Lecture 1 Course Introduction CSCI – 1900 Mathematics for Computer Science Fall 2014 Bill Pine

Lecture 1Course Introduction

CSCI – 1900 Mathematics for Computer Science

Fall 2014

Bill Pine

CSCI 1900 Lecture 1 - 2

Lecture Overview

• Course web site• Handout and review syllabus• General expectations• Who am I?


Course Web Site

• I maintain a web site with links to pages for each course I teach

http://faculty.etsu.edu/pine• Each course page contains

– Lecture slides– Handouts– Exercises– Course Update Log

• Nota Bene: Course Artifacts Schedule

http://faculty.etsu.edu/pine


Course Syllabus Key Items

• Office hours– As posted on Web page and outside office door

• I try to always be present during posted hours• I am in my office many additional hours

– If the door is open or ajar• Feel free to knock

– If the door is closed• I am either not in my office, or• I do not wish to be disturbed

Initial Office Hours

• Office: Nicks 4 – 460• Scheduled office hours

– Monday, Wednesday 8:00 – 9:0012:30 – 2:30

• Other hours by appointment


Use of Laptops

• The use of laptops or other electronic devices is prohibited during lectures

• The only exceptions shall be: – Students who need special accommodations

and present to the instructor the appropriate documentation from ETSU Disability Services so stating



Course Text

• Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications, Seventh Edition– Kenneth Rosen– ISBN-13 978-0-07-338309-5

• I do not lecture on all material assigned in text

• You are responsible for all material assigned


Grading Criteria

• Your final grade will be determined by– Tests

• 3 equally weighted – 60%– Daily Work (Quizzes and In-class assignments)

• 15%– Homework

• 15%– On-Your-Own (Individual Project)

• 10%


Attendance

• Attend all classes– My experience shows, particularly in CSCI 1900:

• Poor student attendance ≡ Poor student performance

– Attendance policy is in effect• Independent study of class lecture slides is a poor

substitute for class attendance • If you are absent, it is your responsibility

– To submit any work due, prior to beginning of class– To determine what work was assigned– To study the material covered by the lecture

Attendance Policy

• You must attend at least two-thirds of a day’s scheduled class time to be considered present

• Repeated lateness or early departures may be counted as an absence at the instructor’s discretion


Number of Absences Penalty

< 3 No penalty

3 – 4 Decrement 1 letter grade levele.g. B- drops to C+

5 or more Decrement 1 letter grade level for each additional absence


Tests

• Three tests– Test 1 given at approximately 5 weeks– Test 2 given at approximately 10 weeks– Test 3 is the comprehensive course final exam

• Missed tests cannot be made up without– Prior approval, or– Verifiable extenuating circumstances


Daily Work and Homework

• No makeup for missed daily work (in-class assignments / quizzes)

• Timed quizzes will be given at the beginning of Monday’s class period

• Homework is due the beginning of class on the assigned date– Late homework will be n o t be accepted,

spare yourself the embarrassment of asking

Daily Work (continued)

• To somewhat ameliorate this seemingly draconian late-work policy– I will drop your lowest daily work grade and

your lowest homework grade



On-Your-Own

• In-depth assignment designed to allow you to explore some of the concepts in greater depth

• Chose one from the list of topics provided– You may pick a topic not on the list, if it is

approved by your instructor

• Due date: See Course Artifacts Schedule

Tracking Your Course Progress

• Most instructors do not react favorably to questions of the ilk

“How am I doing in 1900?”• To that end, I have placed an Excel

Workbook on the course website• Use it to maintain an up-to-date status of

your grade in this course



Course Expectations

• You are expected to– Be on time– Be prepared– Be attentive in class– Participate in class discussions

• Most students do not find an easy course– To do well, you must be prepared to spend a

minimum of 3 hours outside class for each hour in class


Academic Misconduct

• The student-teacher relationship is based on trust

• Unless specifically stated otherwise, all work must be your own

• I take the presence of your name on the submitted work as affirmation that the work is entirely your own

• Questions / Comments?


General Expectations

• I believe that – Each student is responsible for his own

education– Actions have consequences

• I am always willing to help students who seek help

• In return, I expect that– You are current with all assignments– Read ahead of where I am lecturing


Class Behavior

• I will accord to you the respect due a fellow human being

• I expect the same from you toward me and your fellow classmates

• No– Heckling,– Snide remarks, – Put downs, – Pendiculation, or– Sleeping


Class Behavior (continued)

• Generally, I do not tolerate– Aside conversations among students– Habitual lateness

• Practice good manners– “Make Your Momma Proud”

• If you have a problem with the way in which I run the class– Come talk to me


Seeking Help

• If you are having a problem,– Seek help immediately– Don’t wait until you fall hopelessly behind

• Course material is cumulative• Drop by my office, early in the semester

– Before you are having a problem• To locate my office• To overcome your natural reluctance to visit the

“Old Buzzard” in his “lair”


Asking Questions

• I encourage questions– When the question arises

• If you don’t understand something– A word– A concept– A calculation– A code snippet

A S K !


Asking Questions (continued)

• Never assume that the material will become clearer with time

• If you don’t understand something,– Most likely another class member also is

confused

• Any Questions / Comments?


Who Am I?

• Hearing problems• Mannerisms• Past experience


Who Are You?

• Usual approach not effective for me– As a student, I hated it– You don’t have time to organize your thoughts– I won’t remember much of what you tell me– I won’t have any record of your comments

• Instead, write me a Letter of Introduction– Follow direction on the Homework 1

Assignment Sheet


Final Thought

• What do you think is the single most important characteristic of a successful person?


Persistence

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

Talent will not:

Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.

Genius will not:

Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.

Education will not:

The world is full of educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

-- Calvin Coolidge

1 kilo-Word Equivalent



Questions or Comments?

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Lecture 1 Course Introduction CSCI – 1900 Mathematics for Computer Science Fall 2014 Bill Pine