Computer Science (COMP) 266

Overview

COMP 266 is designed to teach beginners how to program for the Web in HTML and JavaScript. By taking this course, students will not only acquire some IT skills (much-needed on the job market), but also gain some essential insights into computer programming in preparation for future computing courses.

Learning Objectives

Successful students of this course will be able to:

• Design dynamic web sites that meet specified needs and interests
• Write well-structured, easily maintained, standards-compliant, accessible HTML code
• Write well-structured, easily maintained, standards-compliant CSS code to present HTML pages in different ways
• Write well-structured, easily maintained JavaScript code following accepted good practice:
• Effectively debug JavaScript code, making use of good practice and debugging tools

Outline

COMP 266 consists of the following ten units:

Unit 1: Programming for the Web in HTML/XHTML

This unit will teach students how to program for the World Wide Web in HTML and XHTML.

Unit 2: Formatting and styling Web pages with CSS

This unit will teach students how to use Cascading Style Sheets to format and change the look and feel of Web pages. The first assignment needs to be done after this unit.

Unit 3: JavaScript fundamentals

This unit will teach students how to use arrays, how to program with loops and conditional statements, and to define and use functions in JavaScript.

Unit 4: Arrays, loops, conditional statements and functions

This unit will teach students how to use CSS to program Web pages that are consistent and easy to modify. Students will gain some understanding of the importance of a user interface.

Unit 5: Programming with Objects in JavaScript

This unit will teach students how to use objects to program in JavaScript.

Unit 6: Create special effects with JavaScript

This unit will teach students how to use JavaScript to create special effects for the Web.

Unit 7: Working with Windows and Frames

This unit will teach students how to work with windows and frames in JavaScript.

Unit 8:Handling forms, regular expressions, and cookies in JavaScript

This unit will teach students how to handle HTML forms using string methods and regular expressions, and how to use cookies in JavaScript.

Unit 9: Capturing and handling events in JavaScript

This unit will teach students how to capture and handle events such as mouse motions and keystrokes in JavaScript, and how to program event handlers in JavaScript. This unit will also explain how to handle regular expressions, and how to create and use cookies.

Unit 10: Create dynamic Web content and style using JavaScript

This unit will teach students how to create dynamic Web content and styles using JavaScript.

Evaluation

To receive credit for COMP 266, you must achieve a course grade of at least 50 percent on each assignment, and a grade of at least “D” (50 per cent) on the final exam.

Assignment 1	10%
Assignment 2	15%
Assignment 3	20%
Assignment 4	20%
Final Exam	35%
Total	100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Special Course Features

The remainders of the learning materials for Computer Science 266 are:

Distributed in Electronic Format:

• Computer Science 266 Study Guide.

Available from the Course website:

• Tutor Marked Exercises and Instructions,
• A Course Evaluation Form,
• Links to Other Web-based Course Resources.

Special Instructional Features

COMP 266 will be offered in computer mediated communications (CMC) mode, and can be completed at the student's workplace or home. It features an interactive online learning and programming environment that will help students to acquire their programming skills more easily.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the COMP 266 challenge, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 per cent) on the examination and 50 per cent on the project.

Project	Exam	Total
50%	50%	100%

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form