CMPSCI 105

Computer Literacy (University of Massachusetts)

Fall 2009

News & Upcoming Events

Midterm Solution Key Here is the solution key to Quiz #4. Here is the solution key to Quiz #3. Here is the solution key to Quiz #2. Here is the solution key to Quiz #1. Thursday, November 12, 2009 I found out today that Excel 2008 for the Mac does NOT run VBA macros. This means that all students running Excel on the Mac have to transfer their files to PC and finish Lab #6 there. (You can copy your files to a PC via flash drive.) Accordingly, I have decided to extend the due-date for lab #6 FOR EVERYONE until next Wednesday, November 18TH. Send those cards and letters care of Bill Gates. Monday, November 9, 2009 The midterm exams are ready for pickup from the TA's at their office (LGRC A355) during their office hours. If anyone scored below 60, you should come see me during my office hours so that I can make certain that you are keeping up with your other work. Here is the histogram for the midterm scores. Monday, October 26, 2009 -- NOTES FOR MIDTERM EXAM The midterm is scheduled for this Thursday, October 29, 2009, from 7:00pm-9:00pm. The exam is open book, open notes, no electronics. Make certain to bring a picture ID! Here are the exam halls, based on the first letter of your last name: A-G: Go to SOM 0137 H-Z: Go to MAHAR 108 You may switch between Mahar and SOM, but only if you tell me (so I can keep the count of exams correct for each of the rooms). People registered with Disability Services as being entitled to extended time on the exam should contact them to have them proctor the exam. (I cannot allow extended time at the regular exam as we have the lecture halls for only a limited period. We would have to set up a special session the following week.) The makeup midterm is Monday, November 2, also from 7:00pm-9:00pm, in LGRC A301, but only for people who have filled out the on-line request form. Sunday, September 27, 2009 I will not be in on Monday, September 28, due to a head cold. The TA office hours and lab hours are now on-line here (or use the link at the bottom of this page). The labs in DuBois 1685 (side room) are from 5:45pm-7:15pm Monday through Thursday, and are drop-in only, first-come-first-served. If nobody shows up during the first 15 minutes, the TA is free to leave. There may be other, non-CMPSCI 105 students in and around the labs, but they are not allowed to ask our TAs for help. There will be a lab monitor present as well, whose job will be to oversee the lab and printers, but that lab monitor is not a TA and may not be asked questions on 105 assignments. Remember that Lab #1 is due by Friday, October 2, 5:00pm, at the TA's office (LGRC A355). You may turn in labs to me in class on Tuesday or Thursday as well. Thursday, September 10, 2009 It looks like I can admit into the class anyone who asks. If you are attempting to enroll in CMPSCI 105, please see me for an override form, to be filled out and taken to the main office in the CMPSCI building. Also, anyone looking for another class may wish to consider my CMPSCI 145 (Representing, Storing, and Retrieving Information) class, which meets at 11:15am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in ELAB 303. Both CMPSCI 105 and CMPSCI 145 fulfill requirements for the IT (Information Technology) minor. If you are interested in the minor, please see me for more information. There were a number of folks who missed the room change for the 4:00pm lecture, now in Thompson 106 (the 11:15am lecture is still in Morrill N329). For any student who could not be in class for that or any other reason on Tuesday, here are links to .PDF files of the first lecture (an expanded version) and to the syllabus. I will continue to bring paper copies of the syllabus to class for several lectures. Expanded Lecture #1 from Tuesday, September 8 Syllabus Thursday, August 27, 2009 Welcome to all new incoming students, and welcome back to everybody else! Happy New Year! This is the main Web page for CMPSCI 105 (Computer Literacy). Check back here throughout the semester for news and updates pertinent to the class. Here are a few tidbits to get you started. Book The book, available in the Textbook Annex, is Computer Literacy Workbook, 16TH edition, 2009-2010 printing, with the YELLOW cover. DO NOT buy any older edition with any other color cover! The new edition has a number of updates to the material, and the lab assignments have been overhauled (many, but not all, made Mac-friendly for the first time). Lecture #1 Here is an outline of the first lecture from last Spring, with enhancements not covered in class but important nonetheless, in Adobe Acrobat .PDF format. If you do not have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, go here. Pictures of Important Stuff The Ledlerle Graduate Research Center and Tower My office in LGRC A357 (not the Tower) The CMPSCI building The CMPSCI main office Buy a flash drive to store your files Previous Semester's Scores To see how previous classes fared, here are histograms from previous semesters: Fall 2006 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Spring 2009 Previous Semester's Exams For reference, here are some links to previous semesters' midterms and final exams, all in Adobe Acrobat (.PDF format): Spring 2003 Midterm Solution Fall 2003 Midterm Solution Fall 2003 Final Exam Solution Key Spring 2004 Midterm Solution Key Spring 2005 Midterm Solution Key Spring 2006 Midterm Solution Key Fall 2006 Midterm Solution Key Spring 2007 Midterm Solution Key Spring 2008 Midterm Solution Key Fall 2009 Midterm Solution Key

On-Line Quizzes, Forms, and Homeworks	Data for lab assignments
Dr. Bill's Office Hours	Teaching Assistants Office Hours
Description of CMPSCI 105 (1.2 Meg)	Some fun (free) PC software I wrote
Syllabus and Handbook	Send Email to Dr. Bill
Back to Dr. Bill's Classes	Back to Dr. Bill's Home Page