Instructor: Kenneth L Moore [ home ]
Phone: (724) 325-6778   E-mail: kmoore@ccac.edu Office: N457
Text:     Recommended: Java 2 the Complete Reference, 4th Ed by  Schildt, Osborne/Mcgraw Hill

This course introduces students to problem solving by means of object-oriented design and implementation. Emphasis is on problem analysis and solution design, documentation and implementation. Students use commercial software libraries, and create Web-centric projects. Programming assignments are carried out in Java. Topics: modularity and abstraction; encapsulation; inheritance; polymorphism; use and creation of software libraries; dynamically allocated data; simple recursively-defined data structures. This is Carnegie Technology Education (CTE/CMU) course SSD3; it is comparable to CIT130, and can be used in place of CIT130 in all CCAC programs.
Prerequisites: CIT501 

• Understand the structure of an object-oriented environment using Java as the vehicle language

• Use  language constructs and software libraries to solve problems of reasonable complexity

• Design classes that meet software reuse requirements

• Use inheritance and polymorphism in conjunction with appropriate API classes

• Use error/exception handling techniques.

• Use input/output streams and  file access methods.

• Use linked lists for dynamic processing of data

• Use simple recursively-defined data structures

• Use language and API classes with considerable fluency

• Use graphical user interface components

• Understand and properly use the common terminology used in the Java programming environment

Class Work: This course uses course materials from  CTE/CMU's server. In addition to a CCAC network account, you will be assigned a CTE account.  The course is divided into 3 units.  Each unit is composed of reading materials, 3 homework assignments, a multiple choice quiz, a practical quiz and a unit exam.  Prior to accessing the course materials on the CTE server, you need to take a brief pretest .

As part of your preparation, do the assigned readings, multiple choice quizzes  and  homeworks. You should do assigned readings before class. Allocate sufficient time for the homework assignments.  Take the  practical quizzes and exams. You may re-take multiple choice (MC) quizzes up to 5 times.  Note that MC quiz scores do not count towards your final grade but the quiz questions may appear in the MC exams, so it is in your best interest to re-take MC quizzes for practice.

Classes will typically begin with a lecture focused on key concepts.  Class time will be devoted to working through  homeworks  - so your advance preparation is important to take advantage of the class time and ask questions that will help you complete the required work.

The course is intense and requires a serious time commitment to accomplish the required tasks.  Expect to spend 150 hours or more on this course over the semester if you are confident in your programming skills - more if you are a novice.  Your success in this course is to a large extend dependent on your  individual self motivation and participation in doing the assigned work. You want to stay current with the course material since it  is cumulative and once you get behind it is difficult to catch up.

Please note that the schedule for your section is not cast in concrete and may be modified based on class progress. Consider it my best time estimate at the outset of the class. Feel free to ask questions - the "dumb questions" are the ones not asked. 

Homework Assignments (Labs): Lab evaluation will be based on correctness, timely submittal and good style. Please note that every homework submittal must have the following elements to receive credit:

(1) Student Name (2) Homework/Assignment  Identification

Course Materials: In addition to the CTE course material which is your primary source,    You will find find Java the Complete Reference - (3rd of 4rth edition used in CIT501) very helpful as well. 

An excellent interactive online tutorial may be helpful to explain a number of topics - (if you like a slow pace).

Sample Demo Programs: Homework and demo programs supporting the CTE course materials are on the CTE server. 

Quizzes & Exams: Since the questions in the multiple choice quizzes do appear in the Unit Exams, it is a good idea to retake the quizzes as frequently as permitted.  Practical  quizzes are  timed take-home programming assignment  intended to  provide exam practice.

Each Unit Exam has  two components: a multiple-choice part and a practical part.  These are graded separately. The multiple-choice section is similar to the quizzes. The practical programming section is  patterned after the practical quizzes and homework activities.
 
Class Attendance & Course Withdrawal: Your class attendance is important for your success in this class. We will work through problems and assignments that you need to get a handle on to succeed in the class.  If you must miss class, get my online class notes and notes from class mates. Recognize however, that looking through a fellow students notes is not a substitute for being there.

If you decide to take a "W" grade, please fill out the appropriate form. Simply not coming to class does not mean you have withdrawn.

 

CTE/CMU Certification

For students persuing the CTE/CMU professional certification, please note that this is awarded by CTE on the basis of exam scores and is independent of your CCAC course grade.  CTE certification for this course is based on achieving 80% or above on each component (MC and practical) of the 3 exams and the Cumulative  MC evaluation.  In other words, it's based on assessments of the student's mastery of the course material.  The homeworks, quizzes and practical quizzes are all preparations for the assessments.  

For more information about this program, refer to the CIT/CTE web page