Wednesday, February 8, 2012

SOFT6008 Class 05

We looked at alerts and promts and then loops.

I set the euro change maker exercise for students. The logic of that can be tricky and there are a few ways to do it.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

iTunesU

I was all set today to start uploading my classes to iTunes you. Two years ago I setup of a podcast server. I had imagined that the latest version of the software would be a huge improvement on the previous one, but it's still very clunky. I held off publishing classes so far this semester in anticipation of submitting them to the automated server. But if the pieces don't fall into place soon I must have to manually type the RSS feed myself. That's pointless donkey work.

If Apple plans to sell an iPad to every student and wants lecturers' content to be the draw it is going to have to take seriously the server side part of the equation. Using the server product it is hard to believe it's from the same company that makes iPods. The list of things I would fix if I was in charge is too long for me to start on.

On a positive note, Google+ is working out well for be so far. The ease with which I can publish a video is amazing (take note Apple). There hasn't been too much interaction with students on G+ yet, at least not with me. They may be interacting with each other, but I don't think so. I think the social element of education technology is often ignored. That's why I think something like G+ or FaceBook is the way to go.

Monday, February 6, 2012

SOFT6007 DCOM1/ITS1 Class 04

We looked at HTML entities and did another nested list exercise

SOFT6008 Class 04 Lab

Students started coding the snap, dice, and slot exercises.

http://mcom.cit.ie/staff/computing/cmanning/soft6008/samplecode/exercise-dice.html
http://mcom.cit.ie/staff/computing/cmanning/soft6008/samplecode/exercise-snap.html
http://mcom.cit.ie/staff/computing/cmanning/soft6008/samplecode/exercise-slots.html


Tricky enough exercises. I noticed a lot of code first and think later problems during the lab.

Don't forget the discussion we had about why the randomness in the New Orleans example is slightly off.

Is it me or is the random number generator a bit fishy?

SOFT6007 COM1 Class 04

We looked at HTML entities, recapped lists, and students did a nested list exercise in groups of three.

Friday, February 3, 2012

SOFT6007 Class 02 Lab DCOM

I was late to class because I couldn't find my wallet.

Students used the videos on Google+ to catch up on the class they missed on Monday.

Students made webpages of their own in notepad that included an image and a nested list.

Good work. Well done!

SOFT6007 ITS/DCOM Class 03

Today we lOoked at image tags and lists. Students did an exercise in class on lists.

SOFT6007 COM1 Class 03

Today we lOoked at image tags and lists. Students did an exercise in class on lists.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

SOFT6008 Class 03

We had more fun with random images and building up image tags. I gave an example of a simple game of chance with prized and I showed off some examples that I want students to write code for.

SOFT6007 COM1 Class 02 Lab A

We talked about HTML tags and students made their own web pages. In future labs will have a lot less talking.

Good work today. Well done!

SOFT6007 COM1 Class 02 Lab B

I spoke about the web and html for the first hour and students made web pages of their own in the second hour.

Lots of enthusiasm in evidence in the room today! Well done!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

SOFT6007 DCOM/ITS Class 02 Lab ITS

exmples.

details later

SOFT6008 Class 02

We looked at some example. will update this later

Monday, January 30, 2012

SOFT6007 DCOM/ITS Class 01

We looked at the module descriptor and discussed the assessments a bit.

We looked at bits and the ASCII table

SOFT6008 Class 01 Lab Typing & Sharing

Since this was our first class it was a bit strange having a lab when we never had a lecture. So it was mostly a typing exercise.

I gave out two JavaScript examples and asked students to type them up in notepad. That'll save time in the next class.

I asked students to set up dropbox folders for their class for this work and to share it with me (ideally read-only). This would allow me to monitor student progress continuously and to very quickly spot problems and offer help. It does raise some privacy issues too. Please name the folder with SOFT6008 followed by your myCIT user name (e.g SOFT6008-Dan.Murphy). Share it with colin.manning@cit.ie. Hopefully that won't screw up my quota. If you don't already use dropbox please sign-up here.

I will invite students taking this class to join Google+. I propose to see if Google+ can be of use in education. Google+ is very like Facebook except that it is much easier to control what one shares with whom.  So use this feature wisely and don't over-share with me!

I have a circle for each class group, so I can post items relevant to individual classes.

To be honest I don't yet know what I will use Google+ for. It's an experiment.

As computing professionals in the making, students should probably join Google+ anyway just to know how it works.


These images required for Random Image example. But of course you can use any images as long as they have the correct names.








SOFT6007 COM1 Class 01

We looked at bits and how they can be assigned meaning. We looked at a system for transmitting text and the ASCII table.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Google+ Invitations

I have invited all first year students to join Google+. I propose to see if Google+ can be of use in education. Google+ is very like Facebook except that it is much easier to control what one shares with whom.  So use this feature wisely and don't over-share with me!

I have a circle for each class group, so I can post items relevant to individual classes.

To be honest I don't yet know what I will use Google+ for. It's an experiment.

As computing professionals in the making, students should probably join Google+ anyway just to know how it works.

One of these days I might try Blackboard. But don't look for me there just yet.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

SOFT6007 Web Development Fundamentals

I am teaching two instances of this module in Semester 2. As with all first attempts at the timetable, there may be some changes. Clicking on the Google Calendar icon will allow you to add the class to your Calendar.

[update: this keeps changing. Only the Google Calendar links are up to date.  Check the printed timetables in the C corridor or your online timetable for the latest info. Once you add the Google Calendar events, I will update them as they change.]

COM1
Mo 0900 room?

Tu 1700 B219

Th 1100 & 1200 IT1.3 COM1-B

Th 1500 & 1600 IT2.2 COM1-A




DCOM/ITS
We 1100 & 1200 Group A

We 1700 B217 (will probably move)

Fr 1100 B219

Fr 1400 & 1500 Group B


Group B = DCOM1
Group A = ITS1 unless the group is too large

COMP6023 Web Publishing

I'm no longer teaching this module this semester.

Monday, January 16, 2012

COMP6023 Web Publishing

Students taking COMP6023 will be expected to sign up for the Google Online Marketing Challenge. Students may wish to read about this and get thinking before the start of the semester.