Instructor Information

Dr. Hyrum D. Carroll

Center for Computational Science & Department of Computer Science
Middle Tennessee State University
KOM 361-B
(615) 898-2801

Office Hours

Mon: 8:05 - 9:00 AM
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Tue: 8:30 - 9:30 AM
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Wed: 8:05 - 9:00 AM
2:30 - 3:30 PM
Thu: 8:30 - 9:30 AM
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Fri: 8:05 - 9:00 AM
1:00 - 2:00 PM
and by appointment
 

Class

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays
10:20 - 11:15 AM
COE 160
Section 002, CRN: 80940

Closed Lab

Mondays & Wednesdays
11:25 AM - 12:25 PM
KOM 350

Lab Assistant: Cody Crawford
Email: crn2k@mtmail.mtsu.edu
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 2:30 - 3:30 PM
Office: KOM 455
Closed Lab Syllabus

Textbook

Starting Out with Python, 3rd Edition plus MyProgrammingLab with Pearson eText -- Access by Tony Gaddis
ISBN-10: 0133862259
ISBN-13: 9780133862256
or
Student Value Edition: 'Starting Out with Python (3rd Edition)' (Unbound Looseleaf) plus MyProgrammingLab with Pearson eText -- Access Card Package, 2015, by Tony Gaddis
ISBN-10: 0133862267
ISBN-13: 9780133862263

Note: Please apply the textbook's errata.

Course Description

Computer programming using a high-level language; language constructs and simple data structures, such as arrays and strings, are covered. Emphasis on problem solving using the language and principles of structured software development. (4 credit hours)

Prerequisite

Sufficient background in algebra and trigonometry

Goals

The primary goal of this course is the development of program design and program construction skills. Topics related to program design include functional decomposition, structured programming, algorithm design, procedural abstraction, and the application of simple data structures. Topics related to program construction include the Python programming language, UNIX tools, programming language concepts, and program development techniques.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:

Website

The course website is at http://www.cs.mtsu.edu/~hcarroll/1170/. Announcements and assignments will be posted there and/or emailed to your Pipeline email address. You are expected to monitor the website and your email account frequently (i.e., at least every other day). To access the slides, use the following: 
Username: mt
Password: cs

Email

You must be able to read and respond to e-mails sent to your university Pipeline account. If you'd rather not use MTMail as your primary e-mail system, Dr. Untch put together a tutorial for redirecting your MTMail e-mail to a system you prefer: https://www.cs.mtsu.edu/~untch/share/HowToAvoidUsingMTMail.pdf. Additionally, I don't use or check the D2L email account.

Lecture

Attendance is required by the university and will be recorded during the first 2 minutes of each class. If you can not make a lecture, please inform me and get the relevant materials from a classmate. Although you'll miss out on the attendance points for that day, you'll at least minimize the impact.
Computers are permitted in lecture for note taking. Other activities such as web surfing, stock trading, and social networking are inappropriate. Not only do they distract you but also others.
Students that do not attend both of the first two lectures may be dropped from the course.
An audible cell phone ring during class will require the possessor to bring fruit, cookies, or equivalent for the entire class during the next lecture time.
Additionally, all views are to be heard and engaged respectively. As scholars, we are expected to analyze subject matter critically and express reasonable positions that are based on logic and fact rather than on emotion.

Performance Evaluation

Attendance 10%
Closed Labs 20%
Projects 35%
Exams 20%
Final Exam 15%

Grading

The highest course grade attainable is a "C-" if the student is missing three or more projects (defined below) or has a failing grade in the Closed Lab category or scores less than 73% in the Final Exam category. Otherwise, the course grade will be determined by either Method 1 or Method 2, which ever applies and produces the higher grade:

Method 1 (Conventional Scale):

90-100 A
87-89 B+
83-86 B
80-82 B-
77-79 C+
73-76 C
70-72 C-
67-69 D+
63-66 D
60-62 D-
< 60 F

Method 2 (Late Bloomer Reward):

The final grade for a student will be adjusted up to a "C" if a student scores 73% or higher on the Final Exam and has a 50% or higher average on the in-term exams.

Grades for assignments, labs, projects, exams, etc. will be posted in D2L. Approximately 2-4 in-class exams will be given. Each missed exam will be given zero points. Students are expected to complete all projects and assignments. Any questions concerning a grade on a lab, project, or exam must be presented within one week of when the item was returned. A grade of "I" will be given only in accordance with University policy. The last day to drop without a grade is September 4, 2016. The last day to drop with a grade of "W" without the department chair's signature is October 26, 2016.

