CSC 121: Computers and Scientific Thinking
Fall 2009



Section A: Tentative Schedule (Tue-Thu)

Date Topic Readings Hand-in
Aug 27
Course overview.  
Sep 1
3
Computer basics. (ppt/ pdf)
History of science & computing. (ppt/ pdf)
CB 1
CB 3, online
email
email
8
10
LAB 1
Creating a Web page:
 
HO 2
15
17
    HTML, links, images, lists, tables.
Web & Internet History. (ppt/ pdf)
 
CB 2
LAB 1
email
22
24
Dynamic Web pages:
    events, assignments, dynamic elements.
HO 4 HO 2
 
29
Oct 1
Applications in biology. (ppt/ pdf)
LAB 2
online, online
 
email
HO 4
6
8
Problem solving & algorithms. (ppt/ pdf)
TEST 1
CB 4
 
email
 
13
15
User Interaction & Computation:
    text boxes, variables,
HO 5
 
LAB 2
 
20
22
FALL BREAK - NO CLASS
27
29
    numbers, expressions.
Computer science as a discipline. (ppt/ pdf)
 
CB 5
 
email
Nov 3
5
Functions and randomness:
    predefined functions, Math.random,
HO 7
 
HO 5
 
10
12
    user-defined functions, random elements.
LAB 3
 
 
 
HO 7
17
19
TEST 2
Applications in artificial intelligence. (ppt/ pdf)
 
online, online
 
LAB 3
24
26
Data Representation. (ppt/ pdf)
THANKSGIVING BREAK - NO CLASS
CB 6
 
email
 
Dec 1
3
Conditional execution.
LAB 4
HO 11
online
 
 
8
10
Computers in Society. (ppt/ pdf)
review
CB 9
 
email
HO 11, LAB 4
Dec 14
FINAL EXAM    Mon, 1:00-2:40
CB: Custom Book chapter; HO: Handout chapter