Introduction to (Java) Programming

Sections Assignments Resources Policies Screens Lightbot Intro Extra links Zombie Chase™ Database

This is the homepage for CS 141: Introduction to (Java) Programming, a course offered at the Computer Science Department of Willamette University.

This course is an introduction to computer programming and is the first course in the Computer Science major sequence. (Not everyone who takes this course will become a Computer Science major, but the course constitutes an appropriate introduction for majors and minors.) If you are interested in becoming a Computer Science major, or become interested during the course of the semester, please talk to your instructor about a plan of study.

You can browse an overview of Willamette's Computer Science major and minor here.

Sections and Instructors

Section	Instructor		Lecture *		Labs *
* Note: all lectures and labs are located in room Ford 202 unless noted
CS 141-01	Jenny Orr		MWF	09:10a-10:10a	Wed   12:50p-02:20p Wed   02:30p-04:00p Thu   12:50p-02:20p
CS 141-02	Jenny Orr		MWF	11:30a-12:30p	Wed   12:50p-02:20p Wed   02:30p-04:00p Thu   12:50p-02:20p
CS 141-03	Pamela Dake-Harrison		TTh	09:40a-11:10a	Tue   12:50p-02:20p Tue   02:30p-04:00p
CS 141-04	Fritz Ruehr Survey! Post-Survey! MMT		MWF	10:20a-11:20a	Mon   02:30p-04:00p Mon   04:00p-05:30p Wed   02:30p-04:00p   Ford 224 Fri   01:50p-03:20p

Assignments:

This will ultimately be a list of all assignments due in class (work in progress!).

Due week 2 (roughly):

• hand in your Light-Bot worksheet in lecture
• turn in your Scratch assignment via WISE (and be prepared to show it in lecture)
• the TechNews assignment (a PDF file)
  (actually, this one is due every week!)
• assignment called “A first assignment” on WileyPLUS (HelloAll and Triangle)

Due week 3 (Sep 12-19):

• Chapter 2 reading (and start chapter 3)
• Lab 2 Reading Quiz (on WileyPLUS)
• Lab 2 Programming (on WileyPLUS; temperature conversion, initials and coin-change)
• the TechNews assignment (a PDF file)
  (actually, this one is due every week!)

Due week 4 (Sep 19-26); check your section’s WileyPLUS for due dates!

• Chapter 3 reading (see WileyPLUS for quiz!)
• Lab 3 Programming (on WileyPLUS)
• as usual, the TechNews assignment

Due week 5 (Sep 26-Oct 3); check your section’s WileyPLUS for due dates!

• Chapter 4 reading (see WileyPLUS for quiz!)
• Lab 4 Programming (on WileyPLUS) and Expert System Program
• as usual, the TechNews assignment

Due week 7 (Oct 10-17); check your section’s WileyPLUS for due dates!

• Chapter 5 reading (see WileyPLUS for quiz!)
• Lab 5 Programming (on WileyPLUS);
• the dice rolling exercise (in-class);
• and the Bingo Song!
• (PS: you can find the Light-bot methods description here.)

Due (Oct 31-Nov 6); check your section’s WileyPLUS for due dates!

• Chapter 6 reading, parts 1 and 2! (see WileyPLUS for quiz!)
• Lab 6 Programming exercises (on WileyPLUS);
• the dice game;
• and the Cumulative Song!
  (don’t everybody do Old MacDonald, OK?)
• (PS: you can find the Light-bot methods description here.)
• Use Professor Orr's study guide to prepare for the second exam!
• ... and here is the Tic-Tac-Toe lab.

Psssst! don't click here— final project spoiler! (braaiinss!)

On-line resources:

We will be using several different on-line systems and programs this semester; here's a handy place to keep track of it all!

	Willamette's WISE course system (on a per-section basis);
	the Wiley PLUS textbook on-line system;
	the ACM TechNews site;
	the Light-Bot game by Coolio Niato (this is a local copy for convenience);
	the Scratch programming system from MIT;
	the Dr Java programming environment from Rice University.

Course Policies (all sections):

Course Description

This course includes a study of problem-solving principles, computer programming, some of the principles behind programming languages and the structure of a computer.

There are no pre-requisites for this course.

Attendance at lectures and labs is mandatory.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate proficiency in the fundamental concepts of object-oriented programming including data types, user interfaces, control structures, arrays, objects, and input/output.
2. Students will demonstrate the ability to design and implement small to medium-sized Java programs.
3. Students will demonstrate the ability to work independently to analyze and solve problems
4. Students will become familiar with research trends in computer science and their impact on society.

Text and Other Materials

The required textbook is Java for Everyone, by Cay S. Horstmann, ISBN: 9780470437216 (with WileyPlus)

Credit Distribution

The final grade will be based on the following:

Plagiarism and Cheating

In the context of this class, plagiarism is defined as representing someone else's work as your own. Cheating is defined as violating stated rules for an exam or an assignment. Plagiarized work will receive a grade of 0 as will any assignment in which cheating occurred. Generally, you will be encouraged to cooperate on lab assignments. The rules and limitations of this cooperation will be defined in class. (Also see student handbook and college catalogue for more details).