Class
Description
Course Abstract:
This course looks at the inner
workings of a computer and computer systems. It is an introduction to computer
architecture, as well as touching on issues of software engineering, and the
fundamentals of operating systems. Specific topics include assembly language
programming, memory and I/O issues, and the techniques of software design,
implementation, and testing as a group. This course is programming intensive..
Computing Resources:
All
class members will have accounts on and programming assignment should run on
these machines without modification.
Grading:
a.
programming projects
30%
b.
weekly homework
assignments and quizzes 25%
c.
in-class
participation 5%
d.
midterm exam and
possible final if required 30%
***exams will be on material in class
and the text ***
It is very important to keep up with reading and class
attendance is required.
Attendance:
Announcements made during normal
class meetings are official communications for this course. Although I do not always take attendance,
regular attendance is expected. Lab
attendance is mandatory. Consequently,
absence is no excuse for failure to act in accordance with class
announcements. If you miss class, talk
with your classmates to find out what you missed. Class participation is a part
of the grade.
Working
on Assignments:
All
assignments submitted for grading are to be done independently, unless
specified by the instructor as a group assignment. All assignments should be typed. I will not accept handwritten assignments.
All
programming assignments are to be individual work and are graded on the
completeness and correctness of the program results and answers to any
accompanying questions. Follow
instructions exactly. For example if an
assignment tells you not to change the order in which
statements are given, then don’t. Programs
that do not generate correct results will rarely get more than 60%. Comments in your code may help in determining
partial credit when your solution is not completely correct. Avoid writing useless comments such as: LDR R0, B; load B into R0
Lab/programming
assignments are due on the dates specified.
Late assignments lose five points for each day late. Labs will not be accepted beyond 3 days
unless some other arrangement has been made with me in advance. Bring one or two floppy disks with you to the
laboratory in order to save project files.
This protects you in the event that the network goes down and your home
directory cannot be accessed. Inability to access your account is not an
acceptable excuse for not finishing a programming assignment.
It
is extremely important to keep up to date in this class. The lectures and labs are integral parts of
this course. In order to understand the
material covered in a given day, it is important that you understand the
material and concepts covered on previous days.
The most successful approach to this course is to work regularly on
readings and assignments. Don’t put
things off until you feel pressured by a deadline as problem solving typically
takes longer than you expect it will. If
you get behind, don’t wait to get help.
Ask questions in class and come to office hours.