Bridge Course: Intro to Computing and Problem Solving

Course Information

• Course Type: Bridge Course
• Semester: 1
• Total Hours: 20

Course Objectives

• Introduce programming concepts and problem-solving skills
• Introduce the basics of web page design

Module 1: Introduction to Computing and Problem Solving (10 Hours)

• Basics of Computing: Covers bits, bytes, data, information, and types of computing devices. Explains how computers function as data processing machines.
• Problem-Solving Life Cycle: Discusses understanding the problem statement, analyzing the problem, planning program design using hierarchy charts, and top-down and bottom-up approaches.
• Problem-Solving Tools: Covers algorithms (definition and attributes), algorithm constructs, statements (input-output, decision-making, looping), flowchart examples, module representation, and drawing conventions/standards.
• Introduction to Programming: Includes computer programs, classifications of computer languages (machine, assembly, high-level), language translators (assembler, compiler, interpreter), testing and debugging, error types (syntax, logical, runtime), and commenting/documentation in programs.

Practical Applications of Problem-Solving Techniques

• Real-World Problem Identification: Students identify and document real-world problems, analyze them, and break them down into manageable components. This involves identifying inputs and outputs, developing solutions using algorithms and flowcharts.
• Iterative Problem Solving: Students apply algorithms and flowcharts to problems with iterative steps, analyzing the algorithms and flowcharts across different input values, and identifying exceptional input cases.

Module 2: Introduction to Web Designing (10 Hours)

• Basic Web Concepts: Covers the World Wide Web, Internet addressing, browsers, URLs, web servers, websites, and domain names.
• Web Design and Applications: Details website design, website look & feel, themes, multimedia applications, HTML and CSS, web publishing, and evaluation criteria for websites.
• Group Project: Students work on a webpage development project.

Suggested Readings

• Lists specific books and online resources for further study.

Basics of Computing

• Bits and Bytes: Explains bits (binary digits) as the fundamental unit of data, and bytes as 8-bit units for storing/processing data.
• Data and Information: Distinguishes between data (raw facts) and information (processed data with context/meaning). Presents structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data types.
• Data Characteristics: Data can be either quantitative (numerical) or qualitative (descriptive).

Information from Data

• Transformation: Data is transformed into information through interpretation and presentation within a meaningful context
• Characteristics: Processed, contextualized, and meaningful information.
• Examples: Provides various examples of how data is transformed into meaningful information.

Types of Computing Devices

• General Categories: Covers a wide range of devices, from personal gadgets (like smartphones) to specialized machines (like supercomputers). Also highlights the broad spectrum of computing usages.
• Specific Types: Lists personal computing devices, wearable computing devices, specialized computing devices, embedded systems, gaming and entertainment devices, and internet of things devices.

Computer as a Data Processing Machine

• Processing Cycle: Illustrates the input, processing, and output stages of how computers handle information.

Problem Solving Life Cycle

• Understanding the Problem: Describes the process of comprehend the problem, identify constraints, inputs and outputs requirements. Includes example.
• Analyzing the Problem: Breaking down the problem into smaller parts to identify requirements, inputs and output(s), valid input types. Includes example.
• Planning Program Design: Explains hierarchy charts, visually representing program structure and relationships between components.
• Top-down Approach: Outlines the top-down approach to program development and breaking tasks into sub-tasks.
• Bottom-up Approach: Describes developing simpler components and then linking them together.
• Approaches: Defines and clarifies both the Top-Down and Bottom-Up approaches to algorithm design.

Understanding Basic Problem-Solving Tools

• Statements (Input-Output): Explains how programs use input and output statements. Provides different methods to receive and present data to a user. This includes examples.
• Algorithms: Defining algorithms, a sequence of steps for solving a problem. Also points out, it isn't a program, but an approach..
• Algorithm Characteristics: Outlines essential features of algorithms (clear instructions, finiteness, feasibility, language independence, specific input(s), output(s)).
• Examples: Presents example algorithms and how the problem are worked step-by-step.

Decision-Making in Algorithms

• If-Else and Switch statements: Defines decision-making structures in algorithms and outlines practical examples.
• Logic Choices: How the choices can result in different outcomes based on the condition provided.

Flowchart

• What it is: Explains what flowcharts are and how they visually describe an algorithm.
• Conventions and Standards: Rules for creating flowcharts (consistency of symbols, clarity, proper spacing).
• Flowchart Symbols/Components: Presents symbols and their purpose used in flowcharts.

Use of Comments or Documentation

• Importance and purpose of comments in written programs.
• Types of comments (single-line, multiline).

Language Translators

• Compilers- how they translate high level programming language into machine language, and how errors are identified and what happens after.
• Assemblers- how they translate assembly language to machine code.
• Interpreters- how they translate and execute a single line of code without translating the whole program.

Testing and Debugging

• Defines what program testing/debugging is.
• Purpose of program testing. Outlines the stages of debugging and purpose/reasoning.
• Types of errors (syntax, logical, runtime). Includes examples of each of the types of errors.

Assignments

• Lists specific tasks/assignments that students may need to complete

Explore the foundational concepts of computing and programming problem-solving methodologies in this introductory bridge course. Dive into the basics of computing, understand algorithms, and learn to design programs effectively. This course is essential for those looking to build a strong base in programming and web design.