Weeks of Programming

Can Save You

Hours of Planning

This is a custom textbook, made from the Ninth Edition Comprehensive version.  This book only contains the material used in our class, and should be much cheaper.  However, it is probably only available from the HCC bookstore.

Kathy Suerra and Bert Bates, Head First Java, ©2009 O'Reilly Media.  ISBN-10: 0596009208   ISBN-13: 9780596009205
(A good self-study book for beginners.)

Cay Horstmann and Gary Cornel, Core Java Volume 1 and Core Java Volume 2, (latest editions of each), ©Prentice Hall. 
(A good reference set.)

HCC bookstore on-line

1. Understand and build applications and applets using advanced object-oriented programming concepts (such as design patterns and basic UML)
2. Understand and use advanced Java features including reflection, annotations, weak references, enums, and autoboxing and unboxing
3. Understanding Exceptions, Assertions, and testing (JUnit)
4. Understanding and using generic collections
5. Understand how to construct internationalized applications and applets
6. Understand and build advanced graphic user interfaces (including 2-d graphics and advanced layout techniques)
7. Understand multithreading concepts and build multithreaded applets and applications
8. Work with files and I/O, including XML files (including DOM, SAX, and XSLT)
9. Understand how to digitally sign an applet and applications, and how to grant extra privileges to an applet, and other features of JAR files
10. Understanding deployment issues and the use of Java WebStart
11. Describe JavaME concepts and components
12. Understand how to use databases from a Java program
13. Printing from a Java application
14. Understand basic networking concepts and building client-server (web based) applications with servlets and Java Server Pages (JSPs), JavaBeans, and Remote Method Invocation (RMI)
15. Understand issues and basic design of enterprise applications using Java EE (including such concepts as web-, business-, and EIS- tiers, fat and thin clients, grids and clusters, WARs and EARs, etc.)
16. Understand and describe enterprise technologies and related services and protocols, including JNDI, JMS, JavaMail, and Web Services ( UDDI, SOAP, and WSDL)

You will need your own flash disk, writing materials (for taking notes), and three Scantron 882–E or 882–ES forms (for taking tests).  You can use HawkNet (WebAdvisor) or Florida Virutal Campus (Formerly FACTS.org) to obtain your final grade for the course.  You can use your assigned Hawkmail (Campus Cruiser) email address if you wish to discuss your grades via email.  (Note, it is possible to setup your Hawkmail account to forward all received emails to some outside email account; but you still must send mail from Hawkmail to discuss grades.)

Most college systems now (or will in the future) use a single sign-on user ID, known as HCC “NetID”.  Visit netid.hccfl.edu to register and to update your credentials.  (Your initial password is your uppercase first name initial, lowercase last name initial, and your seven digit student ID number.)  Note, the quickest way to resolve login issues is the HCC Live Web Portal (hcclive.hccfl.edu).

Hawk Alert text messaging service allows you to receive important information regarding campus closures or emergencies.  You may also sign up for financial aid notifications and registration and payment deadlines.  This is a free service, although some fees may be applied by your cellular service provider or plan for text messages.  To sign up, or for more information, visit www.hccfl.edu/alerts/.

HCC DM Open Lab
Computers with Java software installed are located in the computer science department open lab in DTEC–462.  Lab hours are:

Grading scale:  A=90-100,   B=80-89,   C=70-79,   D=65-69,   F=0-64
(If you stop attending the course before it is 60% complete, you will be awarded an “FX” grade.)
(Or you can elect to “audit” the class during the add/drop period.)

