Syllabus

Counsel from President Monson

At the advent of a new year, I challenge Latter-day Saints everywhere to undertake a personal, diligent, significant quest for what I call the abundant life-a life filled with an abundance of success, goodness, and blessings. Just as we learned the ABCs in school, I offer my own ABCs to help us all gain the abundant life.

  • A - Have a positive Attitude.
  • B - Believe-in yourself, in those around you, and in eternal principles.
  • C - Face challenges with Courage. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, "I'll try again tomorrow."
Living the Abundant Life, Ensign, Jan 2012

Textbook

Barzee, Programming Fundamentals in JavaScript, 2017, ISBN 978-0-9962463-3-0 available for free in I-Learn. Available at the BYU-Idaho Book Store. Compare prices for your textbooks through the University Store Price Comparison Site. This tool will Show you all of the options from the University Store plus several options to help you find the best price.

Note

There are some small differences between the printed textbook and the content offered for free in I-Learn in this course. All readings, quizzes, and assignments will be based on the online content, NOT the printed textbook.

The author of the book has provided it to you free of charge in the I-Learn course. The chapters you need for your assignments in this course are embedded in the lessons. If you want to have the book when the course is finished, or if you'd like to have everything in one place, you may purchase it for $16 at the BYU-Idaho Bookstore or for $9.95 on Amazon as a Kindle edition. Notice that with the Kindle edition, you need to download and install a free kindle reader application if you do not own a Kindle.

Software

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of computers and information technology.

Course Topics

  • Computer hardware
  • Algorithm development and debugging
  • Variables and data types
  • Boolean logic, including compound search queries
  • Program control structures
  • Writing and calling functions
  • Arrays

Course Objectives

Each student will develop fundamental knowledge and skills in computing and technology by doing the following:

  1. Understand basic computer hardware architecture, including the function of each component and how the components interact.
  2. Understand basic computer software architecture, including operating system and application.
  3. Create a simple web page using HTML 5 that validates using the w3c validator.
  4. Write and evaluate compound boolean expressions.
  5. Use segmentation (divide & conquer) to design a solution for a simple programming problem.
  6. Trouble shoot simulated real world problems and incorrect computer code.
  7. Develop and debug a JavaScript computer program using the three basic programming control structures (sequence, selection, repetition), functions, and arrays.

Learning Model Architecture

Students will prepare by reading the textbook and doing the practice activities individually or in groups.

Students will teach one another by working together on group assignments and providing peer review on work.

Students will ponder how the course applies to their lives.

Students will prove through assessments and final projects.

Time Consumption

Remember, because this is a three-credit course, you will spend approximately 9 hours each week doing the homework. Do not plan otherwise. The most important thing to remember is to pace yourself. Set aside time throughout the week to complete your assignments.

Because this course follows the organization of the Learning Model, there are many opportunities to teach and work together with your peers. You should not treat this as an independent study course where you can work ahead on your own. In fact if you are working ahead on your own you will be missing key activities where peer review is required. Instead, stay within the weekly schedules set in the course schedule and put any additional time into helping others in peer review activities. Make sure to complete all learning activities for one lesson before the next lesson begins!

Requirements

For this course, you will need a microphone and a headset in order to participate in the Office Hours activities each week. These activities are optional, but they are in place to help answer any questions you have about course material or general course questions.

This course requires you to read and understand computer programming text books and develop computer programs. A keyboarding skill of at least 35 words per minute is strongly recommended.

Where Do I Get Help?

This course uses specialized practices and resources that may require additional support not normally offered to other courses. As always, you have your Online Instructor as your first line of support.

For individual help with your course work specifically, you may want to consider requesting a tutor at the Online Tutor Center.

For more general support you always have access to the Online Support Center and IT Help Desk, although they may not be able to help with the specific technical support often needed for this CIT course.

Grading

Your grade will be computed according to the following table:

Task Percent of Final Grade
Quizzes, Homework, Projects, Peer Review, Discussion Boards, etc. 50%
Exam 1 15%
Exam 2 15%
Final Exam 20%

To see the relative weight of each assignment in the course, view the gradebook. The gradebook is under the My Grades tab and then select "Grades".

Homework Assignments

Students may work together to complete homework assignments, but each student must complete and turn in his own work. See Calendar for all homework due dates. There are three types of homework assignments in this class: review questions, desk checks, and computer programs.

  1. You are allowed multiple attempts on the desk checks to complete them correctly.
  2. You should submit working versions of your programs to the weekly peer review. The peer review helps you to improve your programs for your weekly final versions.
  3. You will submit the final version of your programs by the end of each week.

Exams

Exam questions will be drawn from the course text and assignments. There will be three exams during the semester.

Late Work

CIT department policy states that professors should not accept late work unless a student is ill. Therefore, your instructor will not accept any late work, including homework, quizzes, and exams unless you are ill. If possible, please email your instructor before an assignment or exam is due to inform your instructor that you are ill.

Cheating

If you cheat on any assignment or exam, you will receive a zero (0) for that assignment or exam and will be referred to the student honor office. You can read what constitutes cheating on the website of the student honor office.

Harassment

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an education program or activity that receives federal funds, including Federal loans and grants. Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender based discrimination, please contact the Personnel Office at 208-496-1700.

Disability

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere which reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability which may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office, (208) 496-4271. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by this office. If you need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures. You should contact the Personnel Office at 208-496-1700.