Dr. Clincy Lecture 1

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– Changed to 11am to 4pm
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Will try to never keep students for the entire 5 hours
• Some lectures recorded – can watch outside of class
• 90% of the time, will put lab time at the end so that students can leave early (after they finish the lab)
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Dr. Clincy Lecture 2

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Handouts of the data communication chapters and sections will be provided – saving you $
Dr. Clincy Lecture 3

Dr. Clincy Lecture 4

Dr. Clincy Lecture 5

Dr. Clincy Lecture 6

• Exam 2’s topics are the most important and challenging topics of the course and you will be examined in two parts (one part open book and another part closed book) – worth 20% - must take both parts to get the 20% - last exam can count for one missed test (or one missed test portion)
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Must have a book for the org and arch portion of the course – will need it for open book exams
– if you have an ebook (or pdf), you will need to print the chapters for the open book exams
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For the communications portion of the course, you can use your laptop to view the handouts
(however, you can not use a browser during the exam – if you use a browser during the exam, you will receive a zero)
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Should bring a calculator to ALL open-book and closed-book exams – cannot use your phone – will receive a zero if you use your phone
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Teams of 3 to 5 will be comprised for the final project – if team size drops below 2, the remaining team member will be re-assigned
Dr. Clincy Intro 7

What is an Avg ?
What is the SD ?
Lesson in Stats – Example of Curving Grades –
Raw Score to Final Grade
Average
SD
Raw Scores Final Grade
34 59
45
47
67
69
55
56
66
74
75
82
70
78
56
14
85
91
75
10
Change
25
22
22
19
19
16
15
13
This is the curve
Curve if avg is below 70
If SD is less than 10, use 10
Grading Scale
90-77 ( A )
76-63 ( B )
62-49 ( C )
48-35 ( D )
34-21 ( F )
Fitting raw scores to a curve
? = 90 + (RS-77)/1.4
? = 80 + (RS-63)/1.4
? = 70 + (RS-49)/1.4
8 Can all As, Bs or Cs be made with such a grading approach ? YES ? = 60 + (RS-35)/1.4

Lab
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All lab assignments are designed to be completed in the allotted lab time.
– All labs must be completed by 3:50pm; this will give the lab instructor 10 minutes to shut down the lab – another lab section or course could be needing the room.
– The lab instructor is not expected or paid to stay past the lab deadline
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No makeup labs will be given and all labs must be conducted in the lab room (so you will not be able to conduct labs prior to the allotted time and day)
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Your lab instructor will grade your lab based on the percentage of the lab assignment you complete by 3:50pm
– Your lab instructor expectations will be to present the lab assignment, clarify any questions about the assignment itself, assist with the tools used for the lab, and check-off your progress.
– Your lab instructor is not expected to do your lab assignments or tell you the answers
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Your lab instructor is not responsible for teaching or explaining any lecture content.
Dr. Clincy Lecture 9

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Attendance at all classes is highly encouraged but NOT required. Concepts and ideas discussed in one class are used as building blocks for more concepts and ideas in the next class.
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Any class session missed by the student is the student's responsibility to make up.
• Makeup exams will NOT be given; instead, the last exam will count in place of the missed exam. Will not drop the lowest grade.
• Exams should be returned to the Professor in class right after the review for the student to receive a grade. Grades are not logged until the students have reviewed the exams for grading mistakes (all exams except the last). If a student takes the exam from the classroom, a grading penalty of 50% will be used due to the fact the
Professor has no real way of determining if the exam was tampered with or not.
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The Professor expects students to take advantage of office hours when needing clarification or help.
• You cannot attend some other course section’s lectures, labs or exams – each course section is independent
• If the student requires additional materials to read or additional problems to solve in better understanding the topics and concepts, the Professor expects the student to take the initiative in locating additional materials or problems. The book’s website has solutions to some of the chapter problems.
Dr. Clincy Lecture 10

• In being successful in this subject, expect a minimum of 2-3 hours of study per hour of lecture (6-9 hours per week)
• The Professor greatly supports students sending emails at any time – it will be the goal of the Professor to reply to emails within a 24-hour time span (not counting weekends).
• Lecture notes purpose: serve as a guide to the Professor – help organize and time lecture
• Guarantee: current lecture notes will be posted before the next up-and-coming lecture (ie. lecture notes 1 will be posted before lecture 2 occurs)
• See syllabus for withdrawal policy, enrollment policy, and the Academic
Integrity Statement. Be sure and give me the signed copy at the next class meeting
• Go to my website for a syllabus and lecture notes
Dr. Clincy Lecture 11

(Listen to Recording)
HELPFUL INSIGHT REGARDING CS3501 UPFRONT
Why CS3501 ? I am a programmer …
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A Computer Scientist should have a good understanding of the
“science” of a
“computer” compared to other professionals
– Not at the level of a “Computer Engineer”
– Not at the level of a “Physicist”
• CS majors today are much more marketable if they have significant knowledge of hardware
Is CS3501 only challenging at KSU ?
• It is a well known and established “stereotype” that Org&Arch is usually the most challenging
“CS” course for CS majors –nationally – especially for “accredited” CS programs
– EE – Electromagnetic Fields I, II, III
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Math – Abstract Algebra and Real Analysis
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MD – BioChem I, II
• Org&Arch isn’t programming oriented
• Org&Arch is engineering oriented
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Requires deductive reasoning
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Right or Wrong answers – like Math and Physics
• Requires FULLY understanding a “concept” in securing the correct answer
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Memorizing problems and answers is not helpful, like Math and Physics
– Explain the “working many problems” versus
“greatly explaining the concept” time-constraint dilemma
• Topics build on one another – topics are logically interrelated
SLIDE MIDWAY AND AT THE END THE COURSE
Course Constraints
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KSU CS is ABET Accredited
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National body oversees - books, exams, instructors’ credentials, curriculum, etc…
– Professor doesn’t have the freedom to do what ever they want
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You can compete with anyone nationally
• Can’t “waterdown” subject matter – reflected in exams, projects, the book used, etc.. jeopardizes accreditation
• Can’t “cherry-pick” topics because you will not study the topics that were not picked – jeopardizes your ability to be competitive and knowledgeable
Course Flexibility
• Grading (let the students set the GRADING scale)
– Old fashion grading approach is out dated and doesn’t fit our subject matter or student body
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Subject matter changes every 2-3 years
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Open acceptance – Experienced guru to traditional straight out of Highschool student
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Professor and students focus on the subject vs the grades
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Your grade is relative and not absolute – explain this
How can I maximize my success in CS3501?
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Understand the challenge of the subject matter on day one
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Maintain a positive attitude about learning the topics for the duration of the course
• Realize CS3501 requires a significant amount of studying to make average to great grades
• Study and learn as you go – do not only study right before the exam
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No Excuses: Bad Book, Bad Professor, Not enough time, Etc
• Don’t depend on MEMORIZING problems – understand concepts
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Ask questions and use office hours PROMPTLY in gathering clarity regarding concepts