Information Science 1 -Course Overview-

1. InformationScience 1-Course Overview- College of Information Science and EngineeringRitsumeikan University Week 01

2. Today’s class outline • Studying Information and Computer Science in English • Why use English? • Administrative details • Textbook, etc. • What I will do • What you should and should not do • Course philosophy • Course structure • What is this Science about? • What are other “connected” courses?

3. You need to remember: • Course name (in English):Information Science 1 • My name:Frank Rinaldo(I am not an English teacher) • E-mail: rinaldo@is.ritsumei.ac.jp • Office: Creation Core, 401 (4th floor) [Office 401, NOT computer lab 401] • Consultationhours: Monday, 13:00-18:00 Tuesday, 13:00-18:00 Wednesday, 13:00-18:00 Thursday, 12:30-14:00

4. Why use a foreign language? • The academic plan (curriculum ) of Ritsumeikan University requires this course to be taught in English • Using another language increases and improves student brain functions • Learning to work in English is a skill that will benefit the students’ future career immensely

5. English in Science and Engineering • English is the 2nd most spoken language in the world • International meetings (engineering, business, or scientific conferences) are almost always in English • Most research and business journals are published in English • Most computer science jobs in Japan require knowledge of English

6. English terminology • All textbooks in science and engineering in any language use English terms and phrases • Information Science is especially filled with technical English words for which simply there are no words in Japanese • Almost all programming languages (C/C++, Java, Basic, Fortran, XML, SQL, etc) use English terms and definitions

7. Why “English for you?” • Most employers prefer graduates who can speak English • Many employers demand high-level English skills • Many of you would spend a lot of your own money to study and improve your English at an English school in the future • Save time and money – learn andimprove your English now!

8. What your “sempai” say about this course • “Studying computer science in English has made my career much better.” – Former student now at major Japanese telecom corporation • “This year I have worked overseas three times. I wish I had studied Computer Science in English much harder.” – Former student working for major Japanese publisher • “In my job, I have to be able to communicate about technology in English. That’s what I learned in your course.” – Former student now working for a major Japanese home electronics manufacturer

9. Course material • You should have learned most of this material already in Japanese, either in high school or during your first year at Ritsumeikan University • So, this is now a wonderful opportunity for you to internationalize your understanding • Of course, this is an opportunity to learn and improve your technical English, too

10. For this class, you should: • Read the Power Point slides before every class • Study the textbook before every class • Whenever needed, learn new English vocabulary • Pay attention in class • Do you best in daily quizzes and tests • Complete all homework in due time

11. Classroom policies • Do not sleep in class.If you must sleep, leave the classroom (TA will ask you to leave if you sleep) • No cell phone use during the class • Do not talk or even whisper • When you make noise in class, you disturb the teacher(and I don’t like it!) • When you whisper in class, you disturbother students(and I hate it!) • When you talk in class, you waste your time

12. Course Web page • Updated every week: • Power Point slides for every class • Vocabulary study guide • Homework assignments • Access to the course website:http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/is/~rinaldo/InfoScience1/InfoScience1.html

13. I shall lecture 1 time  15 weeks: Recall the previous lecture (~10min) Check attendance (TA will do it) Introduce new material Summarize the lecture and guide you through the textbook Give a test (quiz) for about 10min Return your previous test checked Class organization

14. Grading policy • Students who miss more than 4 lectures will automatically receive an ‘F’ mark and no credits • Points: • Daily quizzes (including homework)  up to 30 • 1 big quiz  up to 30 • Final exam  up to 40 • Grading: less than 60 points  F, 60-69  C, 70-79  B, 80-89  A, over 89  A+

15. Academic integrity • Cheating will result in an automatic ‘F’ for the semester and turning the case over to the College administration. There will be no second chances • When you feel you need help with your studies, contact the teacher but never try just to copy answers from your friend or someone else • Your homework and tests must be your own, original work

16. What is this course about? • Typical wrong answers: • This course (“Information Science”) is to study computers • “Information Science” is about how to write computer programs • “Information Science” is for studying the uses and applications of computers and software

17. “Information Science” is … A simple and correct definition: • The study of how to solve problems with computers A more formal and better definition: • The study of algorithms, including their mathematical properties, hardware and linguistic realizations, and applications

18. This course at a glance • Week 02: Computer Structures • Week 05: Principles of Computing • Next year: Computer Architecture 1. How can we design and build a computer? 2. How can we provide services on the computer so that the user could use the computer efficiently? • Week 05: Principles of Computing We have a computer with user-friendly services

19. This course at a glance (cont-d) • Week 06: Algorithms and Problem-Solving 3. When can we use a computer to solve problems? • Week 06: Algorithms and Problem-Solving 4. How can we solve problems with computers?

20. This course at a glance (cont-d) 5. How can we translate an algorithm into instructions which a computer can understand? How can we communicate with computers? • Week 11: Fundamental Programming Constructs • Weeks 03, 04, and 08: Representation of Data in Memory. Basic Data Types • Weeks 13 and14: Arrays and Strings. Data Files

21. This course at a glance (cont-d) 6. Given an algorithm for a problem, how can we check if it is correct, efficient, and optimal? • Next Semester: Algorithm Complexity Theory

22. More of Information Science 7. Given a problem, can we program a computer to find the solution automatically? • 3rd and 4th years: (Elements of) Artificial Intelligence 8. How can we develop computer systems that people would like to use? • 3rd and 4th years: Human-Computer Interaction

23. Still more of Information Science 9. How can we develop big and/or complicated software systems? • 3rd and 4th years: Software Engineering 10. How can we arrange computer networks and develop networking software applications? • 3rd and 4th years: Networking, Parallel and Distributed Systems …Many other topics and subjects, some of which you will learn at this university

24. Class overview • Why is this class conducted in English? • We will not use Japanese in this class • What is this course’s name, and how should you study? • This is “Information Science” (and not “Joho Rika”) • You should study the new material every week, using both the course website and the textbook • What is “Information Science” about? • In this course, you will learn how to solve problems with computers

25. Self-Study Preparation • Go to the course website and read this lecture again. • Learn any new vocabulary • Complete & study the self-preparation questions

26. Next class • Basic Concepts of Computers http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/is/~rinaldo/InfoScience1/InfoScience1.html

27. Quiz • There WILL be a quiz EVERY week based (mostly) on the self-preparation questions! • Study & review the self-preparation questions!