This course is geared towards an introduction of symbolic computer programming in the Java programming language aimed at preparing the students for the Advanced Placement exam in Computer Science to be administered in May of 2004.  As such this class is equivilent to an introductory class on Computer Science at most colleges.  As such the class methodologies and policies are designed to emulate that at many Universities and Colleges.  The class will emphasize object oriented solutions building and data abstraction as methods to solve problems employing a top-down approach to learning computer systems. 
    What this means in plainer English is we will learn how systems work and how to modify them by first focusing on the big picture of the system from an examination of how it acts and how one can manipulate it, and then refine our understanding by delving into its inner workings.
    This class will use as its text Java Au Naturel, Third Edition by Dr. William C. Jones Jr, and online text available at javabook.org in addition to supplemental material found on this website and/or available from lectures. 
    The class heavily emphasizes learning programming by programming, and thus has a large component of the class dependent on labs, be they labs done in class or done at home. 
    Most or all of the tools used in this class are available for free. 

last updated on 10/24/03
Copyright (C) 2003 Jim Casaburi