CSCE 181 Intro to Computing Dr. Jinxiang Chai

My Background Education: Education: - PhD: Carnegie Mellon University - PhD: Carnegie Mellon University Research: Research: - Build animation systems that allow children & nonprogrammers to create and control animation quickly and easily - Build animation systems that allow children & nonprogrammers to create and control animation quickly and easily Motion capture lab (HRBB 505) Motion capture lab (HRBB 505)

Today’s Class Review of the Syllabus Review of the Syllabus Brief review of the department Brief review of the department Brief overview of the CS Curriculum Brief overview of the Writing Center Brief overview of the Writing Center Readings Readings

Syllabus Instructor: Jinxiang Chai Instructor: Jinxiang Chai TAs: Stephen Probus TAs: Stephen Probus Class meeting time Class meeting time Goals Goals Topics/Schedule Topics/Schedule Textbook/website Textbook/website Grading Grading

My Information Office: 527D H.R. Bright Bldg Office: 527D H.R. Bright Bldg Office Hours: Wednesday :30pm - 2:30pm; other times by appointment Office Hours: Wednesday 1:30pm - 2:30pm; other times by appointment Office Phone: Office Phone:

TA’s Information Teaching Assistant: Stephen Probus Teaching Assistant: Stephen Probus Office: 526. Bright Bldg Office: 526. Bright Bldg Office Hours: (MWF 11:20-12:10 Office Hours: (MWF 11:20-12:10AM)

Class Meeting Time Seminars will be presented on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays during the semester. Seminars will be presented on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays during the semester. There will be a total of seminars during the semester. You are responsible for checking the seminar schedule on the course homepage. Be sure to check each monday and wednesday evening as sometimes seminars will be announced/cancelled at the last moment.

Goals Introduction to the broad field of computing - Include presentations on how fundamental concepts are used in end products and research Introduction to technical writing - Presentations on writing (next two weeks) - Required readings on writing - Significant writing assignments

Topics and Schedule Totally, we will meet times, Totally, we will meet times, - Meet once a week (Tuesday and/or Thursday, check schedule of the class) - Meet once a week (Tuesday and/or Thursday, check schedule of the class) - Introduction (1) - Introduction (1) - Technical writing & brief history of computer science (2) - Technical writing & brief history of computer science (2) - Industry talks & faculty talks (10-12) - Industry talks & faculty talks (10-12)

Textbook & Website Required - Writing for Computer Science, Justin Zobel, second edition, Springer, Excellent reference book WebCT: - Check often for: Writing assignment grades and recording of questions asked Course website: (from my home page) -

Assignments Six short written assignments Six short written assignments Most will be a review of a lecture (classes 4 – 13) Most will be a review of a lecture (classes 4 – 13) Summarize topic, lecture information, Summarize topic, lecture information, Give personal view Give personal view You have two weeks to complete each short assignment You have two weeks to complete each short assignment The first will be a survey of faculty in this department. The first will be a survey of faculty in this department. Due in 2 weeks (Midnight of Sep 15) Due in 2 weeks (Midnight of Sep 15) Pick 6 faculty members, two from each level Pick 6 faculty members, two from each level Write one paragraph about each faculty member Write one paragraph about each faculty member

Final Report A 5-7 page document A 5-7 page document Topic of your choosing Topic of your choosing Pick by Oct. 11 Pick by Oct. 11 Outline, references, drafts at other dates Outline, references, drafts at other dates For all assignments, see the written descriptions for more details. For all assignments, see the written descriptions for more details.

Late Policy and Submission Short reports: 10% deduction per day late for each short report. Final reports: For each of the deadlines that is not met (topic, outline, draft, final version), 10 percent will be deducted from your final report grade. Assignment submission: All assignments and final reports should be submitted via TAMU elearning website.

Grading Grading is on a pass/fail basis. Grading is on a pass/fail basis. - To receive a satisfactory grade, you must complete all of the following satisfactorily. - To receive a satisfactory grade, you must complete all of the following satisfactorily.

Grading Grading is on a pass/fail basis. Grading is on a pass/fail basis. - To receive a satisfactory grade, you must complete all of the following satisfactorily. - To receive a satisfactory grade, you must complete all of the following satisfactorily. Short Reports: Short Reports: - Complete six short written reports with a grade of 7 or higher (out of 10) - Complete six short written reports with a grade of 7 or higher (out of 10)

Grading Grading is on a pass/fail basis. Grading is on a pass/fail basis. - To receive a satisfactory grade, you must complete all of the following satisfactorily. - To receive a satisfactory grade, you must complete all of the following satisfactorily. Short Reports: Short Reports: - Complete six short written reports with a grade of 7 or higher (out of 10) - Complete six short written reports with a grade of 7 or higher (out of 10) Final Report: Final Report: - Complete this report with a grade of 70 or higher (out of 100) - Complete this report with a grade of 70 or higher (out of 100)

Grading Grading is on a pass/fail basis. Grading is on a pass/fail basis. - To receive a satisfactory grade, you must complete all of the following satisfactorily. - To receive a satisfactory grade, you must complete all of the following satisfactorily. Short Reports: Short Reports: - Complete six short written reports with a grade of 7 or higher (out of 9-10) - Complete six short written reports with a grade of 7 or higher (out of 9-10) Final Report: Final Report: - Complete this report with a grade of 70 or higher (out of 100) - Complete this report with a grade of 70 or higher (out of 100) Class Participation: Class Participation: - You are expected to ask questions of the speakers. - You are expected to ask questions of the speakers. - State your name before asking the question so that the teaching assistant can record the information during class. - State your name before asking the question so that the teaching assistant can record the information during class. - You must ask at least one questions. - You must ask at least one questions.

