COMP140-05B
Foundations of Computer Science
— Course Outline —
This paper introduces, investigates and uses the basic mathematical ideas which form the foundations of Computer Science. It will cover: sets, relations and functions; induction and recursion; propositional and predicate logic. A distinctive quality of this paper is that laboratories will be used throughout.
Lecturers
Coordinator: Dr. Robi Malik
Room: G 2.03, Phone: (07) 838 4796, Lecturer: Dr. Tim Stokes
Room: G 3.11, Phone: (07) 838 4131, Lecturer: Dr. Ian Hawthorn
Room: G 3.03, Phone: (07) 838 4466,
Course Web Site
Further information can be found at the course Web site on
http://cs.waikato.ac.nz/˜robi/comp140-05b/.
Lectures
Monday 09:00 – 10:00 ELT G.01 Wednesday 10:00 – 11:00 L G.03 Friday 10:00 – 11:00 ELT G.01
Recommended Text
Winfried-Karl Grassmann and Jean-Paul Tremblay: Logic and Discrete Mathematics.
Prentice-Hall, 1996.
Paper Structure
Many students doing a BCMS degree require a strong understanding of some of the more formal aspects of their subject. This course introduces, from a computer science point of view, those parts of mathematics and computer science which are necessary to provide BCMS students with the foundations they will need for further study.
The course is both lecture and laboratory based. It covers at an introductory level:
• concepts of sets, relations, and functions (supported by Haskell);
• induction and recursion;
• strings, graphs, and trees (supported by GATO);
• propositional logic (supported by NuSMV);
• natural deduction (supported by JAPE);
This course consists of three components: lectures, tutorials and laboratory practicals.
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Lectures. The lectures introduce and motivate the material of this course.
Tutorials. In the tutorials you will do several exercises to ensure your understanding of the topics introduced in the lectures. They form no part of the assessment, but are obviously important for understanding and reinforcing the concepts that will be ex- amined in written tests. Remember that the questions in the tests will primarily be based on the material discussed in the tutorials and not on the lectures themselves.
Practicals. Throughout the course, laboratories will be used to further exercise the course material using different tools on the computers.
Attendance Policy
Attendance at the scheduled times is not compulsory. However, certain obligations must be met if you are to pass, and these are laid out below. The lecture material, tutorials, and laboratory practicals are an integral part of the course. Failure to attend any of these means that you may miss material not presented elsewhere. Passing the course is up to you, so it is your responsibility to meet your obligations.
Expected Workload
Students should expect a minimum of 12 hours per week on this course. Typically this will consist of:
• Lectures: 3 hours
• Tutorials: 2 hours
• Labs: 2 hours
• Private study: 5 hours
Assessment Schedule
Tests:
Test 1 Wednesday 10th August 2005 19:00 – 20:00 L G.02 and L G.03 Test 2 Wednesday 24th August 2005 19:00 – 20:00 L G.02 and L G.03 Test 3 Wednesday 5th October 2005 19:00 – 20:00 PWC and ELT Test 4 Wednesday 19th October 2005 19:00 – 20:00 L G.03 and L G.05 All tests and exams are closed book. Calculators are not permitted.
Due dates for Practicals:
Practical 1 Exploring graphs Friday 5th August 2005
Practical 2 Spanning trees Friday 12th August 2005
Practical 3 An invitation to functional programming Friday 19th August 2005 Practical 4 Functions for lists and pairs Friday 26th August 2005 Practical 5 Accessing a database Friday 16th September 2005 Practical 6 Checking formulas with SMV Friday 23rd September 2005 Practical 7 Solving logic puzzles Friday 30th September 2005 Practical 8 Verifying a circuit Friday 7th October 2005 Practical 9 Simulating automata with Turing’s World Friday 14th October 2005 Practical 10 Nondeterministic finite-state automata Friday 21st October 2005
Course Requirements
An overall mark of 50% is required for a pass, with a minimum of 40% in the final exam and a minimum of 40% for coursework.
