Syllabus
Textbooks: |
A free reference card can be found here. Look for the Java reference card and download it. |
Software: |
Select the Downloads link to the right. |
Course Description:
This course is a follow on for the CIT 210 (Object Oriented Programming I) course but focuses on how to solve larger, ill-structured business problems by designing and creating applications using an object oriented programming language.
Course Objective:
You will learn how to create good solutions for IT business problems. Good solutions are always a balance. The solution must always solve the problem but be balanced in how small and clean the solution is, how easy it is to understand and support, and how easily it can be re-used or modified to fit other situations.
CIT 210 taught you some of the basic, introductory programming principles, techniques, and structures. A strong understanding of these concepts and techniques lays the groundwork for your success in CIT 310 in addition to having introduced you to beginning programming.
Programming generally consists of being given very specific, smaller, well defined problems as well as limited options for how to create solutions.
CIT 310 is designed to assist you in beginning to make the transition to being a software engineer. Engineering problems are by definition ill-structured. In other words, there are many potential ‘right ‘ solutions to any problem. The assignments in the course help you learn to use feedback from others in brainstorming, evaluating, and creating good solutions.
The instructor will facilitate your learning of these people skills as well as additional programming principles, techniques, and structures that will help you to increase your ability to solve these types of business problems.
Through this course you will have the foundation required to begin to create good solutions for IT business problems.
Instructor Input:
The instructor and tutor for this class will be acting in the roles of mentor and director not lecturer. They will help you learn to explore, brainstorm, and create solutions within your team as well as give you guidance.
Course Content and Topics:
- How to solve ill-structured problems.
- Unit Testing – How to tell if your solution works
- Architecting a Good Solution – How to know if your solution is a good one
- Unified Modeling Language (UML) and Design Patterns – How to communicate your solution to others
- Event and Exception Handling – How to handle mistakes or data entry errors
- Asynchronous Computation – How to get the computer to do multiple things at once using threads
- Collections – How to store groups of data based on what it is and how it will be used
- File I/O Use and Types – How to use and store data in files
- Using Databases and JDBC – How to use and store data in a database
- ORM (Object Relational Mapping) using Hibernate
- Serialization – How to convert an Object so it can be transfered easily
- Network I/O – How to get applications to talk to each other
Grading:
You will be graded on what you know, understand, and what you can do. Your success in this course will depend to a large degree on your ability to communicate with me and your classmates.
The post-test takes three class periods to complete. It is done as an individual not a team and is worth 20% of your grade (200 points). After completing the three portions you will sign up to discuss your solutions with me in my office.
It is expected that you will share ideas and assist each other in completing the assigned cases. You will not recieve any points, other than participation points, for the completion of these assigned cases. You will recieve individual points, and do individual work, for each of the in class evaluation cases.
Share your ideas and truely teach each other. Having someone walk you through the assigned cases to get it done without understanding it will hurt, not help, your grade.
Grade Scale:
A 94 – 100
A- 90 – 92
B+ 87 – 89
B 84 – 86
B- 80 – 83
C+ 77 – 79
C 74 – 76
C- 70 – 73
D 60 – 69
F less than 60
Cases:
There are 9 assigned cases throughout the class. In each case new concepts and ideas await your discovery. You will need to do some research prior to our classroom discussion of each case. You will be given references that will help you start your research but it is expected that you will be doing research beyond the references provided to complete gaining the required knowledge to be able to complete the assignment.
With each case you will:
- do research in preparation for class discussion
- produce all of the deliverables for the case
- create a similar case that may be selected as the evaluation case
- and complete an evaluation case selected by Br. Barney
It is important that you not fall behind since each case builds on all previous cases.
Homework Assignments:
Home work consists of whatever may be necessary for you to complete all of the cases and the project on time.
Harassment:
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an education program or activity that receives federal funds, including Federal loans and grants. Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender based discrimination, please contact the Personnel Office at 496-1130.
Disability:
Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere which reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability which may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office, 496-1158. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by this office. If you need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures. You should contact the Personnel Office at 496-1130.
Counsel from President Hinckley:
“This is the great day of decision for each of us. For many it is the time of beginning something that will go on for as long as you live. I plead with you: don’t be a scrub! Rise to the high ground of spiritual, mental, and physical excellence. You can do it. You may not be a genius. You may be lacking in some skills. But so many of us can do better than we are now doing. We are members of this great Church whose influence is now felt over the world. We are people with a present and with a future. Don’t muff your opportunities. Be excellent.” The Quest for Excellence, Ensign, Sep 1999
“And finally, in all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.” Stand True and Faithful, Ensign, May 1996
