CMSC 101 / IS 101Y: Computational Thinking and Design
Course Schedule

Subject to change! Last revised September 10, 2013

Required reading for each class should be completed BEFORE the beginning of class on that day. There will be unannounced quizzes on the reading throughout the semester. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date.
Number/Date Topic Reading Due Handouts Comments
1 - Aug 29 (Thurs) Overview
  • Syllabus
  • Schedule
  • Syllabus review exercise
  • Assessment Survey (sent via email)
  • Student Background Questionnaire
  • JE Instructions
  • JE1
  • Processing Assignments handout
  • StrengthsQuest codes
  • Make Your Mark textbook
  • Dr. desJardins out of town - Dr. Penny Rheingans guest lecture
    Aug 30 (Fri) Good Advice & Getting Started
  • Making Your Mark (MYM) Chapter 1
  • Sign in to Blackboard and view course documents for 9/3 and 9/6
  • Slides
  • 2 - Sept 3 (Tues) Big Ideas: Overview
  • St. Amant, Introduction and Chapter 1 (available in Blackboard)
  • Blown to Bits, Chapter 1
  • Initial Survey (link sent individually via email)
  • Student Background Questionnaire
  • 3 - Sept 5 (Thurs) Big Ideas: Computational Thinking
  • Computational Thinking
  • 60 Lives, 30 Kidneys, All Linked
  • Sept 6 (Fri) You: Before Class / StrengthsQuest
  • StrengthsQuest website
  • StrengthsQuest information for students
  • JE1: StrengthsQuest Reflection (bring printed SQ theme reports to class!)
  • JE2
  • Slides
  • 4 - Sept 10 (Tues) Algorithmic Problem Solving
  • Processing Chapter 2
  • Processing Assignment 1: Install and test
  • CrazySquares Processing sketch
  • CrazySquares.pde
  • Code tracing exercises
  • 5 - Sept 12 (Thurs) Algorithmic Problem Solving Using Processing
  • Processing Chapters 3-4 (you are strongly encouraged to read actively, implementing and testing the Processing examples as you go)
  • St. Amant Chapter 5 (just skim the second half, from "Turning an Algorithm Into a Program" to the end (pages 93-107), not worrying about the Python syntax)
  • Processing Assignment 2
  • Processing command summary
  • Processing coding standards
  • In-class tutorials
  • Sept 13 (Fri) Getting Organized
  • MYM Chapter 2
  • JE2: Academic Questionnaire & Study Habits
    6 - Sept 17 (Tues) Big Ideas: Abstraction
  • St. Amant, Chapter 4
  • 7 - Sept 19 (Thurs) Big Ideas: History and Careers
  • St. Amant, Chapters 2 and 3
  • Project teams formed
    Sept 20 (Fri) Effective Reading and Note Taking
  • MYM Chapter 3
  • Bring notes from CMSC101/IS101Y lecture to class
    8 - Sept 24 (Tues) Data: Project Introduction
  • Processing, Chapter 5-7
  • Project Requirements
  • 9 - Sept 26 (Thurs) Data: Programming / Data Representations
  • Processing, Chapters 8 and 10 (skip "Arrays of Objects")
  • Processing Assignment 2
  • Processing Assignment 3
  • CrashBasics.pde
  • Sept 27 (Fri) Working with Others
  • Video: Tuckman's Model
  • Review SQ Signature Themes Report
  • Carefully read final project description and deliverables
  • JE3
  • 10 - Oct 1 (Tues) Data: Programming Design and Modularization
    11 - Oct 3 (Thurs) Data: Data Structures
  • St. Amant Chapter 4, from trees through recursion
  • Oct 4 (Fri) Smart Students Ask for Help
  • MYM Chapter 7
  • UMBC Career Center website
  • Shriver Center internships website
  • Math and Writing Centers website
  • Counseling Services and Skills website
  • UMBC Career Center Online Resume Workshop
  • UMBC Shriver Center About Internships
  • 12 - Oct 8 (Tues) Data: Big Data
  • Video: The Birth of a Word
  • The Birth of Google
