CPSC 395 Syllabus
Computer Science Unplugged
Fall 2008

Instructor Dr. Lynn Lambert
Email lambert@pcs.cnu.edu
Office Gosnold 221
Phone 594-7826
Office Hours Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:15-10:45 (or stop by)
Prerequisite CPSC125

Text

Computer Science Unplugged made available for free by Google at www.google.com/educators/activities/unpluggedTeachersDec2006.pdf We will only read portions of the book, but it is a very interesting book to read all the way through (and not that long).

Grading

Your semester grade will be based on your semester average using the following table:

AVERAGE GRADEAVERAGE GRADEAVERAGE GRADE
92 - 100: A80 - 81: B-68 - 69: D+
90 - 91: A-78 - 79: C+62 - 67: D
88 - 89: B+72 - 77: C 60 - 61: D-
82 - 87: B 70 - 71: C-0 - 59: F
Your semester average will be determined using the following weights:

ITEM WEIGHT
Final Paper due November 1930%
Creation of Materials 30%
Going to Schools30%
Other Participation (including reading)10%
There will be no final exam in this course.

Final Paper

Take what you know about computer science, and Computer Science Unplugged, and come up with an idea for another chapter. That is, summarize the chapters that you read (this is the part that shows me you did the reading), then pick an area of computer science that is NOT covered. Finally, write how you would cover your idea using the computer science unplugged concept -- that is, teaching the topic without using technology or lecture. Write a 500-700 word paper on this topic.

Going to Schools

My goal is to go to schools to use the materials that you are making. This will be worked out during the semester, and I will let you know when and where we are going. If you cannot attend a school visit, I will create an assignment in its place, probably making up materials to take to the school.

Topics

This will vary depending on when the school visits are actually scheduled (because K-12 school hasn't started yet, the visits haven't been scheduled). When you read a chapter do all of the worksheets in that chapter
Week ofWeekTopic
Aug 251 Getting started.
Sept 12 Read Activity 1: binary numbers
83 Make 10 sets of cards for use in a classroom
154 Read Activity 4: Error Detection & Correction
225 Make a set of 5 by 5 cards to use in the magic trick
296 Read Activity 8: Sorting Networks, and watch the video at Google: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6523548959060396496
Oct 67 Create a sorting network for use in a classroom
138 Read the introductions to the other 9 examples
20 Fall Break: NO class
279 Figure out a way to do a quick sort and a selection sort in a classroom
Nov 310 Visit Schools
Nov 1011 Visit Schools
1712 Visit Schools
2413 Read activity 10
Dec 114 Make sure all work is complete

Academic Success in this class

We want you to succeed at CNU; therefore I may notify the Academic Advising Center if you seem to be having problems with this course. Someone may contact you to help you determine what help you need to succeed. You will be sent a copy of the referral form. I invite you to see me at any time that I can be of assistance in helping you with course material.

Assistance

If you believe that you have a disability, you should make an appointment to see me to discuss your needs. In order to receive an accommodation, your disability must be on record in Disability Support Services, Room 101, McMurran Annex (Telephone: 594-8852).
page modified 8/20/07 by Lynn Lambert This material may be used and modified in whole or in part as long the original author and URL are cited.