LASSONDE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

York University

 

UNDERGRADUATE COURSE SYLLABUS 

 

Course:  CSE 1710 3.0                                                                                                                  v.2 (Sept 16, 2013)

 

Term: Fall 2013

 

Calendar Description

CSE 1710 3.0 Programming for Digital Media

The course lays the conceptual foundation for the development and implementation of Digital Media artefacts and introduces some of the core concepts of Digital Media, including the computing and cultural layers of media, and the notion of cultural logic (Media Theory). Topics include programming constructs, data types and control structures; the object oriented concepts of modularity and encapsulation; integration of sound, video, and other media; networking constructs (HTTP connections); and the interrelationships among languages such as Processing, Java, and other Digital Media tools (such as Macromedia Director and Python). Three lecture hours and weekly laboratory sessions. The laboratory sessions form an integral part of the lectures and may cover examinable material that is not covered in class.

 

This course is an introduction to the interdisciplinary area of practice of New Media; it is not a survey course. As such, the emphasis is on the development of a theoretical conceptual foundation and the acquisition of the intellectual and practical skills required for further courses in the Digital Media program, and thus is intended for prospective majors in this program. It is not intended for those who seek a quick exposure to Digital Media, or Digital Media applications or programming.

 

Topics include:

•      Digital Media: Introduction and Core Concepts

•      Examples of Digital Media artefacts, the notion of evaluation (e.g., the evaluation of software), projects and questions positioned at the intersection of Science and Art

•      Why do we use the programming language and environment? (and not Macromedia Director or other tools)

•      The use of APIs and other sources of documentation

•      Variables and Control Structures

•      Iteration

•      Modularity (functions, procedures)

•      Object-Oriented Constructs (what is a class vs. what is an instance, instantiation, attribute access and method invocation, constructors, encapsulation)

•      Integration of Sound, Video (the use of cameras, microphones, other peripherals)

•      Application invocation within a networked context (HTTP connections, URLs, sharing information, server file access (read/write))

•      The connection between programming languages such as Processing and Java, and other tools for implementation Macromedia Director, Max/MSP, and other Digital Media tools

Prerequisites: None. Course Credit Exclusions: CSE1530 3.0, ITEC1620 3.0

NCR Note: No credit will be retained if this course is taken after the successful completion of, or simultaneously with CSE1020 3.0

 

Course Director

Prof. Melanie Baljko

Office: LAS 2028

mb [at] cse [dot] yorku [dot] ca

Course consultation hours:  Monday, 10-12 am or by appointment (please send email)

 

Teaching Assistants

Rita Vinnikov

mvinni@cse.yorku.ca
Elnaz Delpisheh

elnaz@cse.yorku.ca

Consultation with TAs available via course discussion forum or by appointment (please send email)

 

Course Website

www.eecs.yorku.ca/course/1710

please note this site is mounted for the duration of the F12 academic term after which it will be archived at:

http://www.eecs.yorku.ca/course_archive/2013-14/F/1710

 

Time and Location

Lectures          TR 10-11:30am                        CB 115

LAB01             R11:30am-1pm                        LAS 1002

LAB02             F10:00am-11:30am                 LAS 1002

 

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:

Labtest I:                                 5%

Labtest II:                                 15%

Labtest III:                               15%

In-class quizzes & eChecks:  5%    

Term Test I:                         15%

Term Test II:                         15%

                                                            ____

                                                            70%    

 

Final Exam Labtest*:                15%

Final Exam Written Test*:        15%

                                                            ____

                                                            30%    

                                                                        ____                                       

                                                                        100%

* to take place during the exam period

 

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 (LAS 1002).  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 lectureÕs preparation.  The quizzes will be held at the very start of lecture.  Each quiz will be worth 1%-2%. 

 

eCheck Exercises  eCheck exercises are programming exercises that are completed and submitted electronically.  Further instruction will be provided during the lectures and the labs.

