SOFTWARE DESIGN

COURSE OUTLINE & CLASS PROCEDURES

ASSUMPTION: During this semester students will work in the Math Computer Lab. Students will treat all equipment with respect. It is to be used for the assigned purpose and nothing else. Vandalism, profanity in programs, tampering with someone else’s programs, misuse of equipment or cheating will result in an automatic “F”on projects and loss of Lab privileges. CD’s or outside disks brought to the lab without teacher permission will be confiscated and not returned.

GRADES: Points will be given for various activities:

Homework Projects

Tests Appropriate use of lab time

Quizzes Lab activities

PROCEDURES FOR PROJECTS: After the introductory lessons on programming you will be assigned approximately one program each week. You should finish the assignment as soon as possible. You will usually be given two weeks to finish a project but a new one will be assigned before the first is due.

When the program assignment is made the program will be listed with a due date. Points will be deducted from programs that are turned in after the due date. Coding is to be done in the lab. An assignment folder will be available in the lab. Finished projects need to be listed on the assignment sheet in the folder. A hard copy of any Qbasic code placed in the assignment folder and code on the assignment disk. Projects are to be saved using your last name ( or part of it) and the number of the assignment. For example, if I were a student, my project one would be saved as Howe1.bas and project two as Howe2.bas and so on.

With few exceptions we will have a one way policy with the use of disks. When you finish your projects you may take them home if you wish by transferring them to a new disk. No disks are to be used on the machines from home without explicit permission. If you work on programs at home you will have to type in the code on the school machines.

TESTS: Tests will be given and graded in a conventional manner. Tests are always cumulative.

GRADES: Grades will be determined by dividing points by possible points and determining a percent grade.

93-100 A

85-92 B

75-84 C

70-74 D

69 and below F

TOPICS: Topics for the semester (subject to change)

First interim:

Binary, Hexadecimal arithmetic, RGB colors, Computer history.

Easy BASIC and TI-Caculator Programming Data

types, flags, strings, sorting. These programs are “exercises” their purpose is to

increase your understanding.

Second interim

More complex Basic/ Math applications/Random numbers/ Matrices/

Music and Animation/ Files Concept of structured programming.

Graphics, Radian Measure, files, Select Case,

Third interim

Transition to Visual Basic. Introductory project. Educational Project.

Fourth interim

Moving on: Other languages Pascal, C, Fortran, Visual Basic, HTML

One or Two major projects in Visual Basic.

Final exam

When the course is done:

You should be able to write code for any formula in math or science.

You should be able to write a simulation of most “chance”

activities or science experiments.

You should be able to write programs involving graphics, animation and music.

You should understand manipulation of string variables, sorting, and

various computer algorithms.

THE PRIME DIRECTIVE:

We need ideas!

The purpose of this course is to produce the software needed for the classes taught at FHS. Try and think of creative ways we can use computers to make learning easier, fun and more effective not just in math but in any or every course.

In the course of this semester some math videos may be shown during class time including:

The Pirates of Silicon Valley

Bill Gates, Biography

Computer History