Syllabus for COS-213-OL

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course explores C++ programming in the context of procedure and object-oriented software development. It combines theoretical and practical considerations. Overall, this course should give you a platform and direction to enhance your C++ knowledge, experience, and skills.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Write, compile, and run programs using the C++ language.
• Write C++ programs first as a procedural language and then as an object-oriented language.
• Master aspects of C++ as it supports enhanced procedural environments and object-oriented design environments.
• Explain how C++ improves upon C.
• Describe recent enhancements to C++ and the direction C++ is heading.

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COURSE MATERIALS

You will need the following materials to do the work of the course. The textbook is available from the textbook supplier, MBS Direct.

Textbook

• C++: How to Program, 6th ed., by H. M. Deitel and P. J. Deitel (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2008).
  ISBN-13: 978-0-558-39513-1

Compiler Software

• You will need a C++ compiler for this course. You cannot complete this course without a C++ compiler. (The CD that comes with the textbook contains example programs and Web resources, as well as a list of links of C++ compilers. These links list C++ compilers that are for sale and some links for scaled-down free versions of C++ compilers.) In every case, though, you must check with your mentor to get his or her views about the compiler you are planning to use. Regardless of the compiler you use, you must take responsibility for compiler support.

Optional Course Materials

C++ Web resources—both general and chapter-specific—are provided as a supplement to your reading assignments. These Web links are found in the C++ Web Resources area of the course Web site. In addition, there are some informative Web resource links given on the CD that comes with your textbook.

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MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

To participate fully in course activities, you need to have daily access to a personal computer and command of certain basic computer skills, including the ability to send and receive e-mail with attachments.

In addition, your computer system must meet the following minimum specifications:

• Windows 98 or higher or equivalent operating system.



• Personal Internet access.



• A full-featured Internet browser like Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or Firefox 1.X or higher.



• You will need a C++ compiler for this course. You cannot complete this course without a C++ compiler. (The CD that comes with the textbook contains a list of links of C++ compilers. These links list C++ compilers that are for sale and some links for scaled-down free versions of C++ compilers.) In every case, though, you must check with your mentor to get his or her views about the compiler you are planning to use. Regardless of the compiler you use, you must take responsibility for compiler support.

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COURSE STRUCTURE

C++ Programming is a three-credit online course consisting of six written assignments, six graded class discussions, a proctored midterm examination, and a final project. Learning activities include studying chapters from the course textbook, participating in class discussions, and preparing written assignments to be submitted to your mentor for grading.

For the course's assignment modules, go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site. Each assignment module contains your reading assignments, online class discussions, and written assignments.

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ONLINE PARTICIPATION

In addition to posting an introduction to the class in module 1, you are required to participate in six (6) graded online class discussions, each focusing on an issue related to C++. Participation in these four class discussions counts 10 percent toward your final grade in the course.

Communication with the mentor and among fellow students is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a posted question (discussion thread) and at least two subsequent comments on classmates' responses. Meaningful participation is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate, the reading, or your mentor, state and support your agreement or disagreement. You will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of your participation. Responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, professional, and respectful.

Your initial responses to the discussion questions and subsequent comments on classmates' responses are due on the days specified by the course Calendar.

For additional information on online discussions, see Online Discussions in the Online Student Handbook.

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WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

You are required to submit six (6) written assignments to your mentor for grading. They are built around associated textbook chapters. As you do your reading in preparation for each written assignment, preview the assignment questions so that you know what to expect.

Most assignments require you to write programs. All assignments have multiple sections, and some sections offer you choices. Please read the directions for each assignment carefully so that you know what you are to submit.

• For all programs you write, you will be required to provide the source code and the output when you run the program.
• Always write out the problem you are working on. (If it is a lengthy problem, you may write out an abbreviated form.) Include your name, assignment number, semester, course name, and course number as an opening comment in your source code. For the true-false assignment, include your name at the top of the paper as well as the course name and code and the semester in which you are enrolled.
• Be sure to use a good formatting style for your source code, such as the indentation and spacing shown in your textbook. Appropriate comments make your program easier for your mentor to grade now and will help you develop a habit that will make your future code well documented and easier to support and debug.
• When you submit each of your assignments, acknowledge to your mentor that you have reviewed all programs using a C++ compiler.

Note: Before you submit an assignment, you must check with your mentor for specific guidelines on how to submit your program assignments. Unless otherwise directed, for each program that you write for an assignment, please submit .cpp files so that you don't lose proper indentation and perhaps have other formatting problems. (C++ program files that you enter and run in your compiler will have the .cpp extension.) For the true-false assignment, you should determine whether your word processing software is compatible with your mentor's software. If so, submit that assignment using the word processing software you used to prepare it. If not, save your assignment as a rich-text (.rtf) file, using the Save As command of your software program. Rich text retains basic formatting and can be read by any other word processing program.

