OECS255 Advanced Programming
Instructor: Doug Bocaz-Larson
Email: dbocaz@nmsu.edu
Lab hours/office hours in room 124: M/W 6:45-8:15 and Tu/Th 5:30-6:45/8:00-8:15
Phone: 290-1331/287-6656
Course Description:
This course will ask the students to study unfamiliar programming languages
such as C or Java in depth. The purpose of the course is to prepare students
for transition to bachelor’s program at Las Cruces but can be useful to
anyone wanting to expand their knowledge of programming. The majority of the
assignments will be done online with SmartCertify or Target Global. The final
assignment will be a project of your own creation using the programming language
you’ve learned.
Instructor Availability:
I will be happy to work with you in a computer lab at NMSU-Grants at scheduled
times. Please call my cell phone (505-290-1331) or my office (505-287-6656)
or email me (dbocaz@nmsu.edu) for questions or to arrange a time to me. Email
is actually the quickest way to reach me followed by leaving a message on my
cell phone. I check my office phone the least often. Feel free to ask questions
anytime. Most importantly, turn your assignments in on time and don't get behind.
Evaluation:
Students will be graded by online course software (80% of grade) and by their
final project (20% of grade).
Grading scale:
100-90% A
89-80% B
79-70% C
69-60% D
>59% F
Deadlines:
Students must meet the deadlines in order to receive full credit for assignments,
quizzes, and projects. You will be given until the Monday after the assignment
deadline to turn in the assignments for full credit. After that point, 10% will
be taken off for each week the assignment is late up to 40%. The final deadline
is not flexible. No late assignments will be taken after the final deadline
for the course.
• Final deadline for all 1st 8 week assignments – March 2, 2005
• Final deadline for all 2nd 8 week assignments – May 2, 2005
Failure to meet the above deadlines may result in your being dropped from the
course by the first 4 week deadline or a failing grade on the 2nd 4 weeks.
Important Dates
Jan. 13 Classes Begin
Jan. 17 MLK
Mar. 3 Last Day to Drop
Mar. 21-25 Spring Break No Class
Words of Wisdom
When you take a course about computers, you get out of it what you put into
it. Computers are constantly changing and you must be constantly learning to
keep on the cutting edge. A class in computers will help you get started, but
it is up to you to go that extra mile to become an expert. Working with computers
is like learning a musical instrument. You don’t become a good musician
without practice. It is the same with computers. If you don’t practice
and develop your skills on your own, then you’ll never be a true techie.
No computer class can teach you everything you need to know on a topic. Computer
courses are a jumping off point to a journey, not a destination
Getting Started with WebCT:
If have never taken a web course, please do the following.
1. Go to: http://salsa.nmsu.edu
2. Click "Create Your ID" on left side of screen
3. Enter your social security number and your date of birth.
4. Click Continue and follow directions.
5. When you are done, email your instructor (Doug Bocaz-Larson) at dbocaz@nmsu.edu
so you can be added to the course.
6. Please allow for 24 hours between the time you create your idea and the time
you can enter the course.
7. Return to http://salsa.nmsu.edu, enter your username and password and click
the link to your course.
(If you have any questions you can email me at dbocaz@nmsu.edu, call my cell
290-1331, or my office 287-6656)
Important Notes to Students (the fine print):
If you have, or believe you have, a disability that would benefit from any accommodation(s),
you may wish to register with the Student Services Office on the first floor
of Martinez Hall. All medical information will be treated confidentially. After
you have registered, please make sure that I receive a copy of the accommodation
memorandum from Student Services within the first two weeks of class. It will
be your responsibility to inform me or the office of Student Services (in a
timely manner) if the services/accommodations are not meeting your needs. If
you have a condition that may affect your ability to exit safely from the premises
in an emergency or that may cause an emergency during class, you are encouraged
to discuss any concerns with Ms. Irene Charles-Lutz, Campus Student Services
Officer at 287-6629, or with me at 287-6656.
Any student found guilty of academic misconduct shall be subject to disciplinary
action. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following actions:
cheating; plagiarism; unauthorized possession of examinations, reserve library
materials or laboratory materials; unauthorized changing of grades on an examination,
instructor’s grade book or grade report; nondisclosure or misrepresentation
in filing out applications or other college records; or violation of computer
use policies. The following disciplinary actions and sanctions may be imposed
for any of the above infractions of regulations: disciplinary probation, disciplinary
suspension, dismissal, expulsion.
This is a preview of the upcoming Spring schedule of assignments.
This schedule will be updated on Jan. 13, 2005
Tentative Schedule for OECS255 (subject to change)
Class Dates and Topics Covered
1/19
Discussion: Introduction
Discussion: What do you know about programming?
Discussion: What do you want to learn about programming? (What do you want to
be able to do?)
1/24
Get started with SmartCertify or Target Global
3/3
Discussion: Plan a final project (make programs in the programming
language or make robots)
Discussions: Progress reports (discuss your progress on the online software
– answer questions about the programming language)
Discussions: Teaching others about your programming language
5/2
Complete online software on your programming language of choice (SmartCertify
or Target Global)
Complete final project (programs in the language of choice)