Welcome to Introduction to Computer Science 2! 

No one shall be treated differently, separately, on the basis of race, religion, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or disability. Discipline will be imposed where appropriate for any act of discrimination. 

I would like to acknowledge that we are all individuals with multiple sociocultural identities that intersect and shape our worldview through the lens of privilege and oppression. My commitment to you as your instructor is to minimize systemic forces of oppression within the classroom such as ableism, classism, racism, sexism, transphobia, and heterosexism (fancy/academic word for homophobia) in efforts to create a safe learning environment for all of us. I ask that you also join me in this commitment to foster respect for one another, enhance solidarity, and build community.

Coming into this course I expect you to have learned basic coding tools and be able to write a working program. However because of the state of the world we will focus on review for the first few weeks of class.

Review Goals (COSC 120 Objectives)

Students feel confident in:

1.     Creating a simple program from scratch

2.     Implement variables of assorted types (int, char, String, etc.)

3.     Using decision making control structures (if statements)

4.     Using looping control structures (while and for loops)

5.     Writing and calling methods in more than one class

Once students feel comfortable using the above tools we will start to explore these tools more deeply, new tools will be introduced, and we will start thinking of style, good design, and documentation when looking at code.

Official Overview

This course examines object-oriented design and programming in greater detail. An examination of the use of the data structures provided by language-specific libraries, and some common, simple algorithms. Students will learn to design and implement simple applications. The emphasis of this course is on learning good design. This course is suitable for non-majors who want to improve their ability to solve problems using programs. Prerequisite: COSC120.

Objectives

By the end of this course, students should be able to use:

1.     Recursion

2.     File Operations (reading and writing)

3.     Arrays and ArrayLists

4.     Graphical User Interface (GUI) components such as buttons, layout managers, and shape drawing

5.     Simple Inheritance concepts

6.     Object-Oriented programming

7.     Exceptions  ( try-catch blocks )

On the home page of this website you can see a list of the topics that will be covered in this course. I have dates listed next to every topic up to the first quiz (as those are when you should have watched the videos by) The dates I have listed after that point are subject to change because every class is different and learns at a different pace. The activities I have planned might take a day for one group of students and a couple weeks for another group. There is no way for me to know exactly how long an activity will take with this class so dates might have to be moved around to accommodate different schedules.

130 Base Proficiency Exam

At the end of the semester each student will take a Proficiency Exam. If the student does not pass the Proficiency Exam they will receive an F for the course, regardless of the grade percentage they have accumulated in other sections of the class. Each student may attempt the Proficiency Exam twice. The exam will focus on the main objectives of the course and should not be difficult for students who have done and understood all the work in the course.  The exam will not impact student's grades in any other way. (See below for how the rest of the grade will be calculated)

Classroom Protocol

• • • • • ASK QUESTIONS: You are encouraged to ask appropriate relevant questions and introduce your own views that contribute to everyone’s learning. Every person in the classroom has a different level of experience with the material we are reviewing. With this in mind, you are expected to be respectful of where your fellow classmates are in their learning and with your words inside and outside the classroom. 

        • BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS: It is expected that all students be attentive, polite, and not a source of distraction to me or any other student. Your behavior at all times must be respectful -- of your classmates, yourself, and me. Language that is disrespectful based on race / ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, gender or gender expression, religion, ability, social class, or size will not be tolerated. 

To help us accomplish this:

1. If you would like us to use a name and/or set of pronouns that differ from those that appear in your official SMCM records, please let me know.

2. If you feel like your performance in the class is being impacted by your experiences outside of class, please talk to me. I would like to be a resource for you.

3. As a participant in class discussions, you should honor and respect the diversity of your classmates.

• • • • • AVOID DISTRACTING OTHERS: I understand that it is difficult to pay attention for long periods of time and I aim to break up the lecture material with activities and frequent breaks. Please avoid distracting behaviors such as private conversations, irrelevant reading, coming to class late, leaving early, checking email, using social media, texting, or listening to headphones, are disruptive to meaningful learning. These disruptions are inconsiderate to others and undermine your own learning experience. 

        • ATTENDANCE: You are warmly invited and encouraged to attend class meetings. While attendance will not directly affect your grade, it is important for your learning, for the success of this class, and for our ability to build community and maintain connection.  Your presence in the class matters. 

I teach using active learning because “students in classes with traditional lecturing were 1.5 times more likely to fail than were students in classes with active learning” (Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics. Freeman, Eddy, McDonough, Smith, Okoroafor, Jordt, and Wenderoth, 2014). In order for you to benefit from this teaching style you have to be present in class.

If you don’t come you will miss the learning that happened in that class period and the participation points available during the class period. Similarly if you are on social media or doing work for other classes in my class you are not participating and therefore will get no points for the day.

• • • • • RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS: If you are celebrating a religious holiday that conflicts with the course, please let me know as soon as possible so we can make alternative arrangements for you or so I can shift the course schedule. I have tried to ensure that no quiz dates fall on major religious holidays but it is very possible that I have missed some, so please let me know. Additionally, if there is anything in the course that might violate your religious traditions and beliefs, please meet with me so I can create slightly different requirements for you.

        • ACCOMMODATIONS: My class intends to be a disability-friendly space. Please let me know if there are things that I can do to achieve a more accommodating setting. Students with documented arrangements in this course should speak to me as soon as possible so we can discuss what you need to succeed in this course.

Health  - COVID and Other Illness

Feeling Bad? - Please stay home if you feel at all ill! Regardless of wether you think it is contagious or not, if you do not feel well please stay home and rest. COVID is not the only illness, the flu, strep throat, etc. should also be taken seriously and not passed to the people around you. There are many ways to make up work and points in this class and it is better for everyone if you stay home and rest when you are ill so you can get better sooner.

Masks - I am very grateful to the many thousands of people who worked very hard to develop the COVID vaccine and the tens of thousands of people who organized the distribution of it. The research suggests however that vaccinated people can spread COVID and, in rare cases, catch the disease therefore I will be wearing a mask all semester.

Mental Health Resources

The Wellness Center (240-895-4289) provides numerous confidential health and counseling services including a 24/7 Counseling Helpline and same day/next day connections to counseling by calling 240-895-4289 or emailing the Director at lkscherer@smcm.edu. To learn more about Wellness Center Services please go to their webpage at https://www.smcm.edu/wellness/

Sometimes students feel they need additional resources beyond those available on campus for a variety of reasons. As such, below I’ve included information, websites, and phone numbers for a variety of other mental health related organizations that are available/accessible nationwide. Each of these organizations also has an online chat system which can be found by going to their website and selecting the chat option.

Sexual Assault

According to RAINN "Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation" (Source) I deeply hope that you do not experience any sort of assault during your college career but please know that if you do, and you talk about it in front of a professor or any employee of the college, that individual is legally required to report the assault to the Title IX office, who will then send you an email inviting you to talk about it more.