COM 001 Introduction to Computing Concepts & Algorithms

Spring 2017 Course Outline (tentative)

SEMESTER: Spring 2017

INSTRUCTOR: Kyungjae Lee
EMAIL: leek@learning.fraseric.ca
OFFICE HOURS: Monday: 12:30-1:45

PREREQUISITES
None

OBJECTIVES/COURSE OVERVIEW
This course is an introduction to various topics from computer science with the intention to aid a
student in deciding whether or not to choose Computer Science as their major in University.

REQUIRED TEXT
COM001 Ebook available through COM 001 FIC course site. This Ebook is the combined version
of the following two textbooks;
o Computer Science: An Overview by Brookshear & Brylow
o HTML, CSS and JavaScript All in One, Sams Teach Yourself: Covering HTML5, CSS3, and
jQuery, 2/E

Reference
Computer Science Illuminated by Nell Dale ISBN-13: 9781449672843

Course Topics:
Introduction to Logic, Binary codes and Number bases
Combinational Logic Design and Applications
HTML and the Internet
Set theory
Function theory
Introduction to Algorithms and programming using Python

Course Hardware/Software
Python: We will be discussing some elementary programming concepts. In this course, we will be
using the Python IDLE. As with the text editors, this software will be available for you in the FIC
computer lab. If you would like to acquire a version for home use, you can download Python for free
at http://www.python.org/download/. Remember the current version of python we use is 2.7. So it
is HIGHLY recommended that you use this version (Windows
http://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.7/python-2.7.msi ).
 Text Editor for XHTML coding: In this course, we will require you to use either Notepad (Windows) or
Textmate (Mac). Notepad is currently installed in the computers in the FIC computer lab. However, if
you would like to work on your home computers, you need to download these programs from the
links above.

COURSE ASSESSMENT
* Assignments / Quizzes / Lab Exercises: 33%
* Participation: 2%
* Midterm Exam: 25%
* Final Exam: 40%
Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in
order to obtain a clear pass (C- or better). Students who do not obtain a passing grade in the final
exam may not obtain a pass (D or better)

MID-TERM & FINAL EXAM

There will be one midterm exam, worth 25%. The final is worth 40%.
Final exam will be held on the last day of class in Week 13.

ASSIGNMENTS
Hand-in assignments are due throughout the term, you have to complete them during class and hand
them in at the end of class. These are your in class questions. You must be in class in order to get the
mark for you assignment. Your assignments are part of your participation grade. No late assignments
will be accepted.

QUIZZES
In-class quizzes will be provided. The quizzes are important part of learning, and will help you prepare
for the both midterm and final exam.

PARTICIPATION
* If you are unable to attend, please inform the instructor before the class.

CLASS PARTICIPATION
You will be doing extra practice questions during class. These questions will help you understand the
format of the questions of the quizzes and midterms. Also, this time could be used to get help with
understanding topics. Your participation mark is a combination of attendance and your marks on the in
class questions. Each time you are late to class you will have a 0.5 deduction from your total mark.
Students must attend course meetings each and every class--including the first day of class. Failure to
attend class on week one without a documented medical excuse will, result in a missed quiz, result in a
grade of "0" for the student's participation mark, or potentially bar students from passing the entire
course (course grade = F). You MUST attend class from week one forward

COMMUNICATION
When you contact the instructor, please keep in mind that the response time you can expect would be 1
or 2 days.
MAKE-UP EXAMS
FIC does not offer any make-up opportunities for missed final exams. Please be sure to check your exam
schedule very carefully. If you miss an exam for any reason, please see an advisor immediately. If you
have documented reasons for exam accommodations, please see an advisor immediately.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

Academic Integrity refers the values on which good academic work must be founded: honesty, trust,
fairness, respect and responsibility. Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or
tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the
fundamental ethical principles of the College community and compromise the worth of work completed
by others.

Students found to have breached the regulations related to any form of academic misconduct including
but not limited to plagiarism and cheating will be subject to the following measures:
First Offence: Awarded 0 for the assessment and given a permanent record on their file
Second Offence: Awarded 0 for the course, regardless whether the offence was committed in the
same course or another course
Third Offence: Risk expulsion from FIC and the cancellation of Study Permit

It is solely the students responsibility to be aware of Academic Integrity Policy and consequences of
violating it. The policy is available at: http://85401dc13f6ba5867f46-
aacfababc729cd49a24606938417f53d.r33.cf6.rackcdn.com/FIC_Academic_Integrity_Policy.pdf

HOW CAN YOU DO WELL IN THIS COURSE?

1. Do the homework ... plus. Practice, practice, practice. And start in the first week, don't wait until
exam time.
2. Take smart notes. The lecture outlines are on the web. Print those off and bring them to the lecture
to follow. I challenge you to bring just a single sheet of additional paper to class. With this, just take the
bare minimum of notes. No color pens! At the end of class, your sheet should be just chicken scratch.
Just get the critical points. THEN, THAT DAY, write out a nice set of notes from the class, using your
memory, outline, and small notes. Elaborate, explain, and use more than one color on the graphs. By the
end of the semester you'll have wonderful notes that will help in future classes. You'll also have no need
to study for the exam. It takes a little bit of work each day, but in the end the payoffs are enormous. The
way most students take notes is a waste of time.
3. Understand ... Most of you are just out of high school. You've done a lot of coloring and memorizing.
Now it's time to start understanding. Understanding means you have to think about a concept. It is a
skill that takes practice. You'll know you understand an idea when you can apply it to a context that is
different from the one used to learn it.
4. Come to class. The ideas in this class are sequential. If you miss lecture 4, you'll have a hard time
understanding the rest of the course. The course follows the book, but the lecture is full of material not
in the book (and vice versa).
5. Review the previous weeks course meterials ahead of time; before each class. You'll want me to do
the work for you, but if you read the relevant chapter before the lecture, and then read it again after,
you'll learn a lot more in this course.
First Week Attendance Policy:
Attendance is mandatory at the first class except in extenuating circumstances which must be approved
by the Academic Director and Course Instructor in advance of the first class. Any student who does not
attend the first class/lab and who has failed to notify the instructor with an acceptable explanation in
advance may be subject to academic penalties.