COMPUTER SCIENCE A

Introductory programming

Computer science A is mainly an introduction to programming. We use the programming language Java and the aim is that you afterwards can write small or medium size programs.

 

This course description supplements the course description at the homepage of the Basic Studies Programme in the Natural Sciences. The integrated development environment JCreator is used at the course. At Tuesdays the teaching takes place 13.00-15.30 and at Fridays the teaching takes place 09.30-1200, both days in Datastue 42.1 (room 42.1.39). The room is close to the entrance of Building 42.1, just turn right after entering the building.

 

Teacher: Mads Rosendahl

 

Homepage: The course homepage is http://akira.ruc.dk/~madsr/csa09f.html.

 

Aim of the course:  To introduce the students to programming.  The objective is that the student acquires knowledge about basic computer science tools and techniques, and obtains practical experience in programming towards design and implementation of a well structured smaller program.

 

Content: Theoretical and practical introduction of the key structures in imperative programming languages and of associated basic programming techniques.  The main topics in the course are programming, data structures, algorithms, and program design. The programming language used is Java.

 

Course plan: The course plan is available from the address http://akira.ruc.dk/~madsr/csa09f/plan.html.

 

Lessons:  Lectures (36 hours) and practical programming (36 hours).

 

Evaluation: During this course, you will have to

  1. hand in your solution to at least 3 out of 6 exercises (in groups of up to three students)
  2. hand in your solution to 3 mini projects (solved individually)
  3. take a small oral exam (15 minutes) based on your mini projects

Solutions to exercises should be send to me by email.

 

Mini-projects and oral test: The mini-projects must be solved individually. You may discuss ideas in general terms with other students but your solution must be your own. In the oral test you are expected to be able to explain the code and the underlying ideas behind the program and you should be familiar with the main topics of the course.

 

Handing-in:  Solutions to exercises should be send to me by email: madsr@ruc.dk. Please indicate clearly who has participated solving the exercise

Solutions to mini projects should include the programs developed as well as a description of the program. Such a description may outline known errors in your solution and should also present any extension that you have added to your solution.

 

Teaching material: Lectures and some of the exercises will be based on  David J Eck: Introduction to Programming using Java. You can download the book in either pdf or html format from the authors homepage.

 

http://math.hws.edu/javanotes/

 

Supplementary notes will be handed out or made available via the homepage of the course.

 

Links:

 

SUN Microsystems Java Tutorial

SUN Microsystems Java API Specification

SUN Microsystems Java Source

A brief introduction to Java at Computer Science / En kort introduktion til Java Datalogi

 

A Danish book on java  http://javabog.dk/

JCreator’s homepage