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Means of Internal Assessment
The coursework consists of 4 written tests an 10 practicals weighted as follows.
• 4 tests weighted 20% each: 80%
The tests will take place on Wednesday evenings at 19:00 as indicated above.
• 10 practicals weighted 2% each: 20%
You need to get a demonstrator to verify each practical before it is due. The due dates for the practicals are listed above.
Computing Resources
The Windows computers in Computing Laboratory 2 (R G.07) will be open for students of this course. You will have two laboratory hours allocated each week.
Performance Impairment
Special consideration for missed or impaired course work is covered under Assessment Regulations in the University Calendar. The special consideration for missed or impaired course work is not yet covered in the 2005 University Calendar, but is expected to be the same.
Internal assessment. If you miss a test because you are ill, have an accident, or someone close to you dies or is seriously ill, you can be given special compassionate consideration.
You must let the lecturer or the coordinator for the paper know in writing as soon as possi- ble, but no later than three days after the day the item of assessment is due, and hand in a medical certificate, or other relevant document to the Department office. You must notify Student Allowances (if relevant) if you are absent for more than two weeks, and provide a Medical Certificate.
Final examinations. If you are prevented from sitting a final examination due to cir- cumstances beyond your control, or if you are seriously impaired in your examination per- formance due to illness, injury, personal bereavement or any other critical circumstance, you can apply for special consideration. Contact the Examinations and Assessment Of- fice, ground floor, Student Information Centre—the Gateway, Gate 5, Hillcrest Road, for an Application for Special Consideration form and for advice on the special consideration procedure. You must consult either a registered medical or dental practitioner, midwife, registered psychologist or counsellor, depending on the circumstances, on the day of the examination or, if this is not possible, within 24 hours of the examination affected. You must hand in your application form within 72 hours after the examination. Make sure your family and flatmates know who to contact in case you ever need to use this process. The full criteria and procedures are set out in the University Calendar. You should not contact the lecturers concerned; they can only refer you to the Examinations and Assessment Office.
Leaflets explaining the procedure are available in the School Office and in the Examinations and Assessment Office.
Student Concerns and Complaints
As part of its desire to maintain quality educational standards, the University has put in place a policy which outlines how students may raise individual concerns or complaints.
The policy is intended to assist students in the resolution of individual student academic complaints constructively, quickly and fairly.
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If you have a concern or complaint about a paper you are taking, about the teaching, as- sessment, or any other aspect, you should first raise it with the coordinator for the paper.
Alternatively, you should download a copy of the complaints policy or arrange an appoint- ment with the Student Support Advisor who can talk you through the appropriate proce- dure, and check any written complaints, to make sure they follow the guidelines set out in the policy. The Student Support Advisor can be contacted by phoning 838 4466 extn. 6264 or by emailingstudent.reps@waikato.ac.nz.
The University has put in place a process by which students may raise concerns or com- plaints as a way of identifying and resolving issues in a constructive manner. The procedure enables students to raise concerns or make complaints in a manner which is fair and safe for all parties.
Academic Integrity
All students involved in misconduct connected with assessment will receive zero marks for their work. Their behaviour will be documented for forwarding to the University Disci- plinary Committee. Where appropriate, students are responsible for protecting their intel- lectual property, including computer disk files.
Official Policies
Your attention is drawn to the following policies and regulations which are contained in the University Calendar:
• Assessment Regulations
• Policy on the Use of Maori for Assessment
• Student Research Regulations
• Human Research Ethics Regulations
• Discipline regulations. This applies to any misconduct, including cheating, misuse of computer facilities, or other breach of the University regulations.
• Computer System Regulations
Your attention is also drawn to the following policies and regulations which are contained in the 2005 SCMS Undergraduate Handbook:
• Conditions Of Use Of SCMS Computer Systems
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