CS101 – Living with
Computers
ACTIVITIES &
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Chapter 4 (Classes 8-10):
- Answer
student questions.
- Discuss
what’s on the CD (animated look at OS and program executing, user
interface design video clip, h’ware/s’ware buyer’s guide)
- Discuss
what’s on the website
- Questions
for discussion:
- Describe
three fundamental categories of software and their relationship.
- Explain
the relationship of algorithms to software.
- Discuss
the factors that make a computer application a useful tool.
- Describe
the role of the operating system in a modern computer system.
- Outline
the evolution of user interfaces from early machine-language programming
to futuristic virtual reality interfaces.
- Compare
character-based user interfaces with graphical user interfaces and
explain the trade-offs involved in choosing a user interface.
- Discuss
what to look for in “good” software.
- Projects
- Have
students break up into different groups. Give each group a description of
a simple task (registering for class, taking a test, getting from one
class to another, etc.) and have them prepare an algorithm for the task.
Each group should then present their algorithm to the class for
discussion.
- Have
students break up into different groups. Have each group select a piece
of software (wordprocessor, spreadsheet, Windows, web browser, game) and
have them select a task from the software to explain. Each group should
then write a one page “user’s guide” (documentation) and present their
documentation to the class for discussion.
- Have
each group of students discuss the ethical issues surrounding copyright
and illicit copying and distribution of software.
- If
it is wrong, why is it widespread?
- Is
it wrong to make a backup copy of software you purchased?
- What
if you want to use the same package at your home and at your office, but
not at the same time?
- What
penalties should apply to people or sovereign countries that trade
widely on “pirated” software?
- What
is the relationship of the Internet to software piracy?
- Should
companies like Napster be fined?
- Have
each group brainstorm “next generation” software applications and present
them to the class.
- Chapter
4 Quiz: 3-5 short questions from the chapter review and 2-4 definitions
- Chapter
4 Assignment: page 115 - Project 1.
- Chapter
4 e-journal on Software Basics
- Student
should find material from chapter (operating systems, …) in newspapers,
magazines, or online
- Student
should discuss the most difficult concept for them in this chapter
- Student
should list any terms they do not understand