Nature of Computing
CSCI 104 – Mon./Wed.

Fall 2006

 

Instructor: Matthew Weathers

Matthew.Weathers@biola.edu

 

Class Web Site:          http://csci.biola.edu/csci104 (Syllabus, general info)

Blackboard Site:         http://biola.blackboard.com  (Online Grades, announcements)

The Announcements section of the Blackboard site will contain the most up-to-date information about the class, and I will use BUBBS email as the primary way of making class announcements.

 

My Contact Information:

By email:          Matthew Weathers on BUBBS ( or Matthew.Weathers@biola.edu)

By Phone:         Biola Ext 5173, or (562)944-0351 x 5173  (My Biola Office)

                        Mobile Phone: (562)322-7427 (Okay to call any time, I turn off ringer at night)

                        Math Department Secretary: Biola Ext 4741, (562)903-4741

Office:              White 48A (McNally 48A)

 

Lectures:        Library Downstairs Classroom: Mon/Wed 10:30am-11:20pm; Mon/Wed 4:30pm-5:20pm

 

My Goals: By the end of the semester, I hope to teach you:

  1. To have a better understanding of some fundamental concepts in various branches of computer science and computer technology
  2. To further develop some basic computer skills: using applications, making web pages.
  3. To appreciate the historical and conceptual development of computer science and computer technology by studying some broad aspects of its history.
  4. To gain insight into how some questions of technology interact with philosophy and theology, as well as some other disciplines such as art and mathematics.
  5. To become comfortable in your ability to use technology and to learn on your own.

 

Grading Criteria

18%     Weekly Reading Questions (9 weeks, 2% each)

40%     Assignments (8 Assignments, about 5% each)

20%     Test 1 – Midterm – October 11

22%     Test 2 – Final Exam – Wednesday, December 13

 

You cannot turn in the Weekly Reading Questions late.  If you must miss class, email me the answers or send them with someone else.  There will be a penalty for turning in the Assignments late, (and a maximum of 1 week late allowed).

 

Required Text:

Computer Confluence, 7th Edition George Beekman, Michael J. Quinn.

 

Schedule of Lectures: (Monday/Wednesday)

Date

Topic

Homework Due

Aug 23

Intro/BUBBS/Digital Locker

 

Aug 28

Files/Folders Organization & ZIP

HW1 – Email Me

Aug 30

Ch 0 – Internet Basics

Reading Questions – Ch 0

 

LABOR DAY – September 4

 

Sep 6

Ch 0 – Backups / Security

HW2 – Files/ZIP

Sep 11

Ch 1 – History: Computers & Internet

Reading Questions – Ch 1

Sep 13

Ch 1 – History of Internet Video Part 1

 

Sep 18

Using MS Word, media in documents

 

Sep 20

Ch 2 – Binary Numbers, Representation

Reading Questions – Ch 2

Sep 25

Ch 2 – Hardware, Ch 3

HW3 – Word

Sep 27

Using Excel

 

Oct 2

Ch 3 – Disk Storage

Reading Questions – Ch 3

Oct 4

Ch 4 – Software

HW4 – Excel

Oct 9

Ch 4 – Operating Systems

Reading Questions – Ch 4

Oct 11

MIDTERM

 

Oct 16

HTML / Intro to web pages

 

 

TORREY CONFERENCE – Oct 18-20

 

Oct 23

Ch 5, Dreamweaver Basics

Reading Questions – Ch 5

Oct 25

Ch 6 – Graphics/Images

HW5 – Web Page: Genesis

Oct 30

Ch 6, Photoshop

 

Nov 1

History Video Part 2

Reading Questions – Ch 7

Nov 6

Ch 7 – Identity Theft, Privacy

HW6 – Web Page: Part 2

Nov 8

Using Visual Basic

 

Nov 13

Ch 8 – Networks / Wireless

Reading Questions – Ch 8

Nov 15

Ch 8 – Interpersonal Computing

 

Nov 22

Ch 9 – Internet / WWW

HW7 – Visual Basic

 

THANKSGIVING – Nov 22-24

 

Nov 27

Ch 9 – Web Applications

 

Nov 29

Ch 9 – Web Applications

Reading Questions – Ch 9

Dec 4

Ch 10 – Security

 

Dec 6

The Future

HW8 – Final Project/Paper

Dec 13

FINAL EXAM: Wednesday 10am-12

10:30am Section

Dec 13

FINAL EXAM: Wednesday 5-7pm

4:30pm Section

 

Academic Integrity: Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else’s ideas and work as your own. It ranges from not citing the sources of ideas and textual excerpts to turning in an essay written by someone else.  Plagiarism at Biola is not tolerated, and may result in failing the assignment or the course and further discipline by university officials.

Students with Disabilities: Students desiring accommodations for this class on the basis of physical, learning or psychological disability are to contact the Office of Disability Services.  The Office of Disability Services is located in the Student Services Building and can be reached at ext. 5851.

 

I am looking forward to this opportunity to teach you this semester, and hope that I can help you see a little bit more of the goodness, truth, and beauty of God.  Feel free to let me know if there’s any way I can make this a more valuable learning experience for you.