CS 158 introduces the tools of software development that have become valuable for creative problem solving in Science and Engineering. We believe that it is important for future professionals to be able to function as part of a technical team and will require students to work in assigned teams for all lab assignments. Educational research informs us that structured collaboration leads to increased learning gains for students participating in an introductory programming course.

• Collaboration is a requirement of the course.  You will be assigned to your teams by your lab instructor. 

The University asks students to place 2-3 hours outside of class per week in preparation for each credit hour of a course.  The key to success in this course requires preparation and taking initiative.  The most successful students in previous offerings of CS 158 report habits such as reading the text, attending every lecture, and daily code writing that goes beyond the minimum of completing assignments.

• CS 158 does have a co-requisite of MA 161/165.
• What does the co-requisite assume?  In terms of math sophistication we assume that you are familiar with Algebra and Trigonometry.

All relevant class information, updates, and announcements will be available on the CS 158 Blackboard site. Regular announcements will be posted on the "message of the day" which is visible when you log into your UNIX account. It is expected that you check both frequently for updates.

In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines, and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances.

• In case of campus emergency, check Blackboard, do not email or call course staff.
• The instructor reserves the right to revise the syllabus with notice. 

Lab Assignments (12 total, 5 points each):

A majority of the lab assignments are to be completed collaboratively in your assigned lab groups and each of these lab assignments will be due 30 minutes prior to your next lab meeting.

Lab Quizzes (12 total, 5 points each):

At the end of every lab there will be an individual assessment of your knowledge related to the topics implemented in the most recent assignments.  Knowledge of course standards and good programming practices will be evaluated throughout the semester.

• The best way to prepare for lab quizzes is to actively participate with your team during the lab session.

Lecture Quiz (50 total points and will be scaled to 50 if the total number of quiz points exceeds 50): 

Dates of in-lecture quizzes will not be made known in advance.  Quizzes may take place at the start of lecture, in the middle, and/or at the end of lecture. 

CPS eInstruction response pads are required to participate in lecture quizzes.  You should bring your response pad to every lecture.  Should your pad fail, or if you forget your pad, you may submit a written quiz using the form found in the back of your notes packet.  You may only utilize this method once during the semester.  Only the form provided in the current version of the packet will be accepted.

See the academic integrity policies regarding the misrepresentation of identity as it relates to taking a lecture quiz for another student.

Exams (two midterms 100 points each, one final exam 150 points):

Exams will be individual assessments of your knowledge.  Exams will be all multiple choice problems. You will notice from the point distribution of the course that we feel being competent on exams is very important. You need to be able to communicate intelligently with others, including supervisors, on this topic without needing to be in front of a computer to demonstrate what you know.

You are expected to arrive to lecture on time and to remain attentive. Disruptive students will be excused from lecture and asked to meet with course staff before returning to class. Please silence your cell phone during lecture.

For the fall 2009 semester lecture seats will be assigned.  Check Blackboard for your seat assignment starting the second week of classes.  Failing to sit in your assigned seat will result in a zero for the lecture quiz.

CS 158 labs will meet weekly (see lab schedule). You are expected to attend and to participate in every lab this semester. All lab assignments (as described previously) will be completed in collaborative teams assigned by your lab instructor. These lab assignments will be due 30 minutes before the start of your next lab and may require that your team meet outside of lab to complete the assignment.

Because of our use of teaming, no points will be given to a student who is absent from, or late arriving to, a lab. If you are going to have a regular conflict with your lab time, please change sections.

• Any student missing more than two labs (unexcused) will receive a failing grade for the course.  We feel that you must be present in lab as you are expected to function as part of a team.  Secondly, you are receiving one credit (of the three for the course) based on the laboratory component of the course. 

You must bring your books and notes to every lab.

To request a re-grade on any assignment you must formally make your request in writing to the instructor during office hours. You have five days to appeal any grade from the day the assignment is returned to you. After that period the grades are frozen and no appeal will be considered.

A re-grade request must include the following:

• The originally graded assignment that was returned to you (if applicable).
• The reason you feel a re-grade is warranted. (What do you feel was overlooked in the original evaluation of your work?)
• Note: A re-grade isn't a second chance to complete an assignment. It isn't a means to challenge posted policies, such as the acceptance of late work or the submission of un-testable work.

Only documented serious hardships will be considered for any make-up work.

If you have documentation of what you consider to be a serious hardship then you should contact the instructor in a timely manner during office hours. Any student who knows in advance of a coming absence must make a request for consideration one week prior to the planned absence.

• The University policies on absence and absence reporting is available on-line: http://www.purdue.edu/odos/services/classabsence.htm
• Do not expect assignment deadlines to be altered for reason of personal travel or vacation.
• Make-up requests for reasons of illness MUST be accompanied by a physician’s note stating the dates you were under their professional care and the date you were cleared to return to school/work.

All assignments must abide by the programming and documentation standards of the course.  In ALL cases no credit will be given for programs that do not compile (that is, execution is suppressed due to compilation errors). Programs that execute and meet minimum assignment requirements but are not correct or complete will be considered for partial credit. To receive full credit, your program must produce correct results, be well-designed, be efficient, follow assignment requirements, and adhere to course programming and documentation standards.

Resources and course staff may become heavily loaded as an assignment deadline nears. Waiting until the last minute to work on your project is dangerous! Our policy is NOT to extend deadlines unless campus resources (not your local ISP) are unavailable for an extended period near the deadline for an assignment.

ITaP’s Outage (scheduled and unscheduled) Notification RSS Feed:
http://www.itap.purdue.edu/web/infrastructure/operations/change/unscheduled/unscheduled_RSS.xml

Collaborative Learning/Teaming/Participating as a Member of a Technical Team:

Academic Integrity: 

Minimum consequences for violating course policies will include:

• First offense, a zero for the assignment, a reduction of one letter grade at the end of the semester, AND a referral to the Office of the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.
• Second offense, a zero for the assignment, a failing grade for the course, AND a referral to the Office of the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.
  • Penalties for being found in violation from the Office of the Dean of Students will typically range from disciplinary probation, to probated suspension, to dismissal from the University.