CS 10051: Introduction to Computer Science

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CS 10051 Introduction to Computer Science

• What is the course about?

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Organizations for the first course in computer
science

• 1) A programming course Learn the language of
  the year be it Java, C, C, Python, Visual
  Basic, etc.
• Problems with this approach
• Students come to believe computer science is the
  same as programming. It isnt.
• Programming is to computer science like writing
  is to an English major. All computer scientists
  can program, but they do many other things as
  well.

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Organizations - continued

• 2) Study the hardware only. How is data
  represented in a computer? How does a computer
  function?
• Problems with this approach
• Computer science is not just about machines
  although all computer scientists understand the
  basics of how a computer is logically
  constructed.
• Machines are to computer science like microscopes
  are to biologists and telescopes are to
  astronomers.
• However, the computer is a bit more complicated
  than these and some understanding of its
  innards helps explain why certain things can
  and cannot be done.

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Organization - continued

• 3) Learn how to use various types of software
  such as word processors, spreadsheets, web
  designers, etc.
• Problems with this approach
• Most computer scientists view these tasks as
  being in the realm of computer literacy, not
  computer science.
• While computer scientists can use these tools,
  normally they do not take courses covering these
  topics.
• These topics are covered in CS10001 (Computer
  Literacy)

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Organization - continued

• 4) Depth first approach start with the most
  abstract ideas, the development of algorithms,
  and concentrate on these. Only after many designs
  are done, will any concrete examples be examined.
• Problem with this approach
• Many students, especially beginning students,
  have difficulty with the level of abstraction,
  although some do find it a worthwhile approach.

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Organization - continued

• 5) Breath first provide an overview of many
  topics and some depth in each.
• Hardware
• System software
• Programming languages
• Algorithm design
• Applications such as artificial intelligence,
  database, natural language processing, etc.
• Complexity theory

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Breadth First Organization

• This is the approach we will take. Its somewhat
  like learning the first week of many upper
  division courses.
• One goal is to help you answer, What does a
  computer scientist do? and What cant a
  computer do? We hope that knowing those answers
  will help you no matter what you decide to do in
  the future.
• And, of course, we hope you will find that
  working with computers is FUN and intellectually
  stimulating!

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Course goals

• 1. To introduce you to the formal discipline of
  computer science and its terminology.
• 2. To foster your appreciation of the range of
  ideas that form the bedrock on which the
  discipline of computer science rests.
• 3. To hone your abilities to use scientific
  methodology for investigating the nature and use
  of computing in the world.
• 4. To develop in you an appreciation of what
  computing can do and can not do to aid the study
  of any discipline.

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Course goals continued

• 5. To introduce the experimental as well as the
  inductive nature of the computer science
  discipline and help you distinguish between these
  approaches.
• 6. To improve your ability to write and discuss
  scientific issues in computing.
• 7. To improve your ability to read and understand
  scientific materials in computing.
• 8. To develop in you a familiarity with computing
  that will allow you to grow with the discipline
  in future years.

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What are not goals for course

• To instruct you in the use of specific computing
  products such as Microsoft Office Products or a
  particular operating system.
• 2. To instruct you which button to push on which
  screen.
• 3. To teach you to program in the "computer
  language of the year".
• 4. To make you an expert in all of the areas on
  which we will touch.