15-199:  Topics in Intermediate Programming
Syllabus -- Spring 2009 Mini 4


Staff:
Name Andrew id
David Kosbie koz
Chris Burchhardt cburchha
Taylor Hopper thopper
Kelly Rivers krivers
Lynn Streja lstreja
Yiling Tay ytay
Schedule
of classes:
   Days  Staff Time Room
 Lecture

T

 Kosbie

4:30 - 6:30pm

 4623 Wean Hall
 Reprise W CA's varies (by appt) varies

Students are expected to attend the main Tuesday lecture each week.  However, to make the course more available to students, the CA's will offer a reprise lecture typically on the day after each lecture.  Note that students may only attend the reprise lecture if they have obtained prior approval from the course instructor.
Office Hours: See the 15-100 main course web site for office hours.
Required
Textbooks:		 None.
Optional
Textbooks:		 See the 15-100 main course web site for a list of optional textbooks.
Required
Software: 		See the 15-100 main course web site for a list of required software.
Course
Requirements: 		Participation is required and consists of the following activities:
  • Attending and participating in lectures.
  • Reading the printed and online notes and other assigned readings.
  • Meeting with the course staff as needed or as directed.
  • Carrying out homework assignments.
  • Taking the quizzes.

    • In particular, attendance is required.  Given that it is such a key part of your grade in this mini course, we will regularly take attendance.  Students may miss one lecture (though they are certainly encouraged to attend all the lectures).  Students who miss two or more lectures will not pass the course.
    Grading: Unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor, all students will take this course PASS/FAIL.  In order to pass the course, students must pass every element in the course.  That is, students must obtain a 59.5/100 or higher on every homework and every quiz, and they must attend every lecture (except one).

    Students who miss a lecture will not be given an opportunity to make up the missed lecture.

    Students who fail a homework or quiz will be given one opportunity to make up the work, either with a new homework (which they would have to start anew) or a new quiz.  If students fail the make-up homework or quiz, then they will fail the course.
    Bonus and Extra Credit: Except in extraordinary circumstances, there is no bonus or extra credit in this course.  That said, students are encouraged to work beyond the assigned material, and will be supported in such efforts, but not for extra credit (simply for the joy of learning!).
    Exams: There will be no cumulative tests -- no final exam and no midterm exams.
    Quizzes:

    Quizzes will be given up to once per week in lecture, covering the preceding lecture's material.   No late / make-up quizzes will be administered, except in the case of medical or family emergencies.
    Written
    Work:    		 Some homework assignments, and most quizzes, will include some written work (meaning: work that is not performed with access to Java or an IDE or a calculator (unless otherwise noted), whether or not it involves programming).  In order to receive credit for these problems, you must show your work.  Correct answers without supporting documentation will not be given full credit (and in some cases will not receive any credit at all).  Some questions may not require work to be shown (e.g.:  "Name three software companies in Silicon Valley"), but most questions assuredly do.  When in doubt, show your work.
    Programming
    Assignments:

    The programming assignments are a critical part of the course. Experience has shown that the concepts covered in this course are best learned by direct engagement -- in our case by applying them to example problems or by implementing them in computer programs.

    Note:  While students are strongly encouraged to use good style, grading will only be based on correctness and effort.  In particular, while we will review code submissions, we will not grade them for style.  As for effort, it is expected that students will invest approximately 2 hours outside of class into their weekly assignments.  If this extends to 4 hours of earnest, focused effort in one week, then students may obtain permission to stop working at that point and still receive a passing mark on that assignment.

    Note:  please see the collaboration policy below (as it is different from the main 15-100 course).
    Late
    Homework:    		 Homework is due at a specified date and time.  No late assignments will be accepted, except in the case of medical or family emergencies.  If for some reason you cannot attend lecture on a day when written work is due, you can submit your homework to Angie Brookins or Heather Carney, whose offices are in the Wean Hall 5100 corridor.  If you do this, be certain that you place "To:  David Kosbie" very clearly at the top of your assignment so it will be properly routed.  Also, be sure to contact your CA by email at that time to let them know your late work was submitted.  This is only for unusual circumstances, and in general you are expected to submit written work in class.
    Cheating
    and
    Collaboration:

    The collaboration policy in this course is less restrictive than for the main 15-100 course.

    Here, students are encouraged to work with other students (or non-students for that matter), including those not attending the course.  However, students must at least cite the people, web sites, etc, where they obtained help on their assignments.

    However, as with the 15-100 course, students may not simply copy (or nearly copy) any solutions.  Thus, if you find a reference (say, in an optional textbook or some online source) that contains code or a written solution that is identical or overtly similar to an assigned problem, then you are required to not look at that code or written solution  You may still refer to supporting figures and explanatory text, but you may not look at or copy the code.

    The issue of cheating will be taken seriously by the instructor and CA's, and homework assignments will be routinely checked for violations, which will be handled in accordance with the University regulations.