Grading Grading is on a pass/fail basis. Grading is on a pass/fail basis. - To receive a satisfactory grade, you must complete all of the following satisfactorily. - To receive a satisfactory grade, you must complete all of the following satisfactorily. Short Reports: Short Reports: - Complete six short written reports with a grade of 7 or higher (out of 10) - Complete six short written reports with a grade of 7 or higher (out of 10) Final Report: Final Report: - Complete this report with a grade of 70 or higher (out of 100) - Complete this report with a grade of 70 or higher (out of 100) Class Participation: Class Participation: - You are expected to ask questions of the speakers. - You are expected to ask questions of the speakers. - State your name before asking the question so that the teaching assistant can record the information during class. - State your name before asking the question so that the teaching assistant can record the information during class. - You must ask at least one questions. - You must ask at least one questions. Attendance: Attendance: - mandatory, - mandatory, - 2+ unexcused absences will fail the course - 2+ unexcused absences will fail the course

The CS Department Faculty: Faculty: Tenured/Tenure-Track Tenured/Tenure-Track Have both research and teaching responsibilities Have both research and teaching responsibilities Assistant Professors: Newer, not tenured Assistant Professors: Newer, not tenured Associate Professors: Not new, usually tenured Associate Professors: Not new, usually tenured Professors: Tenured Professors: Tenured Teaching Faculty Teaching Faculty Primary duties are teaching Primary duties are teaching

The CS Department Administrative Staff, Accounting Staff, Facilities Staff Administrative Staff, Accounting Staff, Facilities Staff Advising Advising Dr. Rick Furuta (CS); Dr. Vivek Sarin (CE) Marilyn Payton Marilyn Payton Computing Services Group – HRBB 2 nd floor Computing Services Group – HRBB 2 nd floor Helpdesk Helpdesk

Student Organizations Aggie Women in Computer Science (AWICS) - Student Engineers’ Council (SEC) - Texas A&M Computing Society (TACS) - Student chapter of ACM and IEEE-CS - Texas Aggie Game Developers (TAGD) - Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE) Computer Science Honor Society -

The CS Department Look at the department website: Look at the department website: Lots of information there to help you learn about the department Also, individual faculty, research groups have their own websites Also, individual faculty, research groups have their own websites

The CS Curriculum CS curriculum CS curriculum Give students more fundamental Computer Science earlier on Give students more fundamental Computer Science earlier on Most fundamental information in first 2 years Most fundamental information in first 2 years Give students more flexibility later on Give students more flexibility later on Allow students to tailor degree to match interests Allow students to tailor degree to match interests Intro class to give an overview of Computer Science Intro class to give an overview of Computer Science Capstone class at the end Capstone class at the end Developed in conjunction with industry Have necessary background to obtain industry job after freshman year

The “Intro” Sequence of CS classes Semester 1: Semester 1: CSCE 181: Intro Seminar CSCE 181: Intro Seminar CSCE 121: Intro to Programming in C++ CSCE 121: Intro to Programming in C++ Semester 3: Semester 3: CSCE 314: Programming Languages CSCE 314: Programming Languages CSCE 312: Computer Organization CSCE 312: Computer Organization Semester 2: CSCE 121: Data Structures and Algorithms Semester 4: CSCE 313: Computer Systems CSCE 315: Programming Studio

Upper Level Four “Tracks” of classes: Four “Tracks” of classes: electives electives Algorithms/Theory Algorithms/Theory Systems Systems Software Software Information and Intelligent Systems Information and Intelligent Systems Take 1 class from each track (breadth) Take 1 class from each track (breadth) Take 3 classes in one track (depth) Take 3 classes in one track (depth) Take 1 class in any track Take 1 class in any track Also: Upper level seminar class (481), Senior Capstone class (482) Also: Upper level seminar class (481), Senior Capstone class (482)

University Writing Center See for resources and to make appointmentswww.writingcenter.tamu.edu Location: Evans Library West Campus Library Mission: Provide students of TAMU with the opportunity to enhance written communication skills through the use of face-to-face, online consulting sessions, and other resources

UWC: Hours Evans Library - Sunday: 5:00pm – 10:00pm - Monday – Thursday: 9:00am – 8:00pm - Friday: 9:00am – 2:00pm West Campus Library - Sunday: 5:00pm – 10:00pm - MTR: 9:00am – 10:00pm Wednesday: 10am – 10pm - Wednesday: 10am – 10pm - Friday: 9:00am-2:00pm

In-person Sessions Sessions begin on the hour and can last up to 45 minutes. Best to make an appointment one day in advance Allow drop-in’s. More than 5 minutes late, results in a forfeit of the appointment. Bring a copy of your assignment and prioritize your concerns

Required Readings Read Chapters 1 and 13 of “ Read Chapters 1 and 13 of “ Writing for Computer Science”