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Course Catalog:
To explore some topical applications and technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and networking, examines some of the fundamental aspects of computing, including how a computing machine stores, manipulates, and transforms numbers, words, images, and sounds, changing them from mere data into useful information; strategies for solving computational problems (algorithmic thinking); expressing computational solutions in various computer languages from assembly through icon-driven graphical languages (4GLs); historical, social and theoretical issues. Includes a weekly hands-on lab through which students experience a variety of computing environments.

Course Info

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• Instructor: Nat Tuck
• Email: <nathaniel.tuck@plymouth.edu>
• Office: D&M 305
• Lecture: Monday, Friday @ 9:05-9:55am
• Labs:
  • Section 01: Monday at 2:30-4:10pm
  • Section 02: Friday at 2:30-4:10pm
• Final Exam: Wednesday, December 10 @ 8-10:30am
• Course Site: https://homework.quest/ click “cs2010”

Office Hours, Fall 2025:

• In D&M 305
• Monday @ 1 - 2pm
• Tuesday @ 2 - 3pm
• Friday @ 12:30 - 1:30pm

Student Learning Outcomes

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Successful students will:

• Be able to describe the characteristics of computer applications and how they are developed and implemented
• Be able to identify the components of a computer (hardware and software) and explain their function
• Build simple computer programs
• Build simple logic circuits
• Be able to read and write decimal values and text in binary and hex
• Be familiar with CS and IT majors as offered in the University
• Be familiar with career possibilities in CS and IT

Texts

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No required textbook.

Online texts we’re likely to use:

• Praveen and Magesh, Digital Logic and Computer Archetecture in Minecraft
• Carpinelli, An Animated Introduction to Digital Logic Design
• Ierusalimschy, Programming in Lua

Required Materials

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• Minecraft: Java Edition ($30)
• OpenRouter Credits ($10)

Grading

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Labs

Each week there will be a lab assignment to complete during the lab period. Labs will only be accepted before the end of the lab period, and only when submitted from a lab workstation.

This course is a pre-requisite for several other courses. Labs are intended to help you personally practice specific skills without outside help.

Towards that end:

• Personal electronics may not be used. If they are brought to lab, they must be kept in a closed container like a backpack.
• Only approved web resources can be used. That includes the course web site, the textbook, the LMS, and nothing else unless explicitly listed in the assignment.
• Students who intentionally or repeatedly violate this policy will be asked to leave and will not be able to complete that lab assignment.

Homework

Each week there will be a homework assignment to be completed outside of class.

Each assignment will have guidelines on what resources to use. Follow the guidelines and complete the assignment as instructed.

Assignments submitted after the deadline will not be accepted, unless submission was prevented by an unexpected event that would qualify as an excused absence. Start early to ensure you have enough time to complete the assignments.

There may be extra assignments that are counted as homework for administrative tasks like completing course evaluations.

Exams

There will be two exams, a midterm and a final.

The exams will most likely be on paper, with no access to electronic resources.

Graded exams can be reviewed during office hours or by appointment.

Tentative Schedule

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• ‡ No class on Monday, Sep 1 (Labor Day)
• § No class on Wednesday, Nov 26 - Friday, Nov 28 (Thanksgiving)
• ¶ No class on Monday, Nov 10 (Veterans Day)

Standard Policies

Attendance

Attendance is required for all class meetings (whether lectures or labs). You must check in to the online attendance tool within 5 minutes of the start of the period to receive full attendance credit.

If you are unable to attend class due to a circumstance covered by the university Excused Absence Policy email the professor as soon as possible for an exception. If you reasonably can email before the meeting, you must do so to receive an exception.

Late Work

You are expected to submit your assignments by the deadline. Try to get stuff done and submitted at least an hour before that so you don't miss the deadline due to a browser bug or wifi glitch.

Unless some more specific policy is specified for a specific assignment or type of assignment, late work will not be accepted.

If you are unable to complete an assignment on time due to circumstances covered by the university Excused Absence Policy email the professor as soon as possible for an extension. If you reasonably can email before the deadline, you must do so to receive an extension.

Letter Grades

≥ 93 → A, ≥ 90 → A-,
≥ 87 → B+, ≥ 83 → B, ≥ 80 → B-,
≥ 77 → C+, ≥ 73 → C, ≥ 70 → C-,
≥ 67 → D+, ≥ 63 → D, ≥ 60 → D-,
else (< 60) → F

Grade Appeals

If you think you received an incorrect grade, send me an email describing why your grade is wrong and how you think it should be corrected.

If the grade isn’t clearly wrong, I will ask you to stop by my office hours so we can discuss the issue in more detail.

For scores automatically and immediately generated by deterministic test scripts on Inkfish, you are expected to review that immediate feedback and resubmit with corrections before the due date. Scores where you could have done that are unlikely to be modified unless there's a clear error in the script.

Academic Integrity

Please carefully read and be familiar with the university Academic Integrity Policy.

Especially don’t do any of the things in the list of examples of academic integrity violations. Make sure to review the penalties for repeated offenses.

The maximum penalty for academic dishonestly is a grade of “AF” in this course. In addition, the student’s name may be sumitted the the appropriate university authorities for further diciplinary action which may result in penalties up to dismissal from the University.

The most likely violation for this course is plagarism, which is when a student submits a solution for an assignment that wasn’t produced by them (or their assigned team in the case of a group assignment). Both submitting work that you didn’t produce and providing solutions to other students are unacceptable in this course and will result in a penalty as described above.

Some assignments in this course allow the use of generative AI tools. Such tools should not be used to generate assignment solutions except as explicitly described in a given assignment.

Fair Grading Policy

All grading in this class is subject to the university Fair Grading Policy.

Email and Canvas

Some communication about this class will be done through email to your University address. Please check your email; you are responsible for any email communications you miss.

Other communication - especially to the whole class - will be done through Canvas Annoucements. Check those regularly.

ADA Statement

Plymouth State University is committed to providing students with documented disabilities equal access to all university programs and facilities. If you think you have a disability requiring accommodations, you should contact Campus Accessibility Services (CAS), located in Speare 210 (535-3300) to determine whether you are eligible for such accommodations. Academic accommodations will only be considered for students who have registered with CAS. If you have a Letter of Accommodation for this course from CAS, please provide the instructor with that information privately so that you and the instructor can review those accommodations.

Tutoring

CS&T offers evening tutoring for several classes. Keep an eye out for annoucements. The PASS Office also offers individual tutoring.

Class Cancellations and Inclement Weather

Class cancellations, if nessisary for whatever reason, will be posted as an annoucement on Canvas.

While my goal is to hold class during inclement weather unless the Univesity has closed, that isn't always possible. Definitely check canvas for a cancellation (or short delay) if the weather report mentions freezing rain.

Class cancellations and inclement weather and class cancellations don't change assignment deadlines unless explictly noted.

Late Registration

If you register late for the course please contact the professor to discuss completing any missed assignments as soon as possible.