1. CS 347: Operating Systems  In this course, we reason about effective performance of a computer system  The emphasis of this course is on –Concepts –Techniques –Technology

2. Aim of the course  Develop critical thinking abilities in the area of operating systems –So that one can make an intelligent choice of operating systems and program structures to use for obtaining effective performance in a specific computing environment  More about critical thinking later

3. This is a fun course!  Deals with - Interesting OS features - Interesting OS features - Contemporary computer architectures - Contemporary computer architectures And their mutual interaction And their mutual interaction  This is a course in which students often know more than the instructor!

4. About OS books  Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne, 7/e - Comprehensive - Comprehensive - Difficult to find some specifics - Difficult to find some specifics  Stallings, 4/e - Good engineering book - Good engineering book - Narrow in perspective - Narrow in perspective  Dhamdhere, 3/e - Focuses on concepts - Focuses on concepts - Comprehensive - Comprehensive - Includes case studies of Linux, Windows - Includes case studies of Linux, Windows

5. Book we will use  Dhamdhere Operating Systems Operating Systems ─ A Concept-Based Approach, ─ A Concept-Based Approach, McGraw Hill India, 3/e McGraw Hill India, 3/e

6. Evaluation scheme  Quizzes (about 6 or so) - frequent and surprise quizzes - frequent and surprise quizzes  Take home assignments –1 large assignment or a few short ones  Mid-semester and final exams  Indicative weightages: Q: 10%, Asgn: 10%, M: 30%, E: 50% Q: 10%, Asgn: 10%, M: 30%, E: 50%

7. Honesty policy  Highest standards of academic honesty are expected and will be enforced  For take home assignments - No discussion with others - No discussion with others - No copying - No copying Strict action will be taken against Strict action will be taken against violators of this policy violators of this policy

8. Classroom rules  Mobile phones should not be used –Any phone that rings or is used will be confiscated  Punctuality is expected –Latecomers should not disturb the class –Doors may be closed after start of class –XX grades for inadequate attendance  Interaction with instructor a must –Ask questions; else I will ask them !

9. About Critical thinking –Most education systems are fact based  They teach you facts and test their recall  They teach you ‘what’ you should think in what situation –They may not teach `how’ to think –Students have to figure out the `how’  It is an essential skill for scientists and technologists  It is the subject matter of critical thinking

10. Critical thinking  From wikipedia –Critical thinking is purposeful and reflective judgment about what to believe or what to do in response to  Observations  Experience  Verbal or written expressions  Arguments –It is not about passing of negative comments!

11. Critical thinking  Example illustrating its need –How to master the vast amount of information available on the web?  One must analyze the information available from multiple sources  Validate information from each source, rejecting unreliable/illogical information  Correlate information from various sources to make a cohesive whole –Take care of differences in terminology

12. Critical thinking  Wikipedia (contd): A critical thinker  Raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely  Gathers and assesses relevant information  Comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions  Thinks open-mindedly (about alternatives)  Communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems; without being unduly influenced by others

13. Critical thinking  Critical thinking is a tool of inquiry –Wade (‘55) identified 8 characteristics  Asking questions  Defining a problem  Examining evidence  Analyzing assumptions and biases  Avoiding emotional reasoning  Avoiding oversimplification  Considering alternative interpretations  Tolerating ambiguity

14. Critical thinking  Critical thinking is about being both willing and able to evaluate one’s thinking (wikipedia) –It helps in all aspects of life –Core thinking skills are portable  They can be carried over from one field, area, or course to another –You must integrate critical thinking into your attitude!  Thinking abilities should improve with time!

15. Learning and Critical thinking  Learning takes place in 2 phases (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia) –Learning basic ideas, principles and theories  The process of internalization –Use the basic ideas, principles and theories  The process of application

16. Thinking skills─what we will do –Explicit teaching of thinking skills  Is beyond the scope of this course  Is beyond the abilities of this instructor –However, we will facilitate their learning in this course through  Classroom discussions  Creating situations for group thinking  Study literature-and-report assignments  Quizzes and Exams!

17. Thinking skills and the Exams  Exams will include questions aimed at exercising/using thinking skills –Performance in these Qs will decide what range of grades you might earn  E.g., if a student performs poorly in thinking oriented Qs, top grades such as AA, AB, BB would be denied irrespective of the total marks obtained in the course

18. Group thinking in the course –Groups of approx 10 students each will be formed –In every lecture, one of the groups will pose ONE question on the previous lecture’s contents that requires critical thinking  Good questions will earn acclaim –Other situations will also be created  We will start on it today!

19. Concepts  Critical thinking and concepts –The relationship is two-fold  Critical thinking helps in concept formation from available information  Concepts and principles are tools of critical thinking –Concepts enable a person to analyse, assess and improve thinking –Core concepts and principles of analysis exist –Domain specific concepts and principles can also be used in thinking

20. The Concept-Based Approach  In class –We will develop concepts and enunciate principles –We will also use concepts and principles in our discussions  In assignments –You practice use of concepts, principles  In quizzes and exams –You demonstrate that you can use them

21. The Concept-Based Approach  Key thinking skills that facilitate learning about complex systems –Focusing skills  Attending to selected pieces of information and ignoring others –Organizing skills  Arranging information so that it can be used more effectively

22. The Concept-Based Approach  Concepts assist in critical thinking –Abstraction aids in focusing –Abstract views aid in organizing