COMP 1210
Fundamentals of Computing I
Fall 2009

Lecture - all sections (09:30am-10:20am TR), Shelby 1103
Lab Section 001 (12:00pm-01:15pm MW), Shelby 2122
Lab Section 002 (02:00pm-03:15pm MW), Shelby 2122
Lab Section 003 (04:00pm-05:15pm MW), Shelby 2122
Lab Section 004 (05:30pm-06:45pm MW), Shelby 2122
Lab Section 005 (07:00pm-08:15pm MW), Shelby 2122
Lab Section 006 (08:30pm-09:45pm MW), Shelby 2122

Announcements (most recent first)

Mon 9 Nov 2009 Mon 2 Nov 2009 Mon 26 Oct 2009 Mon 19 Oct 2009 Mon 12 Oct 2009 Mon 5 Oct Feb 2009 Mon 28 Sep 2009 Mon 21 Sep 2009 Mon 14 Sep 2009 Mon 7 Sep 2009 Mon 31 Aug 2009 Mon 24 Aug 2009 Mon 18 Aug 2009
Course Staff
Instructor: Dr. J. Cross
Office: 3127D Shelby Center
Phone: 844-6315
Email: crossjh@auburn.edu
Web Page: http://www.eng.auburn.edu/~cross/comp1210
Office Hrs: 2:30pm-4:00pm TR or by appointment
If you plan to see me during office hours, please let me know before or after class. Note that 1210 is scheduled for 50 minutes, but we have the classroom for 75 minutes. Thus, I'm able to remain in the classroom for up to 25 minutes to meet with students. No office hours will be held during finals week.
Assistant:



Lauren Alverson (gofflau@auburn.edu )
Lab Coordination and Attendance
Office Hours: by appointment
001 (12:00pm-01:15pm MW), Shelby 2122
Assistant:


Anjeli Singh (singhan@auburn.edu)
002 (02:00pm-03:15pm MW), Shelby 2122
004 (05:30pm-06:45pm MW), Shelby 2122
Assistant:


Delane Abigt (abigtdm@auburn.edu)
003 (04:00pm-05:15pm MW), Shelby 2122
Tutoring for all sections (05:00pm-07:00pm Tue/Thu), Shelby 3137
Assistant:


Ravali Gondi (rzg0011@auburn.edu)
005 (07:00pm-08:15pm MW), Shelby 2122
006 (08:30pm-09:45pm MW), Shelby 2122

Overview
Course Description
COMP 1210 is designed to introduce fundamentals of the computing as well as certain aspects of software engineering which will enable you to construct logical, readable, and reasonably efficient programs. An object-oriented approach to problem solving and program design will be emphasized in the lecture and reinforced in the lab.

Course Meetings
COMP 1210 has two types of meetings: lecture (Tue/Thu) and lab (Mon/Wed). The class is divided into multiple sections that meet together for lecture and separately for lab. Students are expected to attend all meetings of lecture and their assigned lab. The lab is conducted by graduate teaching assistants (GTAs).

Course Outline/Schedule
A "tentative" course outline follows. Note, each chapter concludes with one or more sections on graphics which we may or may not cover. All exams are comprehensive over the material covered to date, although Exams 1 and 2 will focus on the chapters indicated. The final exam is comprehensive in the traditional sense.

Topic Reading from Text
Introduction Chapter 1
Data and Expressions Chapter 2
Using Classes and Objects Chapter 3
Writing Classes Chapter 4
Exam 1
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Conditionals and Loops Chapter 5
Object-Oriented Design Chapter 6
Arrays Chapter 7
Exam 2
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Inheritance Chapter 8
Polymorphism Chapter 9
Exceptions Chapter 10
Final Exam - Comprehensive
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
(8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.)

