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CS 106Computing Fundamentals II

Chapter 2“Course Overview”

Herbert G. Mayer, PSU CSHerbert G. Mayer, PSU CSstatus 6/24/2013status 6/24/2013

Initial content copied verbatim fromInitial content copied verbatim fromCS 106 material developed byCS 106 material developed by

CS professors: Cynthia Brown & Robert MartinCS professors: Cynthia Brown & Robert Martin

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Syllabus Course GoalsCourse Goals

Enhancing your Skill SetEnhancing your Skill Set

We Shall Not LearnWe Shall Not Learn

Types of LearningTypes of Learning

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy

Example: GrammarExample: Grammar

Theory and ApplicationTheory and Application

Excel versionsExcel versions

Topics We’ll CoverTopics We’ll Cover

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Course Goals

• Learn general problem-solving skills and methods, Learn general problem-solving skills and methods, and apply them to a process for developing computer and apply them to a process for developing computer and spreadsheet applicationsand spreadsheet applications

• Be able to create and evaluate logical expressions, Be able to create and evaluate logical expressions, and use them to direct the behavior of spreadsheets and use them to direct the behavior of spreadsheets and programsand programs

• Understand the concepts of sequential, selective, Understand the concepts of sequential, selective, modular, and repetitive task processing, and be able modular, and repetitive task processing, and be able to apply them to build applications in Excel and to apply them to build applications in Excel and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)

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Enhancing Your Skill Set

• Problem solving skills: learn how to organize yourself Problem solving skills: learn how to organize yourself to develop a process to accomplish a goalto develop a process to accomplish a goal

• Excel skills: learn how to use some of the advanced Excel skills: learn how to use some of the advanced features of Excel to avoid repetitive tasks and build features of Excel to avoid repetitive tasks and build awesome spreadsheetsawesome spreadsheets

• Logic skills: useful in Excel, in working with Logic skills: useful in Excel, in working with databases, in programming, and other situationsdatabases, in programming, and other situations

• Programming skills: learn the fundamentals of Programming skills: learn the fundamentals of programming; if nothing else, be able to programming; if nothing else, be able to communicate with programmers and understand their communicate with programmers and understand their issuesissues

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We Shall Not Learn

• Everything about Excel. There is way, way too much. Everything about Excel. There is way, way too much. But you will learn enough that you can figure out But you will learn enough that you can figure out most things on your ownmost things on your own

• Everything about programming. Programming is a Everything about programming. Programming is a whole world in itself. But you will learn enough to go whole world in itself. But you will learn enough to go on to CS 162 and see if you want to become an expert on to CS 162 and see if you want to become an expert programmerprogrammer

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Types of Learning

• When we talk about “learning”, there are different When we talk about “learning”, there are different things we could meanthings we could mean

• One Benjamin Bloom was in charge of defining a One Benjamin Bloom was in charge of defining a classification of types of learning, called “Bloom’s classification of types of learning, called “Bloom’s taxonomy”taxonomy”

• There are six major categories, each dependent on There are six major categories, each dependent on the previous onethe previous one

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Bloom’s Taxonomy (1)Knowledge: Recalling data or informationKnowledge: Recalling data or information

Examples: Recite a policy. Quote prices from memory to a customer. Knows the safety rules.

Key Words: defines, describes, identifies, knows, labels, lists, matches, names, outlines, recalls, recognizes, reproduces, selects, states.

Comprehension: Understand the meaning, Comprehension: Understand the meaning, translation, interpolation, and interpretation translation, interpolation, and interpretation of instructions and problems. State a of instructions and problems. State a problem in one's own words.problem in one's own words. Examples: Rewrites the principles of test writing. Explain in one’s own

words the steps for performing a complex task. Translates an equation into a computer spreadsheet.

Key Words: comprehends, converts, defends, distinguishes, estimates, explains, extends, generalizes, gives examples, infers, interprets, paraphrases, predicts, rewrites, summarizes, translates.

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Bloom’s taxonomy (2)

Application: Use a concept in a new situation or unprompted use of an Application: Use a concept in a new situation or unprompted use of an abstraction. Applies what was learned in the classroom into novel abstraction. Applies what was learned in the classroom into novel situations in the work place.situations in the work place. Examples: Use a manual to calculate an employee’s vacation time. Apply

laws of statistics to evaluate the reliability of a written test. Key Words: applies, changes, computes, constructs, demonstrates,

discovers, manipulates, modifies, operates, predicts, prepares, produces, relates, shows, solves, uses.