Closed Lab Assignments (CLAs)

In general, two closed labs are held each week 10 minutes after lecture on Monday and Wednesdays. This time gives students the opportunity to learn and practice the skills needed to do open labs and be successful on exams. Closed lab assignments give you the opportunity to discuss problems with classmates and seek assistance from the lab assistant. Unless you have finished the CLA, attendance is required. Due to the integral nature of MyProgrammingLab to the Closed Lab, it is required for enrollment in the class. If you are not registered with MyProgrammingLab, you will be dropped from the course. (We call them "closed labs" because the computer lab is closed to other students.)

Projects

Projects must be written in Python. They are due at 11:59 PM on the assigned due date. Late projects will be reduced by the following schedule (Sunday and Monday are counted as 1 day late):
# of days late Penalty
1 -10%
2 -30%
3 -50%
≥ 4 -100%
For example, let's say projectX was due on a Friday at 11:59 PM, and that you earned 85% of the total points. If it turned in before Friday at 11:59 PM, then you get all 85%. If it's turned in on Saturday, you will get 76.5% (= 85% * [100% - 10%]). If it's turned in on Sunday or Monday, you will get 59.5% (= 85% * [100% - 30%]). If it's turned in on Tuesday, you will get 42.5% (= 85% * [100% - 50%]). If it's turned in after Tuesday, you will get 0%.
If an assignment contains portions that are more than 75% similar to other material (not provide by the instructor), zero points will be awarded. Additionally, the Office of Academic Affairs and/or the Provost's office may be notified of the incident as well.
Students missing two or more projects will receive an F or FA in this course.

Final Exam

Monday, December 5, 2016 9:30 - 11:30 A.M.

Advice for Succeeding in this Course

What To Do When You Get Stuck

General steps for addressing a coding challenge:
  1. Isolate the problem and replicate it in the simplest form possible
  2. Search for answers (e.g., in the book, on-line, etc.)
  3. Ask the tutors in the Tutoring Lab
  4. If you've already spent an hour trying to solve the problem, contact me during my office hours or via email. If you email me, mention what you've already attempted to solve the problem (for example, the steps above). (Note, if you email me a question, and then later figured out a solution, please send a second email indicating that it's resolved :)

Honor Code

It is required that all work for this class (including exams, projects, and labs) is your own. The university policy for academic misconduct is as follows:
Middle Tennessee State University takes a strong stance against academic misconduct. Academic Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, and fabrication.
Academic Misconduct: Plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, or facilitating any such act. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
  1. Plagiarism: The adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, statements, images, or works of another person as one's own without proper acknowledgment.
  2. Cheating: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise. The term academic exercise includes all forms of work submitted for credit or hours.
  3. Fabrication: Unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
To summarize, turning in someone else's work and saying it's yours is academic misconduct. This includes using code or answers from a webpage and other student's work. Do NOT give other students your work (including code)! You are responsible for facilitating others.
All cases of academic misconduct will be reported to the Office of Academic Affairs for violating the academic honesty requirements in the student handbook. They may also result in failure in the course. Remember, ignorance is NOT a defense. For more information, please refer to the following links:
Computer Science Department Policy on Academic Integrity
MTSU's Academic Integrity and Misconduct Policy

Financial Aid Notice

Students receiving any form of financial aid should always consult the Financial Aid Office before dropping a course. For additional information, contact the Financial Aid Office (615 898-2830) or see http://www.mtsu.edu/financialaid.

Lottery Scholarship Information

Do you have a lottery scholarship? To retain the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship eligibility, you must earn a cumulative TELS GPA of 2.75 after 24 and 48 attempted hours and a cumulative TELS GPA of 3.0 thereafter. A grade of C, D, F, FA, or I in this class may negatively impact TELS eligibility.

If you drop this class, withdraw, or if you stop attending this class you may lose eligibility for your lottery scholarship, and you will not be able to regain eligibility at a later time.

For additional Lottery rules, please refer to your Lottery Statement of Understanding form (http://www.mtsu.edu/financial-aid/forms/LOTFOD.pdf) or contact your MT One Stop Enrollment Counselor (http://www.mtsu.edu/one-stop/counselor.php).

Reporting of Unofficial Withdrawals

Federal regulations require that students who cease class attendance but do not officially withdraw from the University must be reported so that future financial aid will cease and/or the student will be required to return funds. Therefore, during the term I will be required to complete a roster indicating those students who have stopped attending class without officially withdrawing. Faculty members are not required to check attendance each day; however, I may use project submission deadlines, exams, quizzes, advising appointments, or other methods I choose to determine unofficial withdraws.

Reasonable Accommodation for Students with Disabilities

Middle Tennessee State University is committed to campus access in accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Any student interested in reasonable accommodations can consult the Disability & Access Center (DAC) website and/or contact the DAC for assistance at 615 898-2783 or dacemail@mtsu.edu.

Accreditation Activities

Samples of graded work may be collected for our accreditation team. Identifying information will be removed from any such work collected.

Note: This syllabus is tentative and is subject to change.