G22.2631-001

Computational Thought, fall 2008

Dennis Shasha
Tuesdays/Thursdays, 3-4:45. Room 1013, Warren Weaver Hall
Office hours: After class on Thursdays


 

GOALS

Goal

Computational technology and methods lie at the core of modern science, commerce, entertainment, and regrettably war. There are very powerful ideas underlying the field that have roots in mathematics, linguistics, engineering, and even philosophy. Some of its greatest inventions were born in cafes or as responses to a puzzle. Some recent algorithmic methods come from studying ants and evolution.

My goal is to teach you to understand computation from the point of view of its history in logic and mathematics, how computers are built from transistors up, the ideas underlying programming languages, computational problem-solving techniques (algorithms), and new frontiers such as artificial intelligence, swarm intelligence, and DNA computing.

Principal Texts

Optional:

Workload/Requirements

You will have weekly assignments of reading, puzzles, and/or programs.

In addition, you will be a scribe (take notes for all members of the course) for two classes during the semester.

You will make oral presentations two or three times during the semester.

For homeworks, you may work alone or with at most one partner.

There will be no exams.

Lateness policy: Late homeworks or project will not be accepted . If you have a medical excuse, then I will simply not count that homework and your grade will be the average over your other work. I will spend some time reviewing the homeworks either the day they are due or the following class. So this is just a question of fairness.

Syllabus in Order