies

Homework assignments are due at the start of class on the due date.  Late homework will not be accepted.

Lab (programming) assignments are due at the deadline time on the due date.  Maximum credit will be reduced by 20% of the original value for each day (24 hours), or part thereof, the assignment is late.  No lab assignment will be accepted more than two days after the deadline.

Accommodation for Disability

If you need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability, you should contact your instructor to arrange an appointment as soon as possible.  At the appointment you and the instructor can discuss the course format, anticipate your needs and explore potential accommodations.  We rely on the Office for Disability Services for assistance in verifying the need for accommodations and developing accommodation strategies.  If you have not previously contacted the Office for Disability Services, we encourage you to do so.

Cooperation, Collaboration, and Professional Ethics

In computer science you are expected to collaborate with your peers on programming tasks, but it is important to know the limits of collaboration.  In both the academic world and the "real" world, any work you sign your name to must be your own.  Taking credit for someone else's work is called plagiarism, and this is a serious ethical violation.  It is important you be able to distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

Examples of acceptable collaboration include asking and answering general programming questions and even providing each other some assistance in locating bugs or troubleshooting errors.  Unacceptable collaboration would include writing code or answers for another student to turn in, without crediting both students.  You are not allowed at any time to give or receive a physical or electronic copy of all or part of a solution to an exercise to or from another student, except in the case where two students may work together as a team (in which case they may only exchange such information between themselves).

In this class you are encouraged to work in pairs.  You are allowed to complete homeworks and write code together as long as both of your names are included on the project.  In this way you both acknowledge and receive credit for what you did.

There is one other way you can get in trouble for turning in an assignment that wasn't plagiarized.  You are not permitted to turn in a solution from a previous section of the course; this is considered academic misconduct.  If you take the class twice, you need to redo the homework and programming assignments the second time around.  We often keep copies of your old work in order to ensure this.

Quizzes and exams are to be taken without assistance from other students.

When in doubt over what constitutes academic misconduct, please ask the instructor for clarification before taking a chance.

Grading Policy

The instructor will grade exams.  An assigned grader (or the instructor, if one is not present) will grade other materials.

Missed assignments or tests without prior approval will receive a grade of zero, except in documented cases of emergency (such as hospitalization).  Reasonable excuses should be given in writing to the instructor as soon as possible prior to the due date or test date.

Exams are closed book, closed notes, closed neighbor.

Grading Weights:

Homework 10%
Participation (Quizzes, etc.) 10%
Midterm 10%
Final 30%
Lab Assignments 20%
Course Project 20%

Grading Scale

A standard scale will be used, but there is an open possibility that a curve may be applied at the end (in the students' favor).