OPIM 298-03 Java Programming Fall 2002

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Course Overview

Java has quickly became a hot buzzword of the computing industry. People want to know Java - it was said to be great for creating dynamic interactive content for webpages. Java has the advantage of ubiquity. You dont need to pay anyone to run it! If you are into MIS for a living, you're probably going to come across Java sooner or later. Java is showing up in all sorts of places:  You can write applets that run in the browsers that most of the world uses. 

Note, Java is an object-orientated language, and may not be suitable for first time programmers. Learning a new language takes some time, but learning your first object-orientated language can be exceedingly difficult. Nonetheless, if you've done some C++/C programming before, the shift into Java shouldn't be unreachable, providing you work hard in this course This is not scare you but note you've been fairly warned :)

This class will presume that you have some basic programming knowledge.  as it will not be covering such principles as sequence, selection and repetition. If you are unsure on ' for ' loops, or complex ' if ' statements, I'd suggest coming back here at a later point

A key engagement for the course will be in class exercises and projects that demonstrate the power of platform independent, distributed computing.

Required Readings:

• There is no printed course packet or text for this course.  All required readings are available via the READING link on the class website, that I have created for you.  Please note that changes to the reading schedule are likely to occur during the course of the semester. It is your responsibility to keep track of this website to monitor any changes. 
• We will be using a virtual JAVACOURSE e-group and a class mailing list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/opim29803f02/ to disseminate information from time to time. Please make sure you are a member of this group and have set up your preferences correctly. 

Optional Readings and Virtual Discussion Forum

An excellent starting point for learning Java is the book by Deitel and Deitel, available directly from Amazon.com

Students are encouraged to contribute, respond, and interact with any material that is relevant to the class. The e-group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/opim29803f02/ allows you to add bookmarks and share electronic files. Please limit this to Java related material.

You are soon going to be working professionals in the real-world! Use this class to dry run your professionalism.  You can begin to do this by treating your class obligations as you would any other business commitment.  It is expected that all students will attend all classes, arrive on time and prepared, and actively participate in discussions.  Be prepared to be active in the class throughout the semester.   After all this is a programming course.

Arriving late is a disruption - please show your classmates the courtesy of minimizing such disruptions by being on time.  Active participation in class is mandatory and questions are welcome and encouraged.  Your collective experiences are substantial and valuable to others, so don't be shy about sharing!  Occasionally, to keep us focused and on topic, I may request that a topic be handled outside class or will post a related article in e-group. Expect to work hard and learn a lot. In order to facilitate efficient communication please use the following communication guidelines. In general, email is preferred over voicemail because I have a record of what your request is, and in most cases give a better answer. You are always welcome to call me at work. 

Communication Guidelines

EMAIL 

1) Begin your subject line with "OPIM 29803". Then end with a brief description of your issue, e.g. "E-group Problem" A sample subject line could look like "OPIM 29803: Project Submission Problem" 

VoiceMail 

1) Please make sure you leave a number that I can call you back. If possible also send an email or leave an email address.

Grading:

Grades earned will be determined by two in-class tests and individual projects.  Students who successfully complete all hands-on technology assignments on time and who participate in class will have their final grade determined by the weighting scheme below.

Note that there is no pre-existing (university specified or otherwise) distribution of grades that I use for any of my courses. your final grade will reflect both your absolute level of knowledge acquisition in this course as well as your relative performance in the class.

Registration:

Grades for tests and projects are assigned only to those students who appear in the University's Peoplesoft class roster. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are properly registered for this course.

Tests:

Test are comprehensive, non-cumulative and will test your knowledge of technologies and concepts covered in class.  Some portion of the test may be hands-on and involve actual coding, in the lab, to demonstrate knowledge of the the concepts. The format of the written test is usually a combination of short answer, brief essay, multiple choice, and true/false questions.

Individual Projects

There will be 5 individual programming projects. These will be assigned as per the schedule and timely completion is absolutely necessary. 

All projects will be submitted via a secure FTP mechansim using the following logon information:

    host - ftp.sba.uconn.edu

Penalties for Missed Tests and Projects

Missed test will be assigned a grade of zero for the particular test that has been missed. Only in extraordinary circumstances (e.g. doctor certified medical illness, death of a near relative etc. - read your student handbook for details) will the grade of zero not be assigned for the particular exam missed. In such cases the students' grade will be determined from the remaining data points that make up the eventual final grade. For instance, if student x misses Test 2 for a valid emergency than his/her grade will be determined based on the performance in Test 1, Final Project and Class participation. No make up exam will be given under any circumstance.

Students are expected to attend all classes, to arrive on time, and to have completed all assigned reading prior to attending class.  Examine the course schedule ahead of time and notify the instructor immediately if you can not make a particular date or assignment. 

Here are some examples (not exhaustive) of cases which did NOT qualify as "extraordinary circumstances" and hence resulted in a ZERO being assigned:

1. "...bought air tickets to attend a family members graduation in CA..."

2. "...had coop interview with an employer..." Remember, coop is NOT meant to interfere with learning inside the classroom.

3. "...employer paid for me to attend a conference out of town..."

4. "...had a unspecified religious breakthrough..."

 Academic Integrity:

Each student is individually responsible for the integrity of their own work. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each homework assignment is an individual assignment and does not permit cooperation between students. In any assignment (group or individual), if parts of the submitted work relies on other people's work, this has to be stated clearly in each instance and a proper reference has to be provided. Not giving proper credit to others' work constitutes plagiarism and is a serious violation of the University's honor system. Similarly, turning in the same work for credit in two different courses constitutes fraud and is also a serious violation of the University's honor system. Any detected improprieties, including cheating on exams, plagiarism and other fraudulent behavior, will be pursued to the maximum extent permitted by the University policy on academic dishonesty.

Links:

Information Management Association - UConn