Computers and Cognition, Spring 2011, 8 credits
Faculty: Ab VanEtten, compncog11@hotmail.com
Meeting Times: Tuesday and Thursday, 6-10pm Library ACC
What types of problems can be solved by computation? How do humans and computers differ in the types of problems they can solve? What is the future of computing, and will computers evolve an intelligence that includes what we would define as human thought? Can computers learn or create on their own? This course will explore the basics of computer science, how computers work, and their possibilities and limits. The course will include basic programming in Javascript, Web development, introductory computer electronics and other computer science topics. We will then look at how computers will likely affect the way we live, work and relate in the future. We will compare and contrast computer technology’s potential with human cognition and consciousness in Seminar.
Books:
A Balanced Introduction to Computer Science, 3ed. Reed
Are We Spiritual Machines? Ray Kurzweil
Prerequisites: It is highly encouraged that you have a home computer with internet access. We will conduct help sessions online. While you can use the school’s computers, you will find it more convenient to have your own computer. You should be familiar with computers. We will instruct in the Windows/IE environment.
Evaluation: Assignments, Programs, Programming competencies, Presentations, Participation, Content Examinations
Schedule: Keep this handy. It will be updated throughout the quarter, but it is a guide
| Date | Topics | Readings R=Reed, K= | Programs |
| March 29 | Syl, About Computers, HW,SW, OS, TTT, Model, HTML, IO | RCh 1,2: K Intro | Setup,PPage |
| March 31 | JavaScript, Input/Output, GUI, Computer Golfer, | RCh 4: KCh1 | Form Letter |
| April 5 | The Internet, Calculations if JS, Variables, Sem1 | RCh3,5 | Change |
| April 7 | History of Comps, Revolution Vs Evolution, Prog. Process, Brain | RCh6,12: KCh2 | Movie, Dec Tab |
| April 12 | Compare and Branch, If statement, Sem 2 | RCh11,13: | |
| April 14 | Compare and Branch, While statement, Coding, Pseudocode | RCh7: KCh3 | Craps |
| April 19 | Functions. Needed? Pseudocode 2, Parameters, | RCh9: KCh4 | Craps2 |
| April 21 | Read and Write Code, Event/OOP programming | KCh5 | Craps2 |
| April 26 | Runtime stack, tracing parameters, Programming Languages | RCh8: KCh6 | TTT |
| April 28 | Arrays and Strings | RCh15,17 | TTT |
| May 3 | Arrays, 2dim, Strings, Mastermind, Soft Engr. | KCh7 | |
| May 5 | How a computer works, Transistors, Gates, Adders | RCh14 | TTT, MastMind |
| May 10 | Simulating the computer. What a computer can and cannot do | RCh16 KCh8 | MM |
| May 12 | Brain/Cognition Presentation Comp Test, Sem 4, Computer Sci | RCh10 | MM |
| May 17 | Computer Science, Search/Sorts, | RCh18 | MM, 8puz |
| May 19 | Computers and Society, Programming Competencies | KCh9 | 8puz |
| May 24 | Art. Intellegence, A*, Databases | KCh10 | 8puz |
| May 26 | Computers and Society | 8puz | |
| May 31 | Reveiw | ||
| June 2 | Final Examinations, Coding contests, Group Evaluations | ||
| June 6-10 | EVALUATIONS |