latest update: 26 August 1995
URL for course info: http://Ellerbruch.nmu.edu/CS255/CS255.html
Seq #: 10468 section 01
9:00 - 9:50 AM MT ThF Room WS283 or WS162
Prerequisite: C- in MA 150 or equivalent
Instructor: L. W. Ellerbruch
Office: WS 161B
Telephone: 227-1597
Office Hours: As posted by office door but will include:
11:00 - 11:50 AM M T Th F (Note: Department meetings are sometimes scheduled Tuesday mornings)
2:00 - 2:50 PM M Th
Other hours by arrangement.
Optional Text: Culp, George H and G. Morgan Watkins, The Educator's Guide to HyperCard and HyperTalk, Allyn and Bacon, Boston: 1993.
Optional Text: Turner, Sandra and Michael Land, Hypercard a Tool for Learning, Wadsworth Publishing Company, Belmont, California: 1994.
Optional Reference: Goodman, Danny, The Complete Hypercard 2.0 Handbook, Bantam Computer Books, New York: 1990.
Required material: At least four 3 1/2" diskettes
A calculator is permitted but not required for use in this course, since calculating and graphing are readily available on the Macintosh.
Communication is important and individuals are encouraged to talk about course content with other members of the class AND members of other CS255 sections. Cheating is defined as turning in someone else's work as your own. It is not cheating to work with others. Sharing the learning and teaching is an important part of the course.
All students will acquire and use a university e-mail account. Information will be sent to the students by e-mail. Students will be expected to communicate with each other and the instructor by e-mail. A complete and up-to-date syllabus, list of projects and assignments, and other information related directly to the class will be available on a WWW page on the instructor's WWW server.
Students will use programs on microcomputers to complete assignments. Students will use e-mail, a WWW browser, mail groups, editors, Hypercard, and various other programs. Demonstration lessons and hands-on instruction will be provided for the Macintosh.
The course will require regular in-class hands-on use of the computer. Exercises, both in and out-of-class will be assigned regularly. It is expected that students will complete all assigned exercises. There will be several major projects (at least three) in addition to many exercises and minor projects.
Reading assignments will be made, and it is very important to complete them.
There will be in-class discussion and group work. Participation is expected.
Assignments will be made which will require writing and programming. Reports and projects will be submitted electronically. There may be projects which will be completed by groups with only one report/product for the group, projects which require group problem solving with individual reports/products, and projects which are independent.
Attendance is required. The course will require regular in-class hands-on use of the computer which cannot be done if you are absent. Poor attendance will result in a reduction of your final grade by up to two percentage points for each unexcused absence over two and one percentage point for each excused absence (an exception may be made for those earning an "A" if prior arrangements are made and for selected excused university activities). Major exams may be made up only if the absence is excused and arrangements are made prior to the exam. Daily work or quizzes may not be made up and projects are due on the stated date regardless of attendance!
The final grade will be based on the following:
50% assignments and projects
50% hourly exams (1 or 2), quizzes, participation grade, and comprehensive final
Points are cumulative for each category.
It is expected that projects will be excellent. There will be opportunity to fix errors if the project is submitted early. There will be a five percent penalty per calendar day off the top of a project for each day it is late before the assignments are graded for the rest of the class and a ten percent penalty per calendar day off the top of the project for each day it is late after the assignment has been graded and the results returned to the rest of the class.
There will be one or two hourly exams.
The final exam time is 12:00 - 1:50 pm on Monday, December 11, 1995. This time will be used, no early or late exams. If a student has a B- average (see distribution above) or better composite grade, the final will be optional. For those with less than a B- average, the final will be mandatory. The final exam points will be included in the calculation of the "exam" portion of the final grade.
Quizzes will usually be unannounced and will usually be of very short duration. There may be a quiz any day. Likely material for the quizes will include short answer or essay questions, homework problems, or material emphasized in class.
The following is the guaranteed scale for final grades.
% score: GRADE
92 - : A
90 - 91.9: A-
87 - 89.9: B+
83 - 86.9: B
80 - 82.9: B-
75 - 79.9: C+
65 - 74.9: C
60 - 64.9: C-
57 - 59.9: D+
53 - 56.9: D
50 - 52.9: D-
- 49.9: F
However, the instructor reserves the right to adjust the curve downward slightly to allow for better breaks between letter grades. He also reserves the right to discard one or more quiz grades for every student from the percent calculation, but this is not a guarantee. There may be some opportunity for bonus points, but they will only apply to the portion of the grade they are earned in and the maximum final score in an area is 100%. Bonus points earned in assignments cannot improve test scores.
IF A MAJOR PROJECT IS TURNED IN EARLY AND SOME "MINOR REPAIRS" NEED TO BE MADE IN ORDER FOR THE PROJECT TO BE FINISHED PROPERLY, AN EXTENSION MAY BE GIVEN. EXTENSIONS ARE NOT AUTOMATIC AND WILL NOT BE GIVEN UNLESS THE PROJECT IS CLOSE TO BEING FINISHED.
If you have a need for disability related accomodations or services, please inform your professor or the Office of Student Support and Disability Services at 405 Cohodas (phone: 227-1550, TDD: 227-1543). Reasonable and effective accomodations and services will be provided to students if requests are made in a timely manner, with appropriate documentation, in accordance with federal, state, and university guidelines.
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Link to CS255 Computers For Elementary Teachers Home Page
Link to Ellerbruch Web Site Home Page
Link to Seaborg Home Page
Link to Northern Michigan University
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L. W. Ellerbruch: LELLERBR@nmu.edu.