JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

 

CS230L - Introduction to Problem Solving

Fall 2006

 

Instructor:      Mohammed Gaus Alam            Office:             233 Ayers Hall

Telephone:     782-8409                                 Email:             malam@jsu.edu

Office Hours:  MW 02:30 -5:30, T TH 10:00 - 12:00, and by appointment

 

Textbook:

Crossing the River with Dogs: Problem Solving for College Students

Johnson, Herr and Kysh    Key College Publishing    ISBN: 1-931914-14-1

 

Objective:      

To develop problem-solving skills that will enhance computer solutions.

 

Excused Absences:  In order to be excused, an absence must be documented by an infirmary or prescription slip or a note on letterhead from a doctor or from the appropriate university authority. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

 

Grading Policy:          The final grade for this component represents 20% of your CS 230 grade.

                        Homework ................  75%   

                        Attendance ……........  25%

 

Homework:     Homework assignments will be given regularly.  These assignments are designed to reinforce the concepts covered in the chapters.  The due dates for each of the assignments are found at the end of this syllabus.  If you must be absent when a homework assignment is due, it is your responsibility to provide proof of excused absence along with the completed assignment upon your return at the next CS 230L class meeting.

            A set of homework problems will be assigned each week.  Each individual is responsible for solving these problems.  This homework set is not group work.  The full solutions to these problems are to be typed.  The solutions should include a full description of the reasoning used in the problem, as well as identifying by name the problem-solving strategy or strategies used.  Any figures may be hand drawn on an accompanying sheet of paper and referenced from within the typed text.

            Note that the solutions to the homework problems do not necessarily have to be correct in order to receive a large portion of credit.  It is the reasoning process that is of the most importance, and that is why the description of the reasoning used in solving the problem is so necessary.  The student must show significant effort toward solving a problem.  Without a clear explanation of the process, partial credit cannot be assigned.

 

 

 

Late Submissions:      Homework assignments will be accepted after the specified due date only if the student has an excused absence as described above. 

 

Cheating:        The academic misconduct policy of the University will be followed in this course.  The policies of academic honesty will be strictly enforced in this class. You are expected to do your own work.  Copying another student’s work will not be tolerated.  The penalty for copying another student’s work will be failure in the course.  Students must adhere to the University Policy on Academic Honesty, as specified in the JSU Student Handbook.

 

All current Jacksonville State University policies will apply.  "All students are expected to attend class fully prepared with appropriate materials and all devices which make noise turned to the off position (e.g., cellular phones, pagers, personal stereos, etc.).  Any student behavior deemed disruptive by the professor will result in expulsion of the student from the classroom, with an absence for the day and possible disciplinary action."

 

 

 

Assignments:

            Homework is to be turned in for a grade

            Classwork is to be prepared for class discussion and/or boardwork (After chapter 5 some of the classwork may be replaced by robotwork). The following list contains your homework and probable class work from the back of each chapter. Also class works will be assigned from the examples of the chapters.

 

 

Chapter 1        Classwork:  PSA  4, 5, 9                     Homework:  PSA  2, 5, 7

 

Chapter 2        Classwork:  PSA  4, 7, 10                   Homework:  PSA  2, 7, 11

 

Chapter 3        Classwork:  PSA  7                             Homework:  PSA  2, 10

                    PSB  3, 4                                               PSB  1

 

Chapter 4        Classwork:  PSA  1                             Homework:  PSA  1, 8

                    PSB  1, 2                                               PSB  3

 

Chapter 5        Classwork:  PSB  1, 3, 4                     Homework:  PSA  3, 5

                                                                                  PSB  2

 

Chapter 6        Classwork:  PSA  10                           Homework:  PSA  2, 6

                    PSB  2, 5                                               PSB  3

 

Chapter 7        Classwork:  PSB  1, 3, 4                     Homework:  PSA  8, 17

                                                                                  PSB  3

 

Chapter 9        Classwork:  PSA  9                             Homework:  PSA  2, 9

                    PSB  1, 5                                               PSB 4   

 

Chapter 11      Classwork:  PSA  7                             Homework:  PSA  6, 10

                    PSB  2, 5                                               PSB  3

 

Chapter 16      Classwork:  PSA  4, 6                         Homework:  PSA  2, 8, 20

                    PSB  4                                                 


 

Grading Rubric for Individual Homework Problems

 

Each homework problem will be worth a possible 10 points.  Each problem will be graded according to 5 major areas (2 points maximum per area).  These areas and their associated point values are listed below.

 

  1. Understanding the problem.

 

0 –    Completely misinterprets the problem.

 

1 –    Misinterprets part of the problem.

 

2 –    Shows complete understanding of the problem.

 

  1. Choosing a solution strategy (must include the name of the strategy).

 

0 –    Does not give evidence of using a strategy or uses a totally inappropriate strategy.

 

1 –    Chooses a strategy that could possibly lead to a correct solution, or chooses a strategy that will get them partway through the problem but fails to change strategies when appropriate.  Also, uses a correct strategy but fails to state the name of the strategy.

 

2 –    Chooses a correct strategy that could lead to a correct solution if used without error.

 

  1. Implementing the strategy.

 

0 –    Makes no attempt to solve, uses a totally inappropriate strategy, or uses a correct strategy totally incorrectly.

 

1 –    Implements a partly correct strategy based on interpreting part of the problem correctly, or chooses a correct strategy and implements it poorly.

 

2 –    Implements a correct strategy with minor errors or no errors.

 

  1. Getting the answer.

 

0 –    Gets no answer, fails to state the answer, or gets a wrong answer based on an inappropriate solution strategy.

 

1 –    Makes copying error or computational error, gets partial answer to a problem with multiple answers, or labels answer incorrectly.

 

2 –    Gets correct answer, states it, and labels it properly.

 

  1. Explanation. 

 

0 –    Makes no explanation or incoherent explanation.

 

1 –    Gives an incomplete explanation, or the explanation is hard to follow.

 

2 –    Gives a clear, coherent, complete explanation.

 

Explanation of Grading Rubric Sections

 

  1. Understanding the problem:  The first pair of points is earned by demonstrating an understanding of the problem.  Understanding (or misunderstanding) is generally conveyed to the teacher through the student’s interpretation of the problem in his/her own language. Student should not repeat the question rather he/she should describe his understanding and interpretation of the problem.

 

  1. Choosing a solution strategy:  The next pair of points is earned by choosing a reasonable strategy.  The student must also give the correct name of the strategy and describe why he/she is choosing that strategy. Student should be descriptive in describing why he/she is choosing that strategy. A student would get a 1 rather than a 2 if he or she picked a strategy that is cumbersome but that could lead to a correct solution.

 

  1. Implementing the strategy:  The next pair of points is earned for implementing a reasonable strategy.  Here, the focus is on how well a student uses whatever strategy he/she picked.  If the student chooses an appropriate strategy but doesn’t apply it sensibly, he or she would get 0 points here.

 

  1. Getting the answer:  The next pair of points is earned for stating the correct answer explicitly. Student must write down the answer separately with proper unit (if needed). An answer that appears somewhere in the work but is not explicitly stated lacks the authority of a definitive answer.  A correct answer that is never explicitly stated will be given a score of 0 points here.  Also, a correct answer that is missing appropriate units will receive 1 point.

 

  1. Explanation:  The final pair of points is earned for the explanation.  The student’s explanation should be a well thought out and well communicated map of the reasoning they used to solve the problem.  Not every detail is needed – the student does not need to provide a stream-of-consciousness novel.  Rather the explanation should include why the method was effective to solve the problem and any thoughts, assumptions and understandings developed while solving the problem.