CSCE 145: Fall 2006

Final Grades

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:39:05 EST

The final grades have been submitted to VIP. As I understand it, you should be able to check your grades there shortly. As I said, I took the grade from the final test in place of your lowest test grade, if the final was a better. The distribution for the laboratory grades is
<img src="labsdist.png"></img><br/> The distribution for the final test is the following:

The distribution for the final grade, taking into account all grades from the semsester, is (note that this only shows those that took the final and test 3, that is, those who did not give up)

The curve I used on the grades above was:

80 or above is A, else
70 or above is B, else
60 or above is C, else
50 or above is D
otherswise F.

I also bumped up a couple of people that were close to the higher grade and had done well on the final. Have a good break!

Final Now Posted

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:56:54 EST

Here is the final test with solutions. The test should be graded by Monday and your final grade will appear in VIP shortly after. If you want your grade for the final test you can either email me or drop by by office to get your graded test back. Have a good break!

Test 3 Grade Distribution

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 15:00:03 EST

Your graded test 3 will be handed out Friday during lab. Below is the grade distribution for this test

Final Practice Test

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 13:07:59 EST

Here is the practice final test. You will notice that it includes problems from topcoder. If you had fun solving them (you know you did) then you should consider joining our ACM student chapter as we will be participating in some local competitions.
On an unrelated note, there is an interesting article on Spectrum magazine about the people at Insomniac games and their efforts to write games for the new Sony playstation 3. It goes a bit into the challenges of writing software for the PS3's new cell processor.

Final Grade Curve

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 11:52:16 EST

The final grade for the class will be calculated using the formula I gave you. However, that is just the point amount. The actual letter grade (A, B, C...) will be determined by me once those numbers are in. The standard curve (A:90, B:80, and so on) establishes a lower bound for the grade you will receive. However, it is quite possible that the final curve will have to be moved down, thus increasing your final grade. I can't know what the final curve will be until all test results are in.
Also, as I've already told a couple of you, since the final is comprehensive, if you do especially well there then it might count for more than the alloted 15%.

Test 3 Solutions

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 13:32:41 EST

Here are the solutions to test 3. The graded tests will be handed back on Friday during your labs.

Rest of Semester

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 08:57:27 EST

As I mentioned in class, there will be no new homeworks but the labs will meet this Friday and next to answer your questions. Still, most of you need to do more programming. Answer all the questions in the practice test. Do all the problems at the end of the chapter. The only way to learn programming is by doing it, often! The farther behind you are the more hours you need to devote to sitting in front of the computer and practicing.

As always, the TAs and I are here to help if you have questions. Just send us an email to set up a time.

Practice Test 3

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 15:58:57 EST

Here is the practice test 3. Clearly, it is a lot longer than the real test will be but you need to be able to answer these type of questions. You can click on "Show solution" to see my answers.

Test 2 Solutions and Grades

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 13:08:32 EST

The graded test 2 is being handed out in the labs today. Here are our version of the solutions for test 2, of course, there are many ways to write a program. The average was 47 wih a median of 41 and a standard distribution of 28. Below is the grade distribution:

Why Computer Science?

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 21:07:54 EST

Check out these six youtube videos from the University of Washington of computer science students talking about careers in CS.

Practice Test Answers

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 10:01:38 EST

Here are the answers to the practice test. You should try to do it yourself before looking at the answers. Also, sorry but the last problem is harder than I anticipated. I did not realize the problem that arises if you have

public static final String acroStates =
"ALAlabamaMNMinnesotaMOMissouriNMNewMexicoTXTexas";

and lookup "NM". Michael pointed it out and the answer we give (which he wrote) implement the correct solution.

Practice Test 2

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 14:04:12 EST

Here is the practice test 2 in case you did not make it to class. Remember that you need to have all of it done before you show up for lab.

ACM Student Chapter Organizational Meeting

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 12:50:32 EST

The ACM student chapter will be having its organizational meeting this Wednesday (Nov 1) at 7:30pm in Amoco Hall. Hope to see you there!

New TA Email Addresses

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 06:12:08 EST

There were some typos on the TAs email addresses. They are now fixed.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 10:37:52 EST

I mentioned this on the first day of class and, in case you did not believe me, here is a short summary article. What does it take to be great (at anything)? Practice!

Fun With Programming

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:18:19 EST

If you want to have more fun with all the programming you are learning, I suggest you download and install Alice 2.0. It is a 3D programming enviroment designed to help students, from middle schoolers to college students, learn to program. The built-in graphics are neat. Have fun!