Course Materials
  • Textbook (required) - Java Software Solutions (6th ed. 2009) by John Lewis and William Loftus, published by Addison-Wesley. The publisher discovered several errors in the first printing which are described in the Errata (PDF) for the text. The publisher has also provided a First Printing Update (PDF). If you buy a new text this semester, you may get a "Second Printing" version. If so, the errors should be corrected. The text includes a CD, which contains the example programs from the text as well as the Java Software Development Kit (JDK) and jGRASP. However, it is strongly recommended that you use the latest versions of Java (JDK 6 Update 16) and jGRASP (1.8.7) which can be downloaded (see below).

  • Lecture Notes (PDF) - PowerPoint slides by chapter/topic can be found at this link as we progress through the course. I suggest you print the "2 per page" version and bring them to class with you. PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

  • Example Programs from Class.

  • Example Programs from the text - We'll only be covering chapters 1 through 10 so if you "download" these example programs, you should select the chap01-10.zip file to save time. Otherwise, you'll need to save each Java file individually. All of the example programs from the text are also included on the CD. In order to compile and execute these programs, you will need to copy them from the CD to an appropriate directory on your hard drive. If you attempt to compile while on the CD, the compiler will simply indicate "error while writing ..." or "cannot open file ... for writing" since it can't write to the read-only CD. If the file is set to "read only" on the hard drive, you'll get the same message.

  • Engineering Account - In addition to your AU computer account, you will need an engineering account in order to access the computers in the Shelby 2122 lab. These accounts are generated automatically from course rolls. However, you will need to "sync" your password using the OIT Sync Password page.

  • jGRASP and Java - The jGRASP integrated development environment (IDE) and the Java 2 (J2SE) Development Kit (JDK) will be used in lab. The current versions for these are jGRASP 1.8.7 and JDK 6 Update 16.

    If you want to work on the lab assignments and run the examples on your own computer, you'll need to install Java (JDK) and jGRASP. Although these are included on the CD with your textbook, you are urged to download the latest versions from the links below.

    Sun Java Site (http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp)
    Be sure to download JDK 6 Update 16 version that DOES NOT include NetBeans nor JavaFX. After you have downloaded the install file, double-click on the file in your file browser (e.g., My Documents) to begin the installation process. Note that once you begin the Java installation, it may take up to 15 minutes depending on the speed of your machine. J2SE Documentation is also available at this site.

    jGRASP (http://www.jgrasp.org) Click the "Download" link, then select the appropriate installation file for your operating system from the list below.
          Windows - jGRASP exe.
          Mac OS X - jGRASP pkg.tar.gz.
          Linux - jGRASP zip.
    After you have downloaded the install file, double-click on the file in your file browser (e.g., My Documents) to begin the installation process. Installing jGRASP should take less than 30 seconds.

    NOTES:
    (1) Since jGRASP is written in Java, you should install the Java JDK prior to running jGRASP. The JDK includes the Java compiler (javac) as well as a copy of the JRE, so be sure to install the full JDK rather than only the JRE.
    (2) If you are updating from a previous version of jGRASP, just install the new version right on top of the previous one (i.e., no need to uninstall the old version). If you need additional information, please refer to jGRASP Tutorial 1 Installing jGRASP for step by step instructions.
    (3) To run jGRASP efficiently, your PC should be at least Pentium class 500MHz with 128MB. If you have less than this, you should use the PCs in Shelby 2122, Broun 123, or Shop 214.]

    The jGRASP Tutorials - On the links below, left click to open or right click to save (Save Link As...). Note, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to open this PDF file.
    The Tutorials are currently being updated for jGRASP 1.8.7 and new PDF files will be availble shortly.
    1. Installing jGRASP
    2. Getting Started
    3. Getting Started with Objects (a.k.a. Objects First)
    4. Projects
    5. UML
    6. Workbench
    7. Debugger
    8. Control Structure Diagram (CSD)

Course Grading

Your grade for the course will be determined by your performance on three exams (two midterms plus a final, all comprehensive) and lab assignments, which include activites, exercises, and projects. You may also receive bonus points or penalty points for attendance.