 

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 LAS 1002.  The written component will take place in a nearby lecture hall (location to be announced when determined by the RegistrarÕs 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.

Several copies have been placed on reserve in the Steacie library and are available for 2 hour loans.

 

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.

 

Course Management, Organization and Policies

1.     Format: This course has two lectures and one lab per week. 

a.     Every student must be enrolled in one laboratory section. Since the lab holds fewer students than the lecture room, there are multiple lab sections to accommodate all of the students in the class.  The lab sections are as follows: LAB01 (Thursdays, 11:30am) and LAB02 (Fridays, 10am). All lab sessions take place in the Digital Media lab, LAS1002A.

b.     Students are permitted to attend a weekly lab session other than the one to which they are officially enrolled only as space permits. Students who attempt to attend a lab session other than the one to which they are enrolled do so at their own risk, since space may not be available.

c.     Lectures will be conducted by the instructor and occasionally by a senior TA.

d.     The weekly lab sessions will be conducted by the TAs.

e.     Labtests will be conducted as per the course schedule.  Labtests shall be preceded by practise sessions (the week before).  Marked labtests will be discussed the following week.

2.     Attendance:  Each student is expected to attend all lectures and the particular weekly lab session to which he or she is enrolled.

a.     A studentÕs enrolment in a particular lab session guarantees a spot for that student in that specific lab.  However, if a student is more than 5 minutes late, then his or her spot shall be considered "available" and may be taken by another student. 

b.     Students are permitted to attend a weekly lab session other than the one to which they are officially enrolled only as space permits. Students who attempt to attend a lab session other than the one to which they are enrolled do so at their own risk, since space may not be available. 

3.     EECS account: All students in this course must have an EECS account; if you do not have an account, you will be unable to participate in the course and do the coursework.
To active your EECS account, visit the URL: http://www.eecs.yorku.ca/activ8

4.     Sending Email: when sending email to the course instructor, students MUST adhere to the following:. Be sure to. session to which he or she is enrolled.

a.     Use a York domain email account (cse.yorku.ca, eecs.yorku.ca, or yorku.ca) to send the email.  Otherwise, the email may be eaten by a spam filter

b.     Include "CSE1710" in the subject line.  Otherwise, the email may be eaten by a spam filter

c.     Follow the etiquette of emailing professors.

5.     Receiving Email: students will be sent emails from the course instructor containing announcements and marked course work.  These emails will be sent to your EECS account.

6.     Preparation: Each student is expected to come to lecture and lab prepared.  The required preparation (e.g., lab exercises and/or readings) will be posted to the course website at least one week in advance.

7.     Missed written tests and/or labtests:  any missed written test or labtest shall receive a grade of 0.  Opportunities for make-up tests will not be provided.  In special cases, the weight from the missed test or labtest will be transferred to the final exam or other course work, in a way to be determined by the course director.  (See Absences below)

8.     Lateness Penalties: work must be submitted on time.  No late work is accepted.

9.     Absences: If a student misses classes due to sickness or misfortune, please speak to the course director as soon as possible.  Missed tests and labtests may be justified with the Attending PhysicianÕs Statement (APS).  The form can be found on the course website.

10.  Grading Scheme: 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.

11.  Recordings: Permission is required for any recordings of lectures. Permission must be requested in advance.

 

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 RegistrarÕs 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 FacultyÕs 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.

 

Accessibility of the Course

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.

 

Other Important Things

 

•       The last date to drop courses without receiving a grade (aka the "drop date") is Nov 9, 2012. See http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/enrol/dates/fw13.htm

•       According to faculty regulations (see http://calendars.registrar.yorku.ca/2013-2014/faculty_rules/LE/academic_standards.htm)

o   some graded feedback worth at least 15% of the final grade must be provided to students prior to the drop date.

o   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.

 

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), leetspeak, 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.

•       Sign your email with your name (first and last).  Include your student number if appropriate.

•       Once all of the above are satisfied, only then hit send!