CPSC 203 — Course Goals and Topics
As mentioned on the previous page, this course has three major objectives.
You will learn to use application software more effectively to solve problems. In particular, you will learn how to use spreadsheets and database managements sytems.
A significant number of the lectures in this course will discuss general principles that you can apply to develop solutions for problems using virtually any of these kinds of software that are currently available. Tutorials and reading exercises will help you to learn to use the programs that are part of Microsoft Office, namely, the spreadsheet program Excel, and the database management system Access.
You will learn a little bit about computer programming — enough for you to be able to write programs that solve simple problems.
There are many different programming languages one might choose to learn. In this course we will use Jython, which is an implementation of (and essentially the same as) the programming language Python We chose this language because it reasonably easy to learn and use, so that you should be able to solve interesting problems with it quite quickly.
You will learn a little bit about the discipline of computer science, specifically, about (at least) two parts of this discipline that will help you to use computers more effectively — computer organization and computer networking.
Logic and Set Theory (3 lectures): We will use language and ideas from these areas of mathematics throughout the course. Our primary reference for this material will be Chapter 1 of the CPSC 203 Course Notes.
Spreadsheets (1 Lecture): These programs are frequently used to prepare budgets and other financial reports. The lecture will provide general information that will help you to use these programs effectively. Our primary reference for this material will be Chapters 14 and 15 of the recommended textbook.
Graphs and Trees (3 lectures): These mathematical structures are incredibly useful for the modelling of many, many things. Chapter 3 of the CPSC 203 Course Notes will be our primary reference for this topic.
Databases (4 lectures): Lectures will focus on general information that can be used to solve problems with a wide variety of database management systems. Chapter 5 of the CPSC 203 Course Notes will be our primary reference; additional information can be found in Chapter 16 of the the recommended textbook.
Computer Organization (4 Lectures): Information about the components of a modern computer, including central processing units, memory and second storage, and I/O devices, as well as informaition about the binary number system, and its use by computers to represent and manipulate information. Chapter 4 of the CPSC 203 Course Notes will be our main reference for this topic. Chapters 8 and 9 of the the recommended textbook include additional information about this topic.
Computer Programming using Jython (4 Lectures): A brief introduction to the process that is used to develop computer software, like the application programs you learned about earlier in the course. Chapter 2 of the CPSC 203 Course Notes will be the primary reference for this.
Computer Networking (2 Lectures): Information about how computers talk to each other.
If you’ve added things up you may have noticed that this does not, quite, take us to the end of the term. A substantial course project will be a significant part of this course, and the final four lecture times will be used for project presentations.
