CSC 121: Computers and Scientific Thinking
Spring 2011



Section A: Dynamic Schedule (Mon-Wed)

Date Topic Readings Hand-in
Jan 12
Course overview.  
17
19
Computer basics. (ppt/ pdf)
History of science & computing. (ppt/ pdf)
Ch 1
Ch 6, online
email
email
24
26
LAB 1
Creating a Web page: (ppt/ pdf)
 
Ch 2
31
Feb 2
    HTML, links, images, lists, tables.
Web & Internet History. (ppt/ pdf)
 
Ch 3
LAB 1
email
7
9
Dynamic Web pages: (ppt/ pdf)
    events, assignments, dynamic elements.
Ch 4 Ch 2
 
14
16
Applications in biology. (ppt/ pdf)
TEST 1
online, online
 
email
Ch 4
21
23
LAB 2
Problem solving & algorithms. (ppt/ pdf)
 
Ch 8
 
email
28
Mar 2
User interaction & computation: (ppt/ pdf)
    text boxes, variables, numbers.
Ch 5
 
LAB 2
 
7
9
SPRING BREAK - NO CLASS
14
16
Computer science as a discipline. (ppt/ pdf)
Functions and randomness: (ppt/ pdf)
Ch 10
Ch 7
email
Ch 5
21
23
    predefined functions, Math.random.
Applications in artificial intelligence. (ppt/ pdf)
 
online, online
 
email
28
30
LAB 3
TEST 2
 
 
Ch 7
 
Apr 4
6
Functions & Libraries (ppt/ pdf)
Data Representation. (ppt/ pdf)
Ch 9
Ch 12
 
LAB 3, email
11
13
Conditional execution: (ppt/ pdf)
    if statements, counters, simulations.
Ch 11
 
 
Ch 9
18
20
Computers in Society. (ppt/ pdf)
no class meeting - LAB 4
Ch 18
online
email
 
25
27
EASTER MONDAY - NO CLASS
review
 
 

Ch 11, LAB 4
May 6
FINAL EXAM    Fri, 10:00-11:40