Collaborative Research Assignments

CSC 250 Fall 2009

Overview

Project 1: Research Collaborative Question: Is Scratch a fully robust programming language, why or why not?

Project 2: Compare and contrast Scratch and Processing.

Project 3: Data structures are an essential core concept of computer science: what does it mean to structure data, and why is this so important. Contrast the ideas of data, information and knowledge.

Overview:

This course does not have a textbook. Instead it has the internet. The approach taken here is that the best way to learn something is to research it, not highlight a textbook page. Besides, have a broad range of learning styles, and textbooks tend to distill information to a level of superficiality that meets the needs of only a few students. Put differently, students don't read textbooks anyway. Furthermore, in a field as dynamic and new as computer science the information changes almost daily.

So.

The "content" of this course, the corpus of information required to be literate about computer science is out there. The purpose of the weekly research assignment is to entice, inspire, and yes, require each student in the class to engage in thoughtful reflection on some "big ideas."

Each week there will be a question. The final exam, a take home essay exam will require each student to be conversant in the ideas addressed in these questions. The questions will be answered by the group with classmates taking on specific roles each week. The editor and manager will be assigned by the instructor.

The roles are:

• Manager: this person is responsible for making sure the question is answered and posted by the due date.
• Editor: this person is responsible for the presentation of the answer, both that the answer is informative and well-written. The editor and manager work together to assign the remaining tasks.
• Researchers: working with the editor and manager, the researchers will collect a variety of sites on the Internet that pertain to the question. While starting with wikipedia is allowed, at least six other reputable sources should be established for each question.
• Writers: working with the researchers, the writers are responsible for the media that (text, graphics, video etc.) that answers the question.
• Reviewers: working with the writers, the reviewers provide commentary on the veracity of the answer, as well as its style and informativeness. The reviewers also provide a confidential analysis of the success of the question, while the manager and editor provide a confidential analysis of the contribution of the researchers, writers and reviewers.

Questions will typically be posted on Tuesday, a draft answer must be posted the beginning of next Tuesday session, where it will be briefly discussed. The final answer must be posted on the wiki the following Friday after which it will be linked from this page with commentary from the instructor.

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Collaborative Questions

(please note that the wiki page is protected. For access please contact Dr. Wolz)

Project 1

Is Scratch a fully robust programming language, why or why not? Do not take a single position, but answer the question from both perspectives by contrasting it with your knowledge of C/C++ and/or Java.

Project 2

Compare and contrast Scratch and Processing. What are the advantages and disadvanages of each? What does the Internet have to say about "syntax free" languages.

Project 3

Data structures are an essential core concept of computer science: what does it mean to structure data, and why is this so important. Contrast the ideas of data, information and knowledge.

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