Department of Computer Science
CS 50 - COMPUTERS AND COMPUTATION

Spring 1996 Syllabus

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course provides an introduction to computers, computer science, and contemporary computer applications in the areas of electronic publishing (hypertext), networks, and computer graphics. Weekly lab sessions provide experience in computer design, programming, and these applications. A term project in your own academic area of interest will allow you to develop a first-hand appreciation of the benefits and problems raised by the use of computers in different professional and academic fields.

TEXT:
R. Decker and S. Hirshfield, The Analytical Engine (2nd edition), Wadsworth, 1994, and handouts

INSTRUCTOR:
Allen Tucker, 211 Adams Hall
Office Hours -- WTh 3:30-5:00, or by arrangement

MEETING TIMES:
Classes MW 2:00-3:15, Adams 104
Lab A: T 2:00-3:15, Adams 208 (half the class)
Lab B: T 3:30-4:45, Adams 208 (the other half)

COURSE OUTLINE: 
Week of	 Topics					Readings	Lab Exercises

Jan 22   Overview of computers, applications     Module 1,2    	#1               
         (spreadsheets, graphing, DNA matching)   

Jan 29   Hypertext principles, structure of      Module 3      	#2
         Hypercard stacks and cards

Feb 5    Design of computational problems: the                 	#3
         user interface.  fields and buttons

Feb 12   Hypercard programming: events,          Module 4      	#4
         messages, and scripts                           
Feb 19  

Feb 26   Program translation, levels of          Module 5      	test #1
         languages

Mar 4    Computer hardware: logic, gates,        Module 6      	#5
         and arithmetic

Mar 11   The Internet and the World Wide Web     handout       	#6 
         browsing, addressing, and linking               

(Mar 18, 25   Spring break)

Apr 1    Web Publishing: Hypertext markup        handout       	#7
         language (HTML), designing a home
         page, quality issues

Apr 8    Overview of computer graphics;          handout       	#8
         principles, issues, applications   
                       
Apr 15   Basic modeling and rendering            handout       	test #2

Apr 22   Elementary graphics programming         handout       	#9, Term project
                                                                proposal due
Apr 29   Designing large graphic objects         handout      

May 6    Advanced graphics concepts: light,      handout       	#10
(1/2 week)  color, rotation, animation                       	

May 13   Final exam period                                    	Term Project due
COURSE WORK: Labs exercises will be handed out on the Monday of the week they are assigned, and are due at 5pm on Friday of that week. You may choose to do any lab work, except for the term project, in teams of two -- in that case, the two team m embers should divide the lab work evenly and turn in one copy of the lab work with both your names on it.

The term project is a 7-10 page paper that addresses an important concept in your own area of interest. It should include (or may even be in the form of) a Hypercard stack, an Internet-publishable (HTML) document, and/or a graphically- designed object. It should also include information from one or more sources obtained outside the normal readings of the course -- either from the Bowdoin Library or from the Internet. The proposal for this project (due Friday April 26) should briefly summarize the project and its goals, including outside sources to be used and a statement of how computing tools (Hypercard, HTML, and/or graphics) will be used in the project.

Your grade for the course will be based roughly 25% on the weekly labs and the project, and 25% on each of the three tests. Attendance is required for all classes and labs. You are expected to follow Bowdoin's Computer Use Policy as well as its Academic Honor Code in completing all work for this course.