FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
York University


UNDERGRADUATE COURSE SYLLABUS
v.1

Course: CSE 1720 3.0

Term: Winter 2012

Calendar Description
CSE 1720 3.0 Building Interactive Systems

This course continues an introduction to computer programming within the context of image, sound and interaction, subsequent to CSE1710 3.0. The student’s foundation in basic programming will serve as a platform from which to explore the use of diverse media within interactive systems, including the WWW and simple game systems.
Topics include:

  • User Interfaces (UIs)
  • UI Elements
  • Event driven programming
  • Intro to threads
  • User Interface Builders
  • Guidelines for UI design
  • Objects, classes and inheritance
  • Interactive WWW-based systems - introduction to WWW and basic network concepts, HTML, Javascript, other WWW technologies (e.g. Flash), guidelines for WWW design
  • How to design simple games and make them engaging


Course Director
Prof. Melanie Baljko
Office: CSEB 2028
mb [at] cse [dot] yorku [dot] ca
Course consultation hours:
1. Tuesdays, 12-1pm
2. by appointment - just drop an email to the instructor's email address above. Please include "1720" in the subject line (to defeat the spam filter). Please suggest one or two times.
3. TA office hours held in CSEB1002: Wednesdays, 11:30-12:30pm, Fridays 11:30-12:30pm
Monday, 10-12 am or by appointment (please send email)

Teaching Assistants
Ossama Abdel-Hamid, ossama [at] cse [dot] yorku [dot] ca

Bart Bajer, bartb [at] cse [dot] yorku [dot] ca

Course consultation hours and TA contact information shall be posted on the course website.

Course Website
www.cse.yorku.ca/course/1720
please note this site is mounted for the duration of the F11 academic term after which it will be archived at:
http://www.cse.yorku.ca/course_archive/2011-12/W/1720


Course Management and Organization


        Time and Location
        Lectures, TR 10-11:30am, R S205 (Ross, South Building, Room S205)
        LAB01, R11:30am-1pm, CSEB1002
        LAB02, F10:00am-11:30am, CSEB1002
        LAB03 , M 4:30pm-6:00pm, CSEB1002


        Purpose and Objectives of the Course
        See “Expected Learning Outcomes” (Course website)


        Evaluation

        The final grade for the course will be based on the following items weighted as indicated:

        The dates of these components can be found on the Course Schedule:

        Labtest I : 5%
        Labtest II : 10%
        Labtest III : 10%
        Labtest IV : 10%
        Labtest V : 10%
        In-class quizzes: 5%
        Midterm Written Test : 20%
        Final Exam Labtest (to take place during exam week): 15%
        Final Exam Written Test (to take place during exam week): 15%

        The last date to drop courses without receiving a grade (aka the “drop date”) is Mar 09, 2012. See http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/enrol/dates/fw11.htm

        According to FSE regulations (see http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/calendars/2011-2012/faculty_rules/SC/academic_standards.htm)
        • some graded feedback worth at least 15% of the final grade must be provided to students prior to the drop date.
        • No examinations or tests collectively worth more than 20% of the final grade in a course will be given during the final 14 calendar days of classes in a term.

        Labtests I-IV In this course, the term labtests is used to refer to hands-on programming tests (as opposed to written tests). A labtest consists of one or more programming tasks that are given to students at the start of the lab session; students complete the programming task to the best of their ability within the allotted time and submit their code for evaluation. Labtests are always conducted in the Digital Media lab (CSEB1002). Labtests are conducted in a special test environment within which the lab computers are modified so that email and other network services are suspended. The labtest is provided via a webpage that is made available during the labtest time. Different versions of the labtest are provided to each of the three lab sections. Labtests are marked and contribute toward the final grade as described above.
        Labtests are “open book” in a limited sense; hardcopy materials are allowed, but no electronic materials.

