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CECS 5100

Survey of Educational Computer Languages

Fall 2004

Syllabus

Instructor:

Texts:

  • Sams Teach Yourself PHP, MySQL and Apache in 24 Hours
    Author: Julie C. Melo
    August 2004, 505pp
    Publisher: Pearson Education
    ISBN: 067232489X

  • Programming PHP
    Author: Rasmus Jay Lerdorf, Kevin Tatro
    2002, 524pp ISBN: 1565926102
    Publisher: O'Reilly & Associates, Incorporated

  • PHP Cookbook
    Author: David Sklar, Adam Trachtenberg
    2002, 624pp
    ISBN: 1565926811
    Publisher: O'Reilly & Associates, Incorporated

    The following optional books are suggestions depending on how many cross references you like to have available when learning to program.

  • Optional: PHP Pocket Reference
    Author: Rasmus Lerdorf, Paula Ferguson (Editor)
    ISBN: 0596004028
    Publisher: O'Reilly & Associates, Incorporated

  • Optional: PHP5 for Dummies
    Author: Janet Valade
    ISBN: 0764541668
    Publisher: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated

  • Optional: Web Database Applications with PHP & MySQL
    Author: David Lane
    ISBN: 0596000413
    Publisher: O'Reilly & Associates, Incorporated

Pre-Requisite:

    CECS 5030 or equivalent. 5420 (web authoring) is useful, but not required.

Course Description:

    A study of beginning computer programming using PHP and HTML. Requires "hands-on" programming independent of classroom instruction. Topics include variables, simple and complex data structures, object-oriented design, debugging, and language uses. The course will use PHP as the basis of understanding these concepts and to allow the students to learn how to create dynamic web pages.

Course Requirements:

  • There will be assigned homework problems. Programming projects will require the students to spend time at the computer. To plan a minimum of six to nine hours a week of outside preparation is a safe time allocation for successfully completing this course.

Server Space:

  • Each student will be assigned space on a department server for the development of assignments.

Course Topics and Objectives:

    1. Demonstrate application of appropriate programming constructs for branching and looping in the target language.
    2. Select from among character, Boolean, integer, and floating-point data types the most appropriate data representation for a variety of data representations.
    3. Manipulate textual string data using language/library functions for insertion, deletion, copying, and concatenation.
    4. Demonstrate the use of message-passing/event-driven programming techniques in the construction of a program.
    5. Demonstrate the use of debugging techniques in the creation of error-free programs.
    6. Describe the role of the target language in the education or training environment.
    7. Demonstrate the construction of a graphical user interface including menus, buttons, and fields with a visual development tool.
    8. Use structured data types, including arrays, to appropriately represent structured data.

Grading:

    The on-line class lectures will cover the assigned reading materials. Selected topics and assigned projects will also be discussed on-line. There will be a midterm exam, assignments, and a final projects during the semester. Points will be awarded as described follows:

    A total of 100 points for the course will be allocated as follows: Letter grades will be the higher grade resulting from the following two standards:
    Mid-Term Exam20 points
    4 Assignments 60 points
    Final Project 20 points
    Total100 points

    >=90    		ATop 10%A
    >=80<90BNext 20%B
    >=70<80CNext 40%C
    >=60<70DNext 20%D
    <=59FLast 10%F
     

    Late homework will lose 5 points each week it is late. Any assignments not turned in by the last class meeting will be assigned a grade of zero, unless the student has made prior arrangements with the instructor.

    Assignments that fail to function will be assigned a grade of 0. Homework that does function but that outputs incorrect answers for the given data set or does not meet the specification of the assignment will receive 50% of the assignment points.

    Students may elect to correct an assignment and resubmit for a re-grade. A student may resubmit work two times. Resubmitted homework when corrected and functional will count 80% of the original points.

    Students are encouraged to carefully check the logic and the output of their assignments before submitting them for review and grading.

Class Meetings and On-Line Virtual Meetings Information:

    The class will meet three times face-to-face and the rest of the dates using the Created Realities Group Distributed Learning Software to receive additional course instruction. Details on downloading the software and using it will be discussed on the course listserv.