  • Big-Data Computing
  • Clouds, big data, and smart assets
  • Dr. Bin Zhou guest lecture on data mining
    13 - Oct 10 (Thurs) Data: Visualization
  • Video: 200 countries, 200 yrs, 4 minutes
  • Interactive Dynamics for Visual Analysis
  • Processing Assignment 3 Dr. Penny Rheingans guest lecture on visualization
    Oct 11 (Fri) Study Habits and Exams
  • MYM Chapters 4 and 6
  • Read "Resume and Cover Letter" assignment carefully
  • JE3: Teamwork Reflection
    14 - Oct 15 (Tues) HW & Systems: Beginnings of Design
  • Data Analysis Assignment
  • Data analysis spreadsheet
  • Example design deliverable
  • 15 - Oct 17 (Thurs) Midterm
    Oct 18 (Fri) Technical Presentations and Posters
  • View at least three student presentations from UMBC's URCAD
  • Presentation Advice
  • Developing a poster session tutorial by Jeff Radel
  • Giving a Technical Talk
  • Ten Common Presentation Mistakes
  • 16 - Oct 22 (Tues) HW & Systems: Computer Architecture and Operating Systems
  • St. Amant Chapter 6
  • Project Phase 1: Design Dr. Chuck LaBerge guest lecture on computer engineering
    17 - Oct 24 (Thurs) HW & Systems: Networks
  • St. Amant, Chapter 7
  • Processing Catchup/Makeup Exam
  • Oct 25 (Fri) Me Inc.: Academic Planning
  • Advising Tips
  • Four-Year Plans by Major
  • CS/CE Plans and Gateways
  • Resume assignment
  • 18 - Oct 29 (Tues) HW & Systems: Programming Lab
    19 - Oct 31 (Thurs) People: Analysis and Requirements
  • Designing Games with a Purpose
  • Succeeding as a Systems Analyst (HofferGeorgeValacichCh2.pdf in Blackboard Course Documents)
  • Nov 1 (Fri) Giving and Using Constructive Feedback
  • How to Give Constructive Criticism
  • How to Survive a Critique
  • Draft data presentation (NOTE DATE CHANGE)
  • JE4
  • 20 - Nov 5 (Tues) People: Usability
  • St. Amant Chapter 10
  • RMSE Processing program (zip file)
  • 20 - Nov 6 (wed), 5:30pm Makeup Exam! Must notify Dr. dJ you plan to take the exam by Friday, Nov 1
    21 - Nov 7 (Thurs) Data Analysis Presentations (NOTE DATE CHANGE) Data Analysis Assignment (NOTE DATE CHANGE)
    Nov 8 (Fri) Me Inc.: Career Vision and Plan
  • What Can I Do With My Major?
  • Career Services Information
  • Draft Resume and Cover Letter
    22 - Nov 12 (Tues) Theory of Computation
  • St. Amant Chapter 8
  • Theory exercises
  • 23 - Nov 14 (Thurs) Prototype Crit Project Phase 2: Prototype
    Nov 15 (Fri) Finals: Planning to Finish Strong
  • Review and complete worksheet of current grades in each class
  • UGA Stress Management Guide
  • Video: Dartmouth College Strategic Learning Video
  • UGA Stress Management Guide
  • Video: Dartmouth College Strategic Learning Video
  • JE4: Study Habits Reflection
  • JE5
  • 24 - Nov 19 (Tues) People: HCI and Accessibility
  • Dive into Accessibility, Weeks 1 and 2 (Days 1-10)
  • Blind Driver Challenge
  • 25 - Nov 21 (Thurs) People: Social and Ethical Implications No reading before class today! Project Phase 3: Evaluation
    Nov 22 (Fri) Me Inc.: Life Balance Resume and Cover Letter
    26 - Nov 26 (Tues) Applications: Graphics and Games
  • The World of Just Cause 2 (read pages 1-2 carefully; skim pages 3-6)
  • Project Phase 4: Poster
    Nov 28 (Thurs)
    THANKSGIVING
    27 - Dec 3 (Tues) Applications: Intelligence St. Amant, Chapter 9
    28 - Dec 5 (Thurs) Applications: Security
    Dec 6 (Fri) Me Inc.: Semester Wrapup JE5: Semester Retrospective
    and Final Survey
    29 - Dec 10 (Tues) Project Presentations Project Phase 5: Presentation
  • Final Peer Evaluation
  • Poster Session Tips
  • Tuesday, December 17 Final Exam, 10:30-12:30