Syllabus - CS 1301

Spring 2008

- 1 -

CS 1301

Operating Systems Utilities I- Spring 2008

INSTRUCTOR:Dr. Pedro A. Diaz-GomezOFFICE:203D, Howell Hall

OFFICE PHONE:(580) 581-7934 E-MAIL:

OFFICE HOURS:M & W 8:30 – 10:00 am T & Tr 3:15 – 5:15 pm

T & Tr8:00 – 9:30 am

PREREQUISITE: CS majors should also enroll in CS1313

REQUIRED TEXT:

LINUX: THE TEXTBOOK.2002 Addison Wesley. ISBN 0-201-72595-9

Syed Mansoor Sarwar, Robert Koretsky and Syed Aqeel Sarwar.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

TheOperating Systems Utilities I is an introductory Linux operating system course where the student learns the basic commands, shells, file structure, file editing, file security and file processing.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

  1. To introduce students in the use of Unix/Linux operating systems.
  2. To provide students with an understanding of key terms and concepts used in operating systems like kernel, shell and operating system’s commands.
  3. To provide students with an understanding of hardware and software, and how those components interact.
  4. To prepare students to solve problems in the Linux environment.

COURSE FORMAT:

The strategy for this course calls on the student to be an active participant in the learning process. Students must prepare in advance each topic to be covered in class and as part of their preparation they must make home works which come directly from the class’ book.

The instructor expands upon key concepts with comments and examples provided by the book and class slides. The course includes interactive instructor lecture, and sometimes students hands-on LAB exercises.

ACTIVE vs. PASSIVE LEARNING [1]:

Studies indicate that students retain: 10% of what they read; 20% of what they hear; 30% of what they see; 50% of what they see and hear; 70 % of what they say; and 90% of what they say as they do. Adult learners learn better if they are ACTIVELY involved in the learning process!

The following has been adapted from the West Virginia Department of Psychology Undergraduate Handbook (

  • Active: Come to lectures prepared, pay attention, take notes, participate in discussions, and asks questions.
  • Active: Take your own notes.
  • Active: Skim assignments first, make up a list of questions they want answered, and then read the assignment to answer the questions.
  • Active: Study returned tests so they don’t make the same mistake again.
  • Active: Volunteer to help others in class who are having trouble.
  • Active: Participates in the learning environment, making choices, looking for answers outside of the class environment.
  • Active learners want deep learning. Deep learning is insightful learning. Deep learners look for the meaning behind the learning.

BLACKBOARD:

Blackboard ( ) will be used throughout the course to provide a forum for disseminating information, group work, discussions, and for exams. The correct blackboard course in which to enroll is: OPERATINGSYSTEM UTILITY I– Spring 2008 CS1301_Spring08). The Password for self-enrolling is CS1301_Spring08

EVALUATIONS:

Exams. There are three (3) scheduled exams for this course. This includes the final. Please see the tentative schedule for test dates. The exam format will typically be multiple choices, short answers, writingalgorithms, writing Linux Commands. Usually exams are open notesbut not open neighbor. Exams will not be curved.

Quizzes. There will be at least three announced quizzes which are verbating from home works. Usually quizzes are open notesbut not open neighbor.

Make-up Exams and quizzes. As a general rule, there will be no make-up examinations and quizzes. If extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control exists (e.g. immediate family member death, hospitalization, serious illness or accident), see the instructor. Make-ups are at the instructor’s discretion and will be made on a case-by-case basis. No consideration will be given after the fact unless the gravest circumstances exist.

Home works. There will be home assignments that will help you for preparing for quizzes and exams. Quizzes are taken verbatim from home works.

Extra credit. Some assignments, hands on in class and extracurricular activities advertized and or approved explicitly by the instructor can receive extra credit if that is explicitly supported by the student at the time the assignment or activity is realized. The maximum extra credit for this course is 25 points.