When satisfied that your assignment represents your best work, submit it to your mentor by means of the

>>View/Complete Assignment

link provided at the bottom of the respective assignment page. Use the Browse button within this link to locate and submit your assignment file.

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EXAMINATION AND FINAL PROJECT

C++ Programming requires you to take a proctored midterm examination as well as to complete and submit a project. Consult the course Calendar for the scheduling of this exam and project.

Note that the midterm exam is open book but not open notes. In this regard you are permitted to bring only the authorized textbook to the exam. The textbook must be an original bound hard copy; electronic textbooks (or printouts) are not allowed. You are also not allowed to bring any loose pages or notes, either typed or printed, or to consult a solutions manual or any other reference sources or sources of information.

Midterm Examination
The midterm examination covers the material assigned in Chapters 1 through 10 of the textbook during modules 1-3. The examination is three hours long and contains ten (10) objective items and three (3) programming problems. Note that the exam is open book but not open notes.

You may take the midterm examination only during the designated exam week, at an approved location, and with an approved proctor. In this regard, you need to schedule your midterm exam and submit your "Proctor Request Form" with the necessary documentation no later than the end of the first week of the semester (see Administrative Forms in the General Information area of the course Web site).

If you are on a course extension and have not yet taken the midterm exam, you must let your examination proctor know when you plan to take the exam and contact the Office of Test Administration (609-984-1181) two weeks in advance to request that your exam be sent to the proctor.

For more information on scheduling a proctored examination, see the section Examinations and Proctors in the Online Student Handbook.

Final Project
There is no final exam in this course. Instead, you will complete a final project. The final project contains five programming problems and will focus primarily on the material in the sections of textbook Chapters 11–18 and 24 that are listed in the "Course Calendar." However, because all computing is cumulative, you should review all the material in the course for the final project.

The five programming problems are available to you now—you can download these problems at any time from the Final Project area of the course site.

You will submit your final project through the Assignment feature in Blackboard, exactly as you have been submitting your Assignments throughout the course. In other words, submit the .cpp source code files just as you would for an assignment that calls for a program. (If you have unique needs concerning Internet access or availability, you should have already made special arrangements with your mentor for assignment submissions and will continue those arrangements.) There will be a separate assignment link for each of the five problems in the project. All of these links will be found in the Final Project area of this course. Be sure you use the proper assignment link to get the proper credit for each problem. The problems vary in complexity and so have different weightings for your total project grade.

You may begin working on your final project at any time you are ready. Submit your final project no later than midnight Saturday (eastern time) of Week 12. If you are on a course extension, you will need to contact your mentor about the proper due date.

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GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

Letter grades for online participation, written assignments, and the course examinations are based on the following numerical grades:

To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of D or higher on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings, projects, papers, etc.). You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted.

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STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success
To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

1. Read carefully the entire Syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.



2. Take the time to read the entire Online Student Handbook. The Handbook answers many questions about how to proceed through the course, how to schedule exams and arrange for proctors, and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State College.



3. Arrange to take your midterm examination by following the instructions in the Online Student Handbook. Then complete the "Proctor Request Form" and submit it to the Office of Test Administration (OTA). You must make arrangements to take your midterm examination and send in your "Proctor Request Form" to OTA before the end of the first week of the current semester. (See Administrative Forms in the General Information area of the course Web site.)



4. Familiarize yourself with the Blackboard environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.



5. If you are not familiar with Web-based learning, or specifically with the Blackboard platform, be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.

Study Tips
Consider the following study tips for success:

1. To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the course Calendar. The calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments, posting discussions, and scheduling and taking your examinations. For details on each assignment module and a complete listing of learning activities, go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site.



2. Familiarize yourself with the layout of the required textbook for this course. Note that there is a table of contents, an index, and several appendices to help you find material you are looking for. You will also find support material and sample programs on the CD enclosed with the text.



3. It is highly recommended that you review all the example programs in the textbook. (Their features are described in the text's Preface on page xxvi.) You are encouraged to study, compile, and follow all the programs in the textbook. Many of these programs are already given on your textbook CD and just need to be copied to your computer for compilation and running.



4. The Self-Review Exercises and Exercises provided at the end of each chapter in the textbook may help you to solidify your learning. These are not required assignments and should not be submitted to your mentor for grading. Note that answers are given for the Self-Review Exercises. Answers to some of the end-of-chapter Exercises are available in the text's online Cyber Classroom. (After you register and log in with the information on the first page of your textbook, select the pull-down menu "Resources" and choose "Download." Then choose "Student Solution Manual.") To test your comprehension, try to answer these questions before looking at the answers.



5. It will be helpful when you are preparing for your exams to review all of the written assignments, even the problem(s) you choose not to submit in the assignments that offer choices.



6. Check the Announcements page and class Discussion Board regularly for new course information.

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