Computer Science, Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth University of Wales

CSM0120 (1995-96 session)
Foundation Studies

Brief Description

Practical sessions introduce students to the facilities available at Aberystwyth. They provide participants with supervised sessions during which they can carry out a series of assignments associated with the theoretical material.

Aims, Objectives, Syllabus, Booklist

Further Details

Number of lectures

36

Number of seminars/tutorials

15

Number of practicals

7 x 3 hours, 6 x 2 hours

Coordinator

Dr. Edel Sherratt

Other staff involved

Not yet known

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Incompatibilities

This module is not available to undergraduate students

Assessment

Assessed coursework 50%
Written exam 50%

Timing

This module is offered in September only

It is not assumed that participants on this module have any prior knowledge in computing. This is an intensive module designed to cover a wide range of material in a short amount of time. In addition to the lectures, a substantial amount of time is spent in tutorials and supervised practicals.

Objectives

• be familiar with a broad range of introductory topics including computer systems appreciation, mathematics for computing, document preparation and professional issues;
• understand the most basic concepts of software development;
• be familiar with the range of computer equipment available at Aberystwyth, its availability and capability.

Introductory lectures and Pre-view: management issues and professional conduct - 2 Lectures

Introduction to the department and the course. What is computing all about: growing role of computing, software, the need for software engineering, professionalism. Software engineering: requirements, design, implementation, testing, maintenance, quality, need for documentation.

Computer system appreciation - 3 Lectures

Introduces the student to basic computer organisation. Emphasis is placed on the relationships between hardware, architecture and software. These presentations are illustrated by reference to the computer systems at Aberystwyth.

Departmental computing facilities - 3 Lectures

This acquaints the student with the computing facilities run by the department. The work is primarily concerned with high performance workstations. The topics covered will include file preparation and manipulation followed by the use of our Ada language system. Use of the electronic mail system will also be covered. The material will be supported by timetabled practical work with assistance from demonstrators.

Introduction to software development - 19 Lectures

This introduces the idea of problem solving and algorithm design together with subsequent implementation using Ada. The following topics are covered (Number of lectures in brackets): Software crisis, abstraction, algorithms and programs. (1) The design of algorithms and introduction to Ada. (2) The representation of algorithms. (2) Programming constructs, expressions, simple types. (3) Testing - techniques and aids for error detection. (2) Information hiding - introduction to procedures. (4) Abstraction support using packages. (5)

Mathematics for computing - 5 Lectures

This covers various mathematical topics which are important in computing. The following topics are covered (Number of lectures in brackets): Propositional calculus. (1) Boolean algebra and its applications to switching theory. (1) The algebra of sets. (1) Numbers and number systems. (1) Rates of growth of functions. (1)

Introduction to telematics: - 2 Lectures

Telematic applications - mailers, teleworking, the internet.

Document preparation - 2 Lectures

This introduces students to the document preparation facilities provided by the main College Computing service. It also introduces Microsoft Windows which is frequently encountered on small business computers.

It is considered essential to purchase the following

Shelley and Hunt. Computer Studies - A First Course. Pitman, 1985.

J.E.Cooling, N.Cooling, and J.Cooling. Introduction to Ada. Chapman and Hall, 1993.

Notes

Students need only obtain either Barnes or Cooling, Cooling and Cooling. The latter is better suited for those who have no programing experience.

Students are likely to need ready access to the following

D. Gilly. Unix in a Nutshel. O'Reilly and Associates, 1992.

T. Andreasson and J. Skansolm. Getting Started with UNIX and X. Addison Wesley, 1992.

Version 1.7

John Hunt Departmental Advisor