JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

 

CS230L - Introduction to Problem Solving

Spring 2006

 

Instructor:      Mary Jane Peters                      Office:             243 Ayers Hall

Telephone:     782-5720                                 Email:             mjpeters@jsu.edu

Office Hours:  MW    10:00 -- 11:00              TT        3:30-4:30        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:      

1.  To solve problems with a variety of strategies that will enhance computer solutions. .

2.  To generalize strategies that can then be applied to new problems.

3.  To evaluate multiple solutions to the same problem and determine which are the most suitable and/or efficient.

 

Attendance Policy:     One-tenth of your final grade for this component of your CS230 grade can be earned by attending this class. 

 

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 ................  90%    330 points  (30 points per week)

                        Attendance ……........  10%.     33 points  (3 points per week)

 

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 or silent position (e.g., cellular phones, 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."  According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, JSU will provide reasonable access and appropriate accommodations for otherwise qualified disabled students. If you need such access or accommodations, please consult with your professor immediately.

 

 

Assignments: (Version 2 handout sheets)

            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.)

 

 

Chapter 1        (Due Date: 1-11-06)                            (Due Date: 1-18-06)

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

 

Chapter 2        (Due Date: 1-23-06)                            (Due Date: 1-25-06)

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

 

Chapter 3        (Due Date: 1-30-06)                            (Due Date: 2-1-06)

Classwork:  PSA  7                             Homework:  PSA  2, 10

                    PSB  3, 4                                               PSB  1

 

Chapter 4        (Due Date: 2-6-06)                              (Due Date: 2-8-06)

Classwork:  PSA  1                             Homework:  PSA  1, 8

                    PSB  1, 2                                               PSB  3

 

Chapter 5        (Due Date: 2-13-06)                            (Due Date: 2-15-06)

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

                                                                                  PSB  2

 

Chapter 6*      (Due Date: 2-20-06)                            (Due Date: 2-22-06)

Classwork:  PSA  10                           Homework:  PSA  2, 6

                    PSB  2, 5                                               PSB  3

 

Chapter 7* (Due Date: 2-27-06)                                (Due Date: 3-1-06)

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

                                                                                  PSB  3

 

Chapter 9*      (Due Date: 3-6-06)                              (Due Date: 3-8-06)

Classwork:  PSA  9                             Homework:  PSA  2, 9

                    PSB  1, 5                                               PSB  4

 

Chapter 11*    (Due Date: 3-13-06)                            (Due Date: 3-15-06)

Classwork:  PSA  7                             Homework:  PSA  6, 10

                    PSB  2, 5                                               PSB  3

 

Chapter 16*    (Due Date: 3-27-06)                            (Due Date: 3-29-06)

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 work, including the written explanation of the solution.  Ideally, the student is placing before you a comprehensive map of how he or she solved the problem.  This map should also show you exactly where the student made turns, both right and wrong.

 

  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.  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.  There are many ways to solve many of the problems, and for some problems there may be more than one equally good choice of strategy.  And some problems require multiple strategies to solve.  It is not necessary to list every one of the strategies used in such a case; it is only necessary to list one (preferably the major one).

 

  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 they 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.  The point is partly to make sure that the student gets the right answer.  That is important.  It is also important that the student state the correct answer clearly, because sometimes the question asked may be different from the one the student answers.  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 be an organized, concise retelling of the thoughts, assumptions and understandings developed while solving the problem.