A Balanced Introduction to Computer Science - Softcover

Reed, David

3.44

34 ratings by Goodreads

9780130467096: A Balanced Introduction to Computer Science

Softcover

ISBN 10: 013046709X ISBN 13: 9780130467096

Publisher: Prentice Hall, 2004

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This carefully written, balanced book teaches the most important concepts in computing and computer science while providing enough programming depth to enable understanding about how people work with computers. Taking advantage of today's interest in and familiarity with the Web, the book contains experimental problems using Web-based tools; enabling readers to learn the fundamentals of programming by developing their own interactive Web pages. Beginning with an introduction, overview, and the basics of computers, the book proceeds with comprehensive chapters on HTML and Web pages, the Internet, JavaScript and Web page creation, the history of computers, abstraction and user-defined functions, algorithms and programming languages, event-driven programming, conditional execution, data representation, conditional repetition, JavaScript strings, and transistors and integrated circuits. This book can serve as an excellent reference resource for those entering the computer job market: programmers, Web site and Web page designers, and technical support staff.

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From the Back Cover:

A Balanced Introduction to Computer Science represents a unique and innovative approach to introductory computer science courses. In contrast with traditional texts that focus almost exclusively on either breadth (a survey of computing concepts) or depth (programming and problem solving), this text provides a balanced view of computing. Breadth chapters cover concepts and issues in computing that are most relevant to the beginning student, including computer terminology, the Internet and Web. algorithms and software. and technology's impact on society. Mixed among these topics are depth chapters that introduce fundamental programming concepts anti skills with hands-on tutorials. Using HTML and the programming language JavaScript. students develop problem-solving skills as they design and implement interactive Web pages.

Breadth Chapters

Breadth-based chapters focus on topics that are most relevant to a beginning student, and are written in an engaging, easy-to-read style.
Illustrations, photographs; and Web-based Visualization tools are used extensively to illuminate key points.
Each chapter ends with a Chapter Summary and Review Questions that encourage reflection and the integration of content from that chapter.

Depth Chapters

Depth-based chapters are presented as hands-on tutorials, recognizing that the only way to learn programming and problem solving is to actually do it.
Tutorial exercises follow an incremental approach allowing students to master programming concepts by first studying and modifying existing programs before designing and implementing new programs that solve interesting problems.
Program design and debugging advice is provided in special sections called Designer Secrets and Common Errors to Avoid.
Each chapter includes a Chapter Summary that identifies key concepts, and Supplemental Material and Exercises to facilitate further study.

About the Author:

David Reed is Associate Professor of Computer Science at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He received his M.S, and Ph.D. in computer science from Duke University. He has published extensively on topics such as apprentice-based learning. Web-based programming, and innovative instructional methods in introductory computer science. He is the principal investigator of an NSF grant involving the integration of experimentation and empirical reasoning in computer science, a member of the Liberal Arts Computer Science Consortium, and the Chief Reader for the Advanced Placement Computer Science exam since 2004.

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