Preparation for Class and studying together: Students must be adequately prepared for each class. Instructor encourages the study together. However, students must have into account that exams, quizzes and projects are made individually, and that students must give credit were credit must be done giving the corresponding citation. In addition, the instructor may call upon students/student groups to discuss topics assigned from assignments. Because the lectures are designed to expand upon and clarify text concepts, students who fail to read the assigned material may not understand the lecture and may not draw full benefit from in-class discussion.

There will be no make-up for work completed during class.

The best exam/homework could be selected by the instructor to be, part of it, presented to the class with the instructor’s assistance.

GRADING:

Grades are computed on the basis of points according to the Tables bellow. Quizzes could have different point scale that sum up to a total of 150 points.

ACTIVITY / Points
Final Exam / 200
Quizzes / 150
Extra credit / -
Total / 350

Grading Criteria:

Grade

/

Percentage

A

/ >=315
B / 280–314
C / 245–279
D / 210–244
F / <= 209

Note: The instructor reserves the right to adjust the grading plan to account for unusual circumstances.

CONDUCT:

General: Class participation is strongly encouraged. This class is a partnership between the instructor, the student, and other classmates. An open exchange of ideas enhances the learning process.

Attendance. Attendance is strongly encouraged. Although attendance will not be recorded, there will be no make-up for any in-class work that is missed. Extra points can be assigned to hands on in class, if the student attend to all lectures, come to the instructor office hours with questions or ask assistanceto monitors in programming solving problems.

Punctuality. Arriving late disrupts the class, distracts from the learning process and is discourteous to the instructor and other students. In cases where tardiness is truly unavoidable, the tardy student should enter the classroom as quietly as possible and take the first available seat.

Cell Phones. In class – turn off cell phones and other disruptive electronic devices. Do not make and/or answer calls and engage in telephone conversation during class. Do not send or read text messages during class time. Students who do so will be asked to leave the classroom. Please always be courteous of others.

Academic Honesty. Each student is expected to engage in all academic pursuits in a manner that is above reproach. Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in the academic experiences both in and out of the classroom. Any student found guilty of academic dishonesty will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in theCameron University Student Handbook, Cameron University Code of Student Conduct. If in doubt about proper conduct for graded activities, please ask the instructor.

DISABILITY ACCOMODATIONS:

It is the policy of CameronUniversity to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal and state law. Students with disabilities who need classroom accommodations must make their requests by contacting the Office of Student Development at (580) 581-2209, North Shepler Room 314.

DROP DATES:

It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from the class on or before the appropriate drop date. Failure to withdraw by the appropriate deadline may result in a failing grade.

Syllabus - CS 1301

Spring 2008

- 1 -

Tentative Schedule

DATES

/

SEMESTER WEEKS

/

COURSE TOPICS

/ TEXT CHAPTERS
Jan 17 / 1 / Syllabus Review
Overview of Operating Systems / Chapter 1
Jan 24 – Jan 31 / 2 - 3 /

Linux History, computer system hardware.

Quiz # 1 / Chapter 2 – 3.2
Feb 7 / 4 / Editing text files. PICO editor. / Section 5.2
Feb 14 /

5

/ Linux Software Architecture / Section 3.3
Feb 21 – Feb 28 /

6 - 7

/ Linux Shells. Quiz # 2 / Section 4.1
Mar 6 – Mar 13 /

8 - 9

/

Linux Shells – Using the VI editor

/ Section 4.2 – Section 5.3
Mar 17 – Mar 21 /

10

/

Spring Brake

Mar 27 /

11

/ Using the EMACS editor / Sections 5.4 – 5.5
Apr 3 /

12

/ E-mail generalities – Quiz # 3 / Section # 6.2
Apr 10 - 17 /

13-14

/ Files and File System Structure / Chapter 7
Apr 24 – May 1 /

15

/ Basic File Processing / Chapter 9
May 6 – 9 / Final Exam

[1] Kimberly Merrit. Sillabus MIS Spring 2007. CameronUniversity. Computing & Technology Department.