The these items will be weighted as follows:

  • 15% Exam 1
  • 15% Exam 2
  • 30% Final Exam
  • 10% Lab Activites (including in-lab modifications)
  • 10% Lab Quizzes
  • 20% Lab Projects
  • Attendance Bonus/Penalty Points:   from 3 bonus points to 25 penalty points will be added or subtracted from the final average computed above. See ATTENDANCE POLICY below.
Letter grades for the course will be assigned based on the standard 10%-point scale. For example, a student making 80 on the first midterm, 85 on the second midterm, 90 on the final, and a 90 average on the labs assignments and quizzes, will have 80 x 0.15 + 85 x 0.15 + 90 x 0.30 + 90 x 0.40 = 87.75 for the course average. If the student earns the 3 bonus points for attendance, the final course grade will be 87.75 + 3 = 90.75, and thus will be assigned the letter grade A for the course.

Any changes to the dates for Exams 1 and 2 will be announced at least one week in advance. The final exam will be given at the time indicated by the University final exam schedule. Neatness counts on exams; if I can't read it, it's wrong. Appeals for exam re-grading must be made in writing to me no later than one week after the exam is returned to you. In the appeal, you must describe (a) exactly what portion you wish to be re-graded and (b) the reasons you are requesting the re-grading in a clear, concise manner. Only typewritten or laser printed appeals will be accepted: no handwriting.

Tutoring

Tutoring for COMP1210 is available through each to the following:

If you find yourself having difficulty with COMP1210 or any other course, I encourage you to consider the tutoring services above.

Course Policies
  • ATTENDANCE POLICY: It is important for you to attend all class meetings. Information given during class meetings is vital to earning a passing grade. You are responsible for all material presented in lecture and in lab whether you are present or not. Graded materials will be returned only in person. If you are excessively late to an exam, I reserve the right to count you absent from the exam. If you miss an exam, you will only be allowed to make up an exam per the "MAKE UP WORK" policy below.

    Bonus/Penalty Points for Attendance: You need to be in your a seat of choice by the beginning of the second week of class to facilitate the taking of attendance. A GTA will take attendance using a sign-in sheet usually during the first few minutes of each class. In order to be marked present, you must sign the sheet and remain in class. It is your responsibility to contact the GTA taking attendance within a week of any excused absence. You may be absent or tardy for up to two classes with no loss of bonus points. Each additional absence or tardy reduces your bonus points by one. With five absences or tardies you will receive no bonus points. For each absence beyond five, you will accrue one penalty point.

  • MAKE UP WORK: Work missed during the semester will assigned a grade of zero points. Make up work will be given only for legitimate reasons with appropriate written verification (see the Tiger Cub). It is always your responsibility to initiate arrangements to make up missed work. If you know you may miss an exam, you should let me know before the exam. However, in any case if you intend to make up an exam, you must make up the exam you missed before I return graded exams to students (which is usually within one week of the exam).
  • GRADED MATERIAL: You are required to keep on file all graded materials in case there is any question about your course grade.
  • CHEATING: You will be held responsible for adherence to the Academic Honesty policies described in the Tiger Cub.
  • AUDITORS: According to the policy in the University Bulletin, students who are officially registered as auditors of this course and "attend rarely or not at all will have non-attendance of the course indicated on their records." It is your responsibility to check in with me at the beginning of the quarter so that I can learn to recognize you and give you credit for attending. It is the policy of the university that all students attending class must be enrolled in the class, either for a grade or as an auditor.
  • SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: Students who need special accommodations in class, as provided for by the American Disabilities Act, should arrange a confidential meeting with the instructor during office hours the first week of classes - or as soon as possible if accommodations are needed immediately. You must bring a copy of your Accommodation Memo and an Instructor Verification Form to the meeting. If you do not have these forms but need accommodations, make an appointment with the Program for Students with Disabilities, 1244 Haley Center, 844-2096.
  • GRADE CONFERENCE: Any student receiving a failing grade or a grade that could place them in academic jeopardy, on any element of the course, is urged to talk to me as soon as possible.
  • CLASS ANNOUNCEMENTS: Class announcements such as exam dates, etc. will be made via the course web site. It is your responsibility to check the course web site regularly.