    September 7 5:30 - 8:20pm MATT 306
    September 21 5:30 - 8:20pm MATT 306
    September 28 8:30pm - 9:30pm CRG online
    October 12 8:30pm - 9:30pm CRG online
    October 19-22 MIDTERM No Class Meeting
    October 26 8:30pm - 9:30pm CRG online
    November 9 8:30pm - 9:30pm CRG online
    November 23 8:30pm - 9:30pm CRG online
    December 8 5:30pm - 8:20pm MATT TBD

Contact Information:

Dr. Greg Jones

    E-mail is the best method to contact me, since I check my e-mail multiple times daily. Although I will try to answer e-mail within one day, many students in previous semesters have been able to have their questions answered with very short turn-around times at all hours of the day and night using this procedure. Electronic mail is also an extremely effective system for setting up appointments -- it is frequently possible to set up a meeting on shorter notice than the 24-hour minimum notice that is required when making appointments through the departmental office staff. Students may use my cell phone number to contact me outside office hours. Please use appropriate discretion at what times you call.

    Office: Matthews Hall Room 208F

    Office Phone (940) 565-2057
    Cell: (972) 672-0811

    E-Mail: greg@tapr.org

    4-5:30pm on campus class nights.

    Office hours are scheduled for each semester.
    Dr. Jones is always available by appointment.

Class Attendance
Attendance and punctuality are professional behaviors expected of educators. Educational or Instructional technology is not "doing computer projects" - it is much more. Hence, you need to be in class for discussions and learning activities.

Due dates, for all assigned materials, will be announced in advance. Changes, on the assignment's requirements or due dates may be announced at later dates, in class, therefore attendance to all classes is necessary. It is the student's responsibility to keep up with these updates and to have all assignments ready on time. If you miss a class, YOU are responsible for what occurred, please make arrangements with classmate for notes, hand outs, etc. Any student, who has to be absent on an assignment's due date, may arrange to have the assignment submitted early.

You must notify your instructor in advance if any exam is to be missed. If an exam is missed without prior notification, 20% will automatically be deducted from the exam grade. Make-up exams must be taken outside of regularly scheduled class time. Any missed exam must be made up within one week of the scheduled time. Date and time to be determined by the instructor upon student request.

Academic Ethics:
Students are expected to create and edit their own assignments and take tests without outside assistance. This is a programming class and it is acceptable to ask for help from others after you have put forth significant effort to debug written code that is not working correctly and when testing your software. However, asking for help in debugging does not mean you have someone rewrite your code. All work is expected to be your own. Cheating and disciplinary action for cheating is defined by the UNT Policy Manual Code for Student Conduct and Discipline. Cheating is an act of academic dishonesty. It is defined and is to be handled as follows:

"Plagiarism and cheating refer to the use of unauthorized books, notes, or otherwise securing help in a test; copying tests, assignments, reports, or term papers; representing the work of another as one's own; collaborating without authority, with another student during an examination or in preparing academic work; or otherwise practicing scholastic dishonesty."

Although there are other possibilities, you should expect that the penalty that will be assigned for such infractions will include a failing grade in the course and a recommendation that you be denied a degree. You are expected to conform to all policies of the University of North Texas and work within the honor code.

As defined by the United States Copyright Act, it is your responsibility to clearly identify all elements in your work that are not ³original works of authorship.² You are expected to strictly obey the provisions of all laws of the United States and the State of Texas in the completion of all course activities, taking particular notice of the provisions of the United States Copyright Act (Title 17 United States Code). This law provides that you may legally use, within certain limitations, certain copyrighted materials in the context of research and scholarship. Do not confuse your ability to legally copy materials under the ³fair use² provisions of the Copyright Act with the ability to claim that such a copy is an original work of authorship.

For more information on academic dishonesty, please refer to your current student catalog.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance:
The Department of Technology and Cognition complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. This university will adhere to all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to contact the faculty member outside of class to make any arrangements involving special accommodations and/or the Department ADA Representatives: Dr. Bertina Hildreth and Dr. Cathie Norris. Their offices are in Matt 316. You may schedule an appointment by call (940) 565-2057.

EEO/ADA on Discrimination:
The University of North Texas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or disabled veteran status in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies. In addition to complying with federal and state equal opportunity laws and regulations, the university through its diversity policy declares harassment based on individual differences (including sexual orientation) inconsistent with its mission and educational goals. Direct questions or concerns to the equal opportunity office, (940) 565-2456, or the dean of students, (940) 565-2648. TDD access is available through Relay Texas: (800) 735-2989. For more information on EEO/ADA, please refer to your current student catalog.