Alma College’s mission is “to prepare graduates who think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully, and live responsibly as stewards of the world they bequeath to future generations.”
Software development: requirements, specification, modern design techniques, program testing methods, software metrics as used in quality evaluation, and project management.
At the successful completion of this course, you will:
The main required textbook for this course is Java Foundations: Introduction to Program Design and Data Structures, 4th Edition (which I think most of you already own). We'll discuss using a supplementary textbook for the later part of the semester, perhaps something like Code Complete.
Feel free to consult other treatments of Java, data structures, and other topics we address in this course. For example, Think Data Structures: Algorithms and Information Retrieval in Java covers "basic" data structures in Java using a rather different approach from our official text. Of course, reading assignments and exams will be structured in accordance with the official required textbook.
Your course grade will be calculated as follows:
10% "Daily" lecture quizzes
20% In-class exercises and homework
30% Programming assignments
40% Exams
Most lecture meetings will being with a short multiple-choice quiz, either to check your comprehension of the assigned reading or to more generally assess the class's understanding of concepts. The reading-comprehension quizzes will happen about once per chapter and will be scored on a per-question basis; the assessment quizzes will be more frequent and will generally be graded as did- or didn't-participate. Thus, the reading comprehension quizzes will be a slightly more important element of your course grade, but these are intended to be "low-stakes" quizzes that mostly useful for all of us to see how individuals and the entire class is doing.
Class will be a fairly active space; I will regularly give you exercises to be either turned in during class or completed on your own time. THese will generally be graded on a check-plus/check/check-minus basis.
Over the course of the semester, you will turn in several substantial assignments that ask you to write a program to solve a problem. These will be carefully graded in accordance with a rubric I will share with you as part of the assignment.
Exams are an opportunity for you to gather and review the material covered to date in the course. If you've been keeping up with the course, the exams will not pose a big challenge. But, the exams are also a way for me to make sure that you've begun to master the material (and aren't just relying on friends or the internet). We'll discuss during the first class meeting how the three scheduled exams should be weighted.
Because this is a fast-paced, demanding course, I will generally not allow late submission of assignments. If you have a medical/family emergency that causes you to miss class, talk to me about it ASAP. If you find that events in your life are making it difficult for you to complete work for this class in timely fashion, please talk to me (again) as soon as possible so that we can discuss how to get you through the class. Note that while attendance is not an explicit element of your course grade, almost every class meeting will include an activity (such as a quiz) that impacts your grade.
I will determine your final grade with a rough "curve." Almost always, I set the lowest "B-" grade to be the mean score in the class. So if you are above the average, you will earn a B or A; if you are below the average you will earn a C or lower. You can use this as a rough guide to translate your scores on exams and assignments into letter grades. However, if the mean score is 80 or above, I will grade on a "straight scale" in which scores in the 80s earn Bs and scores in the 90s earn As. That is, my curve is designed to "protect" you from any especially rigorous grading.
Coming to my office hours is the best way to get my undivided attention. When you can't make it to office hours to ask a question, message me through Moodle. (While you should certainly check your Alma College email address frequently, I will aim to keep all course-related electronic communication on Moodle.) If you message me after 5pm or on the weekend, I may not respond until the next weekday.
Our course content obviously lends itself to the classroom use of laptops, tablets, and phones; I expect to make use of Moodle during class as well. However, I expect you to demonstrate your respect for yourself and others by limiting your use of these devices to classroom-relevant activities. In particular, use of email, social media, or the general web is not acceptable unless I specifically ask you to. I reserve the right to erase one or more daily quiz scores because of inappropriate device usage.
Below is the final exam policy from page 53 of the MOE:
4. Examinations: a. Course examinations and quizzes are to be given during the regular class period as specified in the syllabus. Instructors should not give a unit exam during the last week of classes if they have scheduled a final exam during exam week. b. Final examination week is included in the calculation of credit hours required by the College’s accreditor. Therefore, exams must be administered during the designated time period of each final exam week. Early final examinations are not permitted. If the course does not require a final exam, a class meeting must be scheduled during the designated period or another assignment requiring no less than 2.5 hours of student work per course credit must be scheduled.
