Course Description: Discussions on different
research areas in computer science and on scientific methods of doing,
writing, reporting, and disseminating research. Students will be exposed
to presentation tools and techniques, statistical and experimental design
techniques, and library and literature searches.
Texts:
Title: Writing for Computer Science The Art
of Effective Communication
Title: Practical Research Planning and Design (Seventh Edition)
Authors: Paul D. Leedy, Jeanne Ellis Ormrod
Publisher: Merrrill Prentice Hall
ISBN: 0-13-960360-3
Other Materials:
There will be some handouts and other assigned readings from material
available in the library or on the Web. You should have access to WWW,
and to some of the tools described in the list "Topics to be covered" below.
Topics to be covered:
Brief history of research in computer science. Review of recent and current
research topics.
Videotaped and live presentations by experts in computer science. Research
by faculty and students at Ball State.
Statistical and experimental design techniques.
Tools for research, presentation, and dissemination: HTML, WWW, library,
online library searches, books, research journals, magazines, and presentation
tools like PowerPoint and others.
Discussion of the scientific method. (Each student will be required to
complete a research project proposal, write a detailed proposal, and make
a proposal presentation in the class.)
Assignments and Other Policies: The following
will be used to determine your performance and grade in the class. Attendance
and participation in discussion at all class meetings. On-time submission
of all assignments, reports, and quizzes. Preparation, presentation, and
submission of a complete research paper in the agreed-upon topic and format.
Attendance at and submission of reports on other students' presentations.
Please note that late assignments will not be accepted.