More Programming Jobs in SC

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:06:09 EST

CHARLESTON, S.C., - Thursday, October 19, 2006- Benefitfocus, the leader in software and services for the healthcare benefits market, will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony today for its new international corporate headquarters located in Charleston, SC on Daniel Island. Joining the Benefitfocus staff will be South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and M. Edward Sellers, President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina. The new state-of-the-art 140,000 square foot facility is the result of a 25 million dollar capital investment. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 100 Benefitfocus Way on Daniel Island at 1:30 pm. Charleston business and media professionals are invited to attend.

The new Benefitfocus headquarters will be home to the 300 current Benefitfocus Associates. In addition, 300 new high technology positions are expected to be filled within the next 36 months. Job opportunities range in scope from software development and engineering positions to customer relationship and project management opportunities.

More Homework for Next Week

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 06:29:11 EST

For next Friday (27 October), in addition to the homework you got during last lab, you will also do problems: 6.8, 6.9, and 6.10 from the textbook. Remember that the only way to learn to program is by programming, a lot!

Supplemental Instruction Program for 145

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 14:08:28 EST

Jeremiah Shepherd is the SI leader for CSCE 145. All his sessions are held in the Williams-Brice Nursing building at the times listed below. Students can also find these times and more information about SI on our web site www.sa.sc.edu/supplementalinstruction/

Jeremiah Sheperd - shepejj@mailbox.sc.edu
S 9-10pm Nursing 131
M 8-9pm Nursing 124
W 7-8pm Nursing 125

Data has shown that students who attend SI sessions earn approximately half a letter grade higher than students not attending SI sessions

Test 1 Answers and Grades

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 06:38:44 EST

Matt put together a set of answers for the other test 1 questions. Also, as I mentioned in class, you will get your grades back today during lab. The average grade for Test 1 was 75 and the median 79 with a standard distribution of 16.7. Below is the grade distribution:

Test 1 Posted

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 13:40:47 EST

In case you want to re-live the excitment, here is the test 1. And, in case you are curious, below is my answer to question 7 (note that you don't need a main or a constructor in your answer).

import becker.robots.*;

public class TriangleRobot extends RobotSE{

  public TriangleRobot(City aCity) {
    super(aCity, 0,0,Direction.SOUTH,100);
  }

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    City cola = new City();
    TriangleRobot me = new TriangleRobot(cola);
    me.drawTriangle(5);
  }
  
  public void drawTriangle(int num){
    int col = 1;
    while (col <= num){
      this.drawCol(col);
      this.turnRight();
      this.move();
      this.turnRight();
      col = col + 1;
    }
  } 

  private void drawCol(int height){
    int h = height;
    while (h > 0){
      this.putThing();
      this.move();
      h = h - 1;
    }
    this.turnAround();
    this.move(height);
  }
}

ACM Programming Contest

Sat, 30 Sep 2006 21:04:45 EST

This is a fun way to spend and afternoon. Try to solve one of the problems in the ACM Contest Problem Set. If you think this is fun, contact me, we'll set up a team for next year's competion.

Practice Test Posted

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 08:32:55 EST

In case you can't make it to class today, here is the practice test 1. I you don't know the answers to these questions then you need to study. Check with me during class today, or with Matthew or Michael, to make sure your answers are correct. And, by the way, I am still looking for people to join the ACM chapter. This is your chance to something that is both fun and will look great on your resume!

ACM Student Chapter

Fri, 15 Sep 2006 11:03:35 EST

I am the faculty coordinator for our ACM student chapter which, unfortunately, has beed dead for a couple of years. I am hoping some of you will be interested in re-starting the chapter. You can read more information about ACM student membership, which is available to all, even if you don't join the student chapter, and about ACM Student Chapters (click there for details on how to start the chapter and what benefits you get from doing so). Please let me know if you are interested in either joining such a chapter or serving one of the offices (namely, president, vicepresident, secretary, and treasurer).

Career Fair

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:38:06 EST

If you are interested in an intership, co-op, full time job, or just want to see what kind of jobs are available you need to visit our Career Fair Blitz, on Wednesday September 20 from 11am-3pm in the Coliseum. I also have a list of some of the companies that will be there looking for engineers.

Instructions for Using CD with Eclipse

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 10:33:31 EST

We have now posted (on the left) a new handout on how to create a new project and import the code from the CD that comes with your textbook. If you follow the steps you should be able to get the programs from the CD running.

No Laboratory on First Friday

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 06:45:22 EST

There will be no laboratory sections on Friday Aug. 25. Our first meeting will be on Monday. Still, if you want to get started you should read the handouts I have posted on this website and see if you can install Eclipse in your home computer and load the examples from the CD that comes with your textbook.

New Textbook This Year

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 20:07:46 EST

We will be using a new textbook this semester called Java: Learning to Program with Robots. It uses a simulated robot (well, its really more like a circle that moves around in a checkerboard) to help make the ideas behind object-oriented programming more concrete. We shall see!