Office Hours:
        10:00 -11:00 MW
        9:00 - 10:00 F
        others by drop in or appointment

Text: Guzdial and Ericson, Introduction to Computing & Programming with JAVA: A Multimedia Approach

Class web page: http://phoenix.goucher.edu/~jillz/cs116

Course Description and Goals:
We will study programming using the language JAVA. Multimedia applications will be used to motivate the programming concepts.
We will cover chapters 1-11 in the text with additional material included if time permits.

Course Objectives:

• Express problems and solutions using an object-oriented computer language
• Solve problems that require rigorous logical demonstrations with multiple steps
• Write clear, readable code

Course Mechanics:
This is a hands-on class with most of class time spent on lab activities designed to bring understanding through exploration. This is not a "traditional" course in which I lecture and you do homework since that kind of course structure simply does not allow you to gain the course objectives.  (See article on the failure of lectures).  You will find that you can't memorize material to be successful in this course.  Problem solving skills can only be obtained by working at solving problems.  Simple as that!  Studies show that learning requires retention and transfer -- remembering and being able to use and apply what you know.  I will therefore be asking you throughout this course to try and apply the concepts of algorithmic thinking.  Likewise, quizzes and exams will not require any memorization but instead will be assessing your ability to think algorithmically.  You may be surprised that I will not ask you to study for exams.  There is no amount of reading and re-reading of the textbook and notes the night before an exam that can substitute for the active learning required to understand the material in this course.

The graded in-class labs will be using pair-programming in which you will be assigned various partners throughout the semester. The requirements and responsibilities of pair-programming are outlined in this video.  Because you are working with a partner in lab it is imperative that you attend class and arrive on time.  You will be penalized on the points awarded on a lab assignment for not meeting your obligations to your partner and may be forced to work on a lab assignment independently.  If the unexpected should happen and you must miss or be late for a lab session, you must contact me promptly concerning this absence.  If you are late by more than 10 minutes for a lab session you will automatically be docked 10% for each 10 minutes you are tardy.  The labs are where a lot of the learning is happening so you need to be prepared to participate in them fully.   See the class and lab guidelines for your responsibilities and a lot of useful advice on how to approach the course material.

You and your partner will submit a single lab assignment for the pair. This work will not be accepted late and must be the work of you and your partner alone.  Turning in work that was produced from someone outside of the pair is forbidden and will be subject to an Honor code violation.   (See the Honor code for definition and disposition of academic dishonesty.)

Short (10-15 minute) quizzes will be given about every other week. The lowest quiz score will be dropped and no make-ups will be given.

The course schedule is outlined on the website http://phoenix.goucher.edu/~jillz/cs116 and on goucherLearn.  Check the schedule regularly for all due dates and quiz and exam dates.

Grading:
Your course grade will be based on the following:
        Quizzes 10%
        2 Exams (15% each) 30%
        Comprehensive Final 20%
        Labs 40%