PHY 201: Syllabus

Contact Info:   

Thomas E. Blum
Office: O-333
Office Hours:
Phone: 215-951-1139
e-mail: blum@lasalle.edu
Web: http://www.lasalle.edu/~blum

Description:

The course introduces the basic logic gates and demonstrates how they can be used to realize arbitrary truth tables (combinatorial logic). Simplification procedures (Karnaugh maps) are introduced. Digital representation and sequential logic circuits are covered as well. Emphasis is placed on computer components such as adders, comparators, multiplexors, memory, counters, and bus-related circuits.

Meetings:

Wednesdays 2:00 - 5:00

Location:

Olney 200

Text:

Digital principles, (Roger L. Tokheim, Schaum's Outline, McGraw-Hill, 1994)

Websites:

Online Books:

Instructions for Accessing Safari Tech Books Online

Self-Study:

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science will be conducting a self-study during the next four years. A part of this process involves inviting external experts who will review our course offerings, assessment measures, and student work. For this reason, faculty members will keep sample copies of students’ work including tests, homework assignments, programming assignments, and projects. Every effort will be made to ensure individual names are eliminated from these “artifacts.” If you prefer not to have your work included in this collection, please inform your instructor.

Assessment:
Tests:66% 3 on-line tests (the last during final's week).
Class:  4% a mixture of attendance and participation
Lab: 30%
  • Ordinarily, these labs will be done in teams of two.
  • I reserve the right to select the teams, limit the number of labs that can be done with a particular partner, and so on.
  • Unless stated otherwise, lab reports (one report per team) are due the week after the lab. A late penalty of 5 pts (out of 100) per day will be applied. The late penalty stops accumulating at 50 points, so labs, no matter how late will always be worth something.
  • Although labs are a team effort, each student is responsible for learning all of the skills and concepts.
  • Plagiarism, be it from a book, a web site or a fellow student, will be considered cheating. Copying simulation circuits is also considered cheating.
  • You must cite the sources you use. Sentences directly quoted require quotation marks,and so on. Changing one or two words per sentence is still plagiarism.
  • You are often allowed to bring in files from labs to use on the tests. It is recommended that both partners keep a copy of all relevant files. It might be useful to back them up. Also you should develop a systematic naming scheme so that you can find the file you need on the test.
  • The plus/minus grading system will be used.
  • Attendance will be taken.
  • Absences, lateness, etc. will be reflected in the class portion of the grade. More than three unexcused absences may result in the lowering of a grade.
  • Before leaving lab you must see me to show me your progress. If you are leaving early or not working on the labs during the lab period, it will count against you.
  • It is your responsibility to keep copies of all of your assignments, tests and so forth at least until you receive your final grade for the course.

Printing:

 Note that a student is allotted 400 sheets of paper per semester to be printed in the classroom labs, open labs and library. A student can pay more if he or she wishes to exceed this limit. Think about what you are printing and how you are printing it.

Classroom Behavior:

While in the classroom, students should behave in a manner that is neither distracting to nor disrespectful to the professor or other students. Cell phones should be turned off.

Cheating:

 Claiming another's work as your own is cheating. A student caught cheating will receive a score of zero. Cheating may result in a reduction of the final grade. In some labs, we will be simulating circuits, copying them from another group is cheating. (Making minimal changes does not make it acceptable.) Finally, openly allowing your work to be copied is also cheating.