Online Learning Support
Southern Connecticut State University
Department of Library Science and Instructional Technology

Mary E. Brown, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Information Science
Brown@SouthernCT.edu

CONTENTS:
Course Syllabi
Course Resources
Online Study
For Advisees
News/Weather
Reference Works

LSI 550-70: Programming for Library/Information Centers
Spring 2000

NOTE: for the purposes of online courses, "class," "in-class," "classroom," "participate," "discuss," "present," "presentation" refer to activities online. The final exam will be online as are any quizzes.
Instructor:
Mary E. Brown, Ph.D. [Prof. Brown]
Brown@SouthernCT.edu
SPRING HOURS
CLASS:
online, beginning October 4

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

An introductory computer programming course emphasizing the solution of typical library science problems.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
  1. Explain the thought process and design behind programming
  2. Describe which languages fit their individual needs
  3. Understand the basics of at least three programming languages (such as QBASIC , VISUAL-BASIC , C , C++ or JAVA)
  4. 4. Write and run a program to solve a library science problem

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

  • Prior to the course, read all material under Suggestions for Success in Online Courses and Online Etiquette and Guidelines for Online Participation on the instructor's website.
  • Prior to the course, familiarize yourself with OnlineCSU's courseware and navigation on the Web.
  • Reading assigned text and course notes prepared by the instructor.
  • Participating in weekly online discussions and activities.
  • Reading in the library science or instructional technology literature and related fields relevant to an area of research selected by the student
  • Developing an independent research proposal
  • Conducting a preliminary and a pilot study
  • Producing a comprehensive written analysis and discussion of completed study

REQUIRED TEXT:

Perry, G. (1998). Teach yourself Beginning Programming in 24 Hours. Indianapolis, IN: SAMS. ISBN: 0-672-31355-3.

COURSE PROJECT:

Each student will identify a library problem, select an appropriate language, and write a program which solves the problem. [The course project will comprise 50% of your final grade.]

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE:

General knowledge of course content (50% of final grade) will be measured as follows:
  • one quarter determined by participation in threaded discussions;
  • one half determined by submission of case progblems and structured programs to shared documents;
  • one quarter determined by end-of-unit exercises and exams.

FINAL EXAM

All students will take a final examination (online), which will be held during Southern's final exam week. The final exam will cover solving a case problem.

CLASS PARTICIPATION:

Each student is expected to participate in weekly online discussions and activities. Each student will be responsible for leading a number of online discussions based on assigned and supplementary readings (and shared summaries of these readings).

CLASS ATTENDANCE:

Attendance is automatically monitored and recorded by the OnlineCSU courseware. While it is expected that every student will participate regularly, there may be times when illness, official university activities, etc., force a student to miss a day(s) of online activity. Final course grades may be lowered for each unexcused absence from online activity. Attendance for the purpose of this course is defined as a combination of frequency and duration of activity in any given week. A student who does not participate--or participates only marginally--in any one week can expect to have their final grade lowered by 10% for each week of "absence" from the course. For example, a student does not participate for a week and has not received written permission from the instructor for the absence; if the student's grade would otherwise be an "A" (4.0), it is now a B+ (3.6) and if the student's grade would otherwise be an "A-" (3.7), it is now a B+ (3.3). [A=4.0; A-=3.7-3.9; B+=3.3=3.6; B=3.0-3.2; any average below 3.0 (B) is below expected graduate level performance.]

SPECIAL NEEDS:

Any student with long term or short term special needs should contact Dr. Brown, Brown@SouthernCT.edu, and give specific instructions on adaptions or accommodations needed.

TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE:

Unit I
Jan. 24-30
Computers as tools
Computer hardware unmasked
Read Perry, pp. 5-43
Answer quizzes pp. 23 & 43 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
First case study problem due
Unit II
Jan. 31-Feb. 6
What is a program?
The program's design
Read Perry, pp. 45-87
Answer quizzes pp. 64 & 87 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
Second case study problem due
Unit III
Feb. 7-13
The programming process and structured techniques
Programming languages: The early years
Read Perry, pp. 89-124
Answer quizzes pp. 102 & 124 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
Third case study problem due
Unit IV
Feb. 14-20 [SCSU closed Feb. 18-19]
Programming languages: Modern day
Your first language: QBasic
Read Perry, pp. 125-165
Answer quizzes pp. 143 & 165 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
Fourth case study problem due
Unit V
Feb. 21-27 [SCSU closed Feb. 21]
Inpur and output
Read Perry, pp. 145-165
Answer quiz p. 165 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
Final case study problem due
Unit VI
Feb. 28-Mar. 5
Data processing and QBasic
Read Perry, pp. 183-200
Answer quiz p. 200 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
Unit VII
Mar. 6-12
Managing data and disk files
Read Perry, pp. 201-220
Answer quiz p. 220 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
Unit VIII
Mar. 13-19 [Spring break Mar. 18-26]
Having fun with QBasic
Read Perry, pp. 221-240
Answer quiz p. 240 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
Unit IX
Mar. 27-Apr. 2
Windows programming considerations;
Programming with visual basic
Read Perry, pp. 241-277
Answer quizzes pp. 258 & 277 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
First case study assignment due
Unit X
Apr. 3-9
Programming with C;
Programming with C++
Read Perry, pp. 279-314
Answer quizzes pp. 297 & 314 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
Second case study assignment due
Unit XI
Apr. 10-16
Programming algorithms;
Batch, macro, and scripting languages
Read Perry, pp. 315-357
Answer quizzes pp. 340 & 357 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
Third case study assignment due
Unit XII
Apr. 17-23 [SCSU closed Apr. 21-22]
Internet programming concepts;
Programming with Java
Read Perry, pp. 343-391
Answer quizzes pp. 373 & 391 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
Fourth case study assignment due
Unit XIII
Apr. 24-30
How companies program;
Debugging tools
Read Perry, pp. 393-427
Answer quizzes pp. 412 & 427 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
Last case study assignment due
Unit XIV
May 1-7
Distributing you applications
Read Perry, pp. 429-442
Answer quiz p. 442 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
Unit XV
May 8-14 [Reading Days Apr. 11-12]
The future of programming
Read Perry, pp. 443-457
Answer quiz p. 458 to self and check answers on pp. 459-476
Unit XVI
May 15-19
Final Exam Week

           

                       

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    Last Modified Friday September 7 1999

This site is maintained by Mary E. Brown, Ph.D. Art work by Valerie Samandar; photograph of sculpture on Southern's campus.
The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author and have not been reviewed or approved by the University.