Syllabus

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