• No makeup exams will be offered without the prior approval of the instructor.
• Exams will be closed book and closed note multiple choice exams.  While the exams are non-cumulative, each does build upon knowledge acquired earlier.  Exams are based mostly upon material presented in class however some questions may be from assigned readings (the textbook and on-line resources).
• Exams will only cover material discussed in class or assigned as reading, before the exam.  Should the class fall behind the course schedule, some topics shown on the syllabus due for an earlier exam will be tested on the following exam instead.
• Regular attendance is imperative for the successful completion of this class.  The textbook and on-line resources should be considered as required course supplements; in other words, the course is not based on the text.
• All phones, pagers, and beepers must be turned off during class time, except with prior permission of the instructor.  No food or drink is permitted in HCC classrooms.
• Attendance will be taken within 5 minutes of the start of class; after 4 unexcused absences and/or lateness, the student will lose 2 points off the final grade for each additional occurrence.
• If you miss a class, you are still responsible for the material covered in that class.  All students should exchange contact information (name, email address, phone number) with at least one other student in the class.  If you must miss a class, you should then contact another student and request they take class notes for you.  (Note Campus Cruiser provides email for our course.)
• Credit for class participation includes attendance, preparedness, and adding to class discussions by asking questions and participating in discussions.  Playing computer games, surfing the Internet, or working on assignments for this or other classes during class time will lose you credit.
• Additional time outside of class will be required.  For typical students an average of between 6 and 10 hours each week outside of class are required for preparation, practice, projects, and homework assignments.
• Students are expected to prepare for each class by completing all reading assignments, reviewing examples and model solutions provided, and practicing outside of class.  This is important — you can't learn a skill such as Java programming only by attending class and reading books.  You must practice several hours a few days each week!  If you won't have enough time available, consider auditing the course.
• Students are expected to check the class website regularly.  Any syllabus changes, class cancellations, project assignments, and homework assignments are announced in class and posted to the website and the RSS feed for this class.
• A student shall not, without my express authorization, make or receive any recording, including but not limited to audio and video recordings, of any class, cocurricular meeting, organizational meeting, or meeting with me.  Further, you do not have my permission to post on the web or otherwise distribute my class lectures and other course materials.  (You can distribute freely any materials I make publicly available from the HCC (or the wpollock.com) website, without asking permission, provided you give me credit for the work and don't alter it.  Any other use will require expressly given permission.)
• Working together on individual assignments is considered as cheating!  Turning in someone else's work without giving them credit is also considered cheating (plagiarism).  Cheating will result in an automatic F (zero) for the project for all parties.  Also, you can only earn credit for your own work and not someone else's, even if you do cite your sources.  Note that some projects may be group projects, where each member of a small group works together on a project.  It is also okay to ask a fellow student for class notes (in the event you miss a class) or for help in understanding the text or material given to the class (e.g., examples on the class website).  You are encouraged to study together as well.
• You must follow the academic honesty policy and the student code of conduct for HCC.  A second cheating offense will result in an “F” for the course, and your name will be turned over to the dean for further handling.  I take these matters very seriously.  You have been warned!
• Every effort will be made to stick to the weekly schedule for our course.  However it may happen that we will fall behind the schedule at some point.  If so, no topics will be skipped.  Instead we will attempt to catch up over the following weeks.
• Please be aware that if we fall behind on the weekly schedule, the topics discussed may not match what shows on the syllabus.  The weekly schedule may (but probably won't be) updated in this case.
• In case we do fall behind, homework assignments are automatically postponed until the next class (i.e., homework assignment that show on the schedule as due the same day we discuss some topic, will be due the day we will discuss that topic in class).  Projects and exams will not be automatically postponed.  Should your instructor deem it necessary, projects and exams may be rescheduled; this will be announced in class.
• Communications Policy:  I will respond to your emails within 48 hours or two business days.  HCC policy is that grades can only be discussed in person during office hours, or via email only if you use your assigned HCC HawkNet (Campus Cruiser) email account.
• No appointment is necessary to see me during my scheduled, on-campus office hours.  You can just “walk-in”.  You can make appointments for other times as long as I'm available.
• Occasionally my office hours will be canceled on short (or no) notice, for example if the dean calls me for a meeting.  Before driving out to campus just for my office hours, you should contact me the day before to make sure I still plan to be there.
• Late Policies:  Late assignments (homework assignments, projects, or exams) generally will not be accepted.  An assignment is late if not turned in by the start of class on the day it is due.

  Late assignments will be accepted late only if you obtain the instructor's permission prior to the due date of the assignment, or for a documented serious medical reason.  All late assignments are subject to a late penalty of at least one letter grade (10%) regardless of the reason for the delay.

  Projects and homework assignments later than one week will receive a more severe late penalty; very late assignments without adequate excuses will receive a grade of “F” (0).  However if you have a very good reason your instructor may waive any or all of the late penalty.  (Examples of good reasons include extended illness that prevents working, being out of town for work, or military service.  Remember, documentation will be required.)

• The dangers of the flu or another contagious disease require some changes to normal policies.  HCC is implementing the recommendations for institutions of higher learning of the CDC.  (See www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/ and www.flu.gov/ for guidance from the CDC.)  You won't need documentation if you miss class due to the flu.  (But if you think you have the flu, you should see a doctor as soon as you can.)  In the unlikely event of a school closure due to the flu, some plan to make up the missed work will be made.

  If you think you have the flu, stay home.  Do not come to HCC until 48 hours after your fever has broken as you are still infectious.  Also, people are infectious to others for a day or so before they have any symptoms.  Flu is spread by touching doorknobs, computer keyboards, railings on stairs, etc., that were touched by someone with the flu.  Avoid shaking hands; use the “fist shake” (touching of fists) if you must use a physical greeting.  The most effective way to avoid catching the flu is to wash your hands frequently, especially after touching something that was touched by others.  Avoid unnecessary touching of eyes, nose and mouth.  While not as good as properly washing hands, hand sanitizers have been installed throughout the campus; use them often.

Projects are graded on the following scale:

A = 95% (Excellent: Good design with good comments, style, and extras)
B = 85% (Good: Good design, some comments, readable style, and it works)
C = 75% (Acceptable: Project objectives are met or are close to being met)
D = 65% (Unacceptable)
E = 10-64% (Variable credit: At least you tried)
F = 0% (Didn't hand in the project)

Minor extras worth +5 points, minor omissions or poor design worth -5.

Projects are graded according to their design (25%), how well they compile and run (20%), how well your project meets the requirements specifications (20%), the coding style (15%), the amount (and quality) of your comments (10%), and your creativity in extending the project usefully or an innovative design that uses the features taught in class well (10%).

Projects are not graded when turned in.  They are graded all at once, sometime after the project deadline has passed (usually the following weekend).  Every effort will be make to grade projects within a week of the due date, or as soon thereafter as possible.  (See also submitting assignments below.)