        Midterm Written Test will take place on the specified date during the lecture timeslot. It will consist of a series of comprehension questions, such as short answer questions (e.g., a few words to a few sentences), multiple choice questions, and software code analysis questions. The test will last 90 minutes.
        The written test is closed book.
        In-Class Quizzes A number of small quizzes will be given throughout the term. The quizzes will be 5-15 minutes long and will require the students to answer a question that concern the materials that were assigned as that lecture’s preparation. The quizzes will be held at the very start of lecture. Each quiz will be worth 1%.

        The Final Exam Labtest and Written Test will take place during the regularly scheduled examination period following the end of the term. The examination will last 180 minutes, 90 minutes of which will be spent on the written test and 90 minutes of which will be spent on the labtest component. The labtest component will take place in CSEB1002. The written component will take place in a nearby lecture hall (location to be announced when determined by the Registrar’s Office). The invigilators will supervise the transition between the two venues. The class will be divided such that some of the students will follow the sequence of written test and then labtest, whereas other students will follow the sequence of labtest and the written test. Students will be randomly assigned to these two groups.
        The written test is closed book.
        The labtest will be “open book” in a limited sense; hardcopy materials will be allowed, but no electronic materials.


        Required Materials
        The following book is required for the course:

        Roumani, H. (2011)).         Java By Abstraction: A Client-View Approach. Third Edition. Pearson.

        Please purchase the correct edition. The first and second editions should not be used.

        Supplementary Reading
        Additional materials will be placed on the course website in digital form.

        Schedule of Topics and Readings
        The schedule of topics will be placed on the course website.

        Grading Scheme, Assignment Submissions, and Lateness Penalties
        The grading scheme for this course conforms to the “Common Grading Scheme for Undergraduate Faculties” which is a 9-point system based on letter grades. Tests will marked and awarded a letter grade designation (e.g., A, B, C+, etc.), each of which has a numeric equivalent. (See detailed description in corresponding Senate policy: http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/document.php?document=87)
        The final grade for the course will be calculated using the weightings listed above under “Evaluation” and the numeric equivalents of each of the components.

        Religious Observance Days
        York University is committed to respecting the religious beliefs and practices of all members of the community, and making accommodations for observances of special significance to adherents. Should any of the dates specified in this syllabus for in-class test or examination pose such a conflict for you, contact the Course Director within the first three weeks of class. Please note that to arrange an alternative date or time for an examination scheduled in the formal examination period (December), students must petition for Deferred Standing at the Registrar’s Office (please see http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/exams/deferred/index.htm).

        Academic Honesty
        York students are subject to policies regarding academic honesty as set out by the Senate of York University and by the Faculty of Science and Engineering. All students must read the Faculty’s Policies at http://science.yorku.ca/Students/Current-Students/academic-honesty-policies-and-procedures.html. Please also refer to the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty (http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/document.php?document=69).

        Student Conduct
        Students and instructors are expected to maintain a professional relationship characterised by courtesy and mutual respect and to refrain from actions disruptive to such a relationship. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the instructor to maintain an appropriate academic atmosphere in the classroom, and the responsibility of the student to cooperate in that endeavour. Further, the instructor is the best person to decide, in the first instance, whether such an atmosphere is present in the class.

        About Emailing Professors: Etiquette
        • Use a proper salutation (eg “Dear Professor”, not “Hey!”) Use the “traditional” style of writing. No SMS style messages. No cutesy abbreviations (C U l8r) or other shorthand.
        • Ensure all spelling is correct.
        • Proof-read your email. Does it make sense? Is it coherent? Has the purpose of your communication been clearly conveyed? If not, revise until you can say yes.
        • Be sure to include “CSE1710” in the subject line or else your email may be eaten by a spam filter.
        • Sign your email with your name (first and last). Include your student number if appropriate.
        • Once all of the above are satisfied, then hit send.


        Access/Disability

        Students who feel that there are extenuating circumstances which may affect their ability to successfully complete the course requirements are encouraged to discuss the matter with the Course Director as soon as possible.

        Students with physical, learning or psychiatric disabilities who require reasonable accommodations in teaching style or evaluation methods should discuss this with the Course Director early in the term so that appropriate arrangements can be made.