Students are expected to read their Alma College email on a daily basis. Important (and time-sensitive) messages about this class and other campus updates could be sent at any time, and email is one of the most common channels for sharing that information. I may not respond to emails sent after 5pm or on the weekend until the next business day.
Disciplinary action following dishonesty is handled by the faculty member. It may result in failure of the course involved. All infractions and actions will be reported to and recorded in the Provost’s Office. Repeated evidence of academic dishonesty is reviewed by the Provost and may involve more severe penalties.
In general, I will encourage collaboration during class, but I also expect you to demonstrate your ability to work effectively on your own. If you have questions about my policies and/or the College's policies, don't hesitate to ask.
I am committed to creating an inclusive classroom that respects a wide range of experiences, viewpoints, and abilities. Please don't hesitate to talk with me or the Center for Student Opportunity (see below) if there is anything I can do to increase your opportunities for learning in our classroom.
Alma College is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and you would like to request accommodations, please see Rhonda Lynn (linnrm@alma.edu) in the Center for Student Opportunity (CSO) so that such accommodations can be considered. If you currently receive accommodation letters from the CSO, please meet with me outside of class to discuss the provisions of those accommodations as soon as possible.
For support with your writing projects, please visit the Alma College Writing Center, which strives to assist Alma student writers at all levels of experience and in any course or major. Peer writing consultants work one-to-one with students to help at any stage of the writing process -- from brainstorming to drafting to revising to editing a final draft. The Writing Center is located in the library near the Smith Room, and it is open during the fall and winter semesters: Mondays thru Thursdays from 2-5 and 6-10 pm and on Sundays from 7-10 pm. Hours are limited during exams week. To schedule an appointment, please stop by during the Center's open hours or visit www.alma.mywconline.com.
Tutoring is available for this course through the Center for Student Opportunity (CSO). Please stop by the CSO and complete a tutor request form (yellow) located by the front door. You will be matched with a faculty recommended tutor within a couple of days of your request. If you have any questions or concerns regarding tutoring, please contact Rhonda Linn (linnrm@alma.edu).
Career development can do more than help you with the job application process. Our Career Coaches are equipped to help you figure out what academic pathways make the most sense given your goals for after graduation. If you have questions about how to prepare for life after college please make an appointment with Maddie Moeggenborg (moeggenborgmm@alma.edu).
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Alma College strives to provide opportunities for students to learn about self and others while creating spaces for each of us to be our most authentic selves. The diversity programming should challenge and encourage us to move beyond our comfort zones. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is a space and resource for all students, staff, faculty and administrators to learn about our differences and how to be intentionally inclusive. For more information, or to get involved, please contact the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Donnesha Blake at blakeda@alma.edu.
Alma College complies with all relevant federal and state laws banning discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Titles VII and IX of the Civil Rights Act are designed to protect equality of educational opportunity for all students and of employment for all faculty and staff. The full set of policies and procedures that the college has established to protect these rights are consolidated into a single document available at this link: https://www.alma.edu/live/files/3195-civil-rights-policy-november-2018. For more information, please contact our Civil Rights and Title IX Coordinator Kevin Carmody at carmodykd@alma.edu.
Alma cares about your success! This course utilizes the Starfish Student Success platform. Starfish is an online notification system used by faculty to communicate with students and support personnel regarding academic achievements and to identify areas for improvement. In addition to awarding kudos to acknowledge excellent performance, Starfish is also used by faculty and staff to raise early alerts and to direct students to free resources such as tutoring, supplemental instruction, or career services. Starfish referrals are designed to help students identify strategies to achieve their academic goals. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the many opportunities offered at Alma to promote academic success. To access Starfish, log into inside.alma.edu and click the Starfish link. To learn more about Starfish, contact Rhonda Linn (linnrm@alma.edu) in the CSO.