1. CPSC 181 Intro to Computing Dr. Jinxiang Chai

2. 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)

3. 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

4. Syllabus Instructor: Jinxiang Chai Instructor: Jinxiang Chai TAs: Jacob Smith (TTH: 1:00pm-2:00pm) TAs: Jacob Smith (TTH: 1:00pm-2:00pm) Goals Goals Topics/Schedule Topics/Schedule Textbook/website Textbook/website Grading Grading

5. My Information Office: 527D H.R. Bright Bldg Office: 527D H.R. Bright Bldg Office Hours: Tuesdays 12:50pm - 1:20pm; other times by appointment Office Hours: Tuesdays 12:50pm - 1:20pm; other times by appointment Email: jchai@cs.tamu.edu Email: jchai@cs.tamu.edujchai@cs.tamu.edu Office Phone: 845-3510 Office Phone: 845-3510

6. 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 lectures) - Required text on writing - Significant writing assignments

7. Topics and Schedule Totally, we will meet 13-15 times, Totally, we will meet 13-15 times, - Meet once a week - Meet once a week - 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)

8. Textbook & Website Required - Writing for Computer Science, Justin Zobel, second edition, Springer, 2004. - Excellent reference book WebCT: http://elearning.tamu.edu, - Check often for: Writing assignment grades and recording of questions asked Course website: (from my home page) - http://www.cs.tamu.edu/faculty/jchai/cpsc181

9. 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 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 Due in 2 weeks Pick 6 faculty, two from each level Pick 6 faculty, two from each level Write one paragraph about each faculty member Write one paragraph about each faculty member

10. Final Report A 5-7 page document A 5-7 page document Topic of your choosing Topic of your choosing Pick by 3/5 Pick by 3/5 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.

11. 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 two questions, in two different classes. - You must ask at least two questions, in two different classes. Attendance: Attendance: - mandatory, - mandatory, - 2+ unexcused absences will fail the course - 2+ unexcused absences will fail the course

12. 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

13. The CS Department Administrative Staff, Accounting Staff, Facilities Staff Administrative Staff, Accounting Staff, Facilities Staff Advising – Richardson 9 th floor Advising – Richardson 9 th floor Joe Hurley, Rick Furuta Joe Hurley, Rick Furuta Marilyn Payton Marilyn Payton Computing Services Group – HRBB 2 nd floor Computing Services Group – HRBB 2 nd floor Helpdesk Helpdesk

14. Student Organizations Aggie Women in Computer Science (AWICS) - http://awics.cs.tamu.edu/http://awics.cs.tamu.edu/ Student Engineers’ Council (SEC) - http://sec.tamu.edu/http://sec.tamu.edu/ Texas A&M Computing Society (TACS) - Student chapter of ACM and IEEE-CS - http://tacs.cs.tamu.edu/http://tacs.cs.tamu.edu/ Texas Aggie Game Developers (TAGD) - http://tagd.cs.tamu.edu/http://tagd.cs.tamu.edu/ Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE) Computer Science Honor Society - http://upe.cs.tamu.edu/http://upe.cs.tamu.edu/

15. The CS Department Look at the department website: Look at the department website: - http://www.cs.tamu.edu http://www.cs.tamu.edu - 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

16. The CS Curriculum New CS curriculum New 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 overview of Computer Science Intro class to give 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

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

18. Upper Level Four “Tracks” of classes: Four “Tracks” of classes: 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)

19. University Writing Center See www.writingcenter.tamu.edu for resources and to make appointmentswww.writingcenter.tamu.edu Location: - 214 Evans Library - 205 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

20. UWC: Hours Evans Library - Sunday: 5:00pm – 10:00pm - Monday – Thursday: 9:00am – 10:00pm - Friday: 9:00am – 2:00pm West Campus Library - Sunday: 5:00pm – 10:00pm - Monday – Thursday: 12:00noon – 10:00pm - Friday: Closed

21. 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

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