Introduction To Java - MFC 158 G

Fall 2000 (updated 11/14/2000)

 

 

Instructor: Jeff Fineberg

Email: fineberg@buffalo.edu

Course URL: www.buffalo.edu/~fineberg/mfc158

Course Time: Tuesdays 7:00-9:40

Course Location: Capen 263 (lecture) / Park 143 (lab) *Class will always start in Capen*

Office hours: After the lab - Park 143 (or by appointment)

 

Course Description: An introductory programming course in Java.  We will explore Java through examples, discussions, reading, viewing web sites and programming assignments.  Topics include Applets, class libraries and standalone applications.  We will also need to cover enough html to run applets.  Java programs will be implemented using Sun’s Java JDK 1.2 using either Sun Solaris Unix or Windows platform (dependant upon availability).

 

Prerequisites: MFC 101 – Introduction to Computers and Information Systems or equivalent.  Additionally, previous programming knowledge is highly recommended.

 

Textbook: “Java – How to Program - 3rd Edition” by Deitel and Deitel (Prentice Hall publishers)

 

CIT Help Desk contact information:

Computing Assistance - New accounts, questions, etc.
216 Computing Center
Buffalo, NY 14260-1408
Phone: (716) 645-3542  Fax: (716) 645-3617

Homework assignments

 

Lecture notes

 

Class code examples

 

Useful resources

 

Interesting Websites (picked by students and instructor)

 

 

Fall Schedule (subject to change)

Class Date

Topic(s) Discussed / Activities

Assignments / Reading - see details under "homework assignments"

8/29/2000

Course Overview.  Environment for programming in Java (Unix, NT, browser).

Available Resources

Course Survey - Results

-          Obtain UBUNIX/IT account

-          Establish UBUNIX homepage

-          Test the programming environment by writing a ‘hello world’ Java program.

-          Read Chapter 1

9/5/2000

Chapter 1 – Introduction to Computers, the Internet and the Web

-          Read Chapter 2

9/12/2000

Chapter 2 – Introduction to Java Applications

 

-          Homework from Chapter 1 & 2

-          Read Chapter 3

9/19/2000

Chapter 3 – Introduction to Java Applets

Quiz 1 – covering Chapters 1-2

***NOTE:  Lab at Baldy 206 this week only***

-          Read Chapter 4 & 5

 

9/26/2000

Chapter 4 – Control Structures - I

Chapter 5 – Control Structures - II

-          Homework from Chapter 3, 4 & 5

-          Read Chapter 6

-          Study for Quiz 2 – Chapters 3, 4 & 5

10/3/2000

Chapter 6 - Methods

Quiz 2 – covering Chapters 3, 4 & 5 (and class survey)

-          Read Chapter 7

10/10/2000

Follow Monday schedule - NO CLASS

-           

**10/17/2000

Chapter 7 – Arrays

Midterm Grades Available

-          Homework from Chapters 6 & 7

-          Read Chapter 8

10/24/2000

Chapter 8 – Object-Based programming

-          Read Chapter 9

10/31/2000

No lecture – reviewed homework questions

-          Homework from Chapter 8 & 9

-          Read Chapter 10

11/7/2000

Chapter 9 – Object-Oriented programming

 

-          Read Chapter 11

-          Study for quiz 3 – Chapters 6,7,8,9

11/14/2000

Quiz 3 – covering Chapters 6,7,8,9

Final Project Assigned

Chapter 10 - Strings and Characters

-          Read Chapter 17

-          Read Chapter 18

-          Initial work on Final Project

11/21/2000

Chapter 17  Files and Streams

Chapter 18 Java Database Connectivity

Review final project questions

      Work on final project

 (Fall Recess Wed 11/22- Fri 11/24)

11/28/2000

Chapter 11 – Graphics and Java 2D

Time permitting - misc topics - including

Chapter 12 – Basic Graphical User Interface Components

-          Work on final project

-          Study for Quiz 4 – Chapters 10,11,17 and 18

12/5/2000 – last class

Last Class!

Quiz 4 – covering Chapters 10,11,17,18

-          Work on final project

 

12/9/2000

No Class (of course)  J

-          final project due at midnight

(Bold items in schedule are of high importance)

 

** IMPORTANT: Last day to resign with an R grade is October 20, 2000 **

 

 

                          Grading Policy

Quizzes

30% (4 @ 7.5% each)

Homework

40% (4 @ 10% each)

Final Project

25%

Class participation (attendance, etc)

5%

 

A

92-100

A-

89-91

B+

87-88

B

82-86

B-

79-81

C+

77-78

C

72-76

C-

69-71

D+

67-68

D

60-66

F

59 and below

 

 

Comments regarding grading criteria and material:

-          Quizzes are given to help you gauge your understanding of the material.  They consist of material covered within the period since the previous quiz.  Since some material builds on previous topics, quizzes may be somewhat comprehensive.  Advanced arrangements must be made if a quiz is to be missed (unless a documented emergency exists).

-          Projects consist of writing programs to implement elements from the material covered in class and from reading assignments.  Note that the final project is worth 25%.

-          Projects not submitted in by the due date will be penalized by 20% per day.

 

Incompletes: A grade of “I” can only be given under extraordinary hardship and when:

-          the majority of the course work has been completed

-          the student’s current grade is passing up to the completed point

 

Study Groups: These can be useful for reviewing study material or discussing design/concept issues.  If anyone is interested in participating in a group, please let me know.

 

Class List by email: Periodically messages may be sent via email to everyone in MFC158 regarding assignments, etc. from this Listserve mail account:

          MFC158G-LIST@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU

 

Class Newsgroup:  For questions that would benefit the majority of the class, please use the course newsgroup, which is:        

                                 SUNYAB.MFC.158G ( do NOT send code examples to this list please!)

 

Also, please feel free to email me directly with any questions or suggestions at: FINEBERG@BUFFALO.EDU

 

Class participation: This can be done by suggesting useful / interesting URLs, Java applets/code, helping other students, attending class, answering questions in class, etc.

 

Academic Integrity / Plagiarism: It is expected that each student perform his or her own work.  Therefore no sharing of source code is allowed whatsoever.  This does not mean that you can’t discuss assignments with other students from a design point of view – design discussions can be very stimulating and can generate several alternatives.   Most importantly, the actual implementation of code must be solely the result of your own effort.