Analysis: Separates material or concepts into component parts so that its Analysis: Separates material or concepts into component parts so that its organizational structure may be understood. Distinguishes between organizational structure may be understood. Distinguishes between facts and inferences. facts and inferences.  Examples: Troubleshoot a piece of equipment by using logical deduction.

Recognize logical fallacies in reasoning. Gathers information from a department and selects the required tasks for training.

Key Words: analyzes, breaks down, compares, contrasts, diagrams, deconstructs, differentiates, discriminates, distinguishes, identifies, illustrates, infers, outlines, relates, selects, separates.

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Bloom’s taxonomy (3)Synthesis: Builds a structure or pattern from Synthesis: Builds a structure or pattern from

diverse elements. Assembles parts to form a diverse elements. Assembles parts to form a whole, with emphasis on creating a new whole, with emphasis on creating a new meaning or structure.meaning or structure.

Examples: Write a company operations or process manual. Design a machine to perform a specific task. Integrates training from several sources to solve a problem. Revises and process to improve the outcome.

Key Words: categorizes, combines, compiles, composes, creates, devises, designs, explains, generates, modifies, organizes, plans, rearranges, reconstructs, relates, reorganizes, revises, rewrites, summarizes, tells, writes.

Evaluation: Make judgments about the value of Evaluation: Make judgments about the value of ideas or materials.ideas or materials.

Examples: Select the most effective solution. Hire the most qualified candidate. Explain and justify a new budget.

Key Words: appraises, compares, concludes, contrasts, criticizes, critiques, defends, describes, discriminates, evaluates, explains, interprets, justifies, relates, summarizes, supports.

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Bloom’s Taxonomy Categories

KnowledgeKnowledge

ComprehensionComprehension

ApplicationApplication

AnalysisAnalysis

SynthesisSynthesis

EvaluationEvaluation

To actually use knowledge, you must reach at least To actually use knowledge, you must reach at least the the ApplicationApplication stage stage

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Example: Grammar

• Knowledge: I am able to recite some grammar rules, Knowledge: I am able to recite some grammar rules, but when I actually write something, it might still be but when I actually write something, it might still be ungrammaticalungrammatical

• Comprehension: I can explain the rules of grammar in Comprehension: I can explain the rules of grammar in my own wordsmy own words

• Application: I can use the rules of grammar to write Application: I can use the rules of grammar to write grammaticallygrammatically

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How do we get to the Application level of learning?

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Learning to Solve Problems is Akin to Learning to Ride a Bicycle

• You can read all you want about how to ride a bikeYou can read all you want about how to ride a bike

• You can watch someone demonstrate how to do itYou can watch someone demonstrate how to do it

• But you have to actually get on the bike to learn how But you have to actually get on the bike to learn how to ride it!to ride it!

• Likewise, to learn to design processes, you have to Likewise, to learn to design processes, you have to actually try itactually try it

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Theory and Application

• This very course is divided into modulesThis very course is divided into modules

• In each module, you will study some theoryIn each module, you will study some theory

• There will typically be a set of exercises to help you There will typically be a set of exercises to help you understand and absorb the theoryunderstand and absorb the theory

• Then, you will have a project to work on where you apply Then, you will have a project to work on where you apply the theorythe theory

• The information is progressive and cumulative: don’t try to The information is progressive and cumulative: don’t try to skip aheadskip ahead

• It takes time to absorb and internalize the ideas, so if you It takes time to absorb and internalize the ideas, so if you take this course for credit, keep up with the scheduletake this course for credit, keep up with the schedule

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Excel Versions

• You’ll need a copy of Excel 2010 (for Windows) or You’ll need a copy of Excel 2010 (for Windows) or Excel 2011 (for Mac). You can get by with Excel 2007 Excel 2011 (for Mac). You can get by with Excel 2007 for Windows.for Windows.

• We’ll make an effort to have everything compatible We’ll make an effort to have everything compatible with both platforms. Where there are differences, with both platforms. Where there are differences, we’ll point them out. Some materials will be we’ll point them out. Some materials will be presented for one platform only, where the presented for one platform only, where the differences are trivial or obvious.differences are trivial or obvious.

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Topics We’ll CoverGeneral problem solving; intro to ExcelGeneral problem solving; intro to Excel

Naming and scopeNaming and scope

Logic and conditionalsLogic and conditionals

Procedures and functionsProcedures and functions

Repetition and loopsRepetition and loops

FilesFiles

ArraysArrays

AlgorithmsAlgorithms

Some selected Excel topicsSome selected Excel topics