Teacher: Fred Kral, Ph.D.
Email me: fkral
Call classroom: 415-339-9336 x111
Get info: http://teach.kralsite.com
Course Description
The Java elective is an introduction to computer science. Much of the course is spent programming, but the focus is on problem-solving techniques commonly used in computer science. Students learn to express algorithms in the standard computer programming language Java. Students build a foundation by mastering procedural programming (basic control structures, strings, file input/output, and arrays) before building object-oriented programs. Yet, throughout the year students are introduced to object-oriented programming concepts and principles by adding and modifying code in hands-on simulations, games, and animations. Students complete several substantial projects. In addition to programming, students learn about computer architecture, such as how computers deal with data and instructions, the internal components of a computer, and the underlying computer logic.
Text and materials
- Reges, Stuart and Marty Stepp. Building Java Programs, Third Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson (Addison-Wesley), 2014. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-336090-5. Student Value Edition, loose leaf: ISBN-13: 978-0-13-337527-5. Required.
- Practice-It! website, http://practiceit.cs.washington.edu. Required.
- Kölling, Michael. Introduction to Programming with Greenfoot: Object-Oriented Programming in Java with Games and Simulations. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2010. Softcover format ISBN-13: 978-0-13-603753-8. Required.
- http://www.greenfoot.org/. Greenfoot main website with software. Required.
- http://www.joyofcode.org/. Greenfoot video course. Recommended.
- The Java Tutorial, Oracle website, http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial. Strongly recommended.
- Stackoverflow website, http://stackoverflow.com. Strongly recommended.
- Laptop computer: a dependable, relatively recent, and reasonably fast computer is required. Windows, OS X, or Ubuntu. Required.
- 16 GB USB flash memory stick. Required.
- Pencil and paper.
Assessment
| Progress in work ("HW"): completing assignments. Assessed relative to each student's goal. | 5 points per assignment |
| Quantity of work: taking on work that goes further and deeper. Assessed relative to the full curriculum. | 50 points per semester |
| End-Semester Assessment: Final Project. | 20% of course grade |
| Participation: positive energy and interest level during in-class work including listening to others, contributing to discussion, completing assignments, working on projects, helping others, volunteering to research questions, and practicing during class. Assessed informally. | 20 points per week |
| Commitment to learning: Taking on what is challenging to you, getting help, communicating with the teacher, engaging with the material, and documenting work in an online notebook and in the computer code itself. Assessed informally. | 100 points per semester |
| Projects: quality, design, complexity, difficulty, originality, correctness, executability, code comments, and documentation. | 100 points per project |
| Resourcefulness: developing self-reliance and independence by getting help in multiple ways including using textbooks, finding Internet help, looking at old code (from yourself or others), getting help from different students, forming a group of students, and asking the teacher for help. | 200 points per semester |
Class computer use policy
Personal and school computers shall be used for Computer Science only. Programming is tiring. It is tempting to engage in off-topic activities. Thus, from time to time, students may take breaks during which they shall not use any technology. The Marin School supports the responsible use of technology on our campus. Students who violate the school Technology Policy, as written in the Parent and Student Handbook, will be expelled from the classroom. This will lead to disciplinary consequences.
Late work policy and tardy policy
The teacher enters grades once per week on a weekday communicated to the students. Students get credit for late work up to that weekly deadline. Students who are late to class or leave the classroom for an extended time during class receive a maximum of 60% of the day's in-class work credit.
I encourage study groups. You may work with others (not just students) unless instructed otherwise as long as all of you contribute. It is wise to put the name of each contributing student on an assignment to avoid issues with plagiarism.
Come visit or email! – Fred