Essentials of Computing

CS25C03

Essentials of Computing

Course Objectives:

1. To introduce the basic components and operations of computers.

2. To develop problem-solving and computational thinking skills.

3. To enable learners to design simple solutions using algorithms and flowcharts.

4. To provide hands-on experience in visual programming and basic app development.

Computers: Computer, Characteristics of Computers, History of Computers, Classification of Computers, Applications of Computers, Basic Organization of a Computer. Data Representation, Using spread sheets for basic operations on data and visualize the data.

Practical:

1. Office Software for documentation and presentation

2. Spread sheets for calculations and data. Visualization

Computational Thinking: What is Computational Thinking, Decomposition, Abstraction, Real World Information to Computable Data, Number Systems, Conversions among Number systems, what is Logic, Boolean Logic, Applications of Propositional Logic.

Activities:

1. Solving problems based on number systems and logics.

2. Virtual Demonstration of Computational thinking

Problem Solving Basics: Problem Definition, Logical Reasoning, Decomposition, Software Design Concept of an Algorithm, Algorithm Representation – Algorithm Discovery – Iterative Structures – Recursive Structures – Efficiency and Correctness - Implementation of Algorithms - Fundamental Algorithms: Exchanging the values of two variables, Counting, Summation of a set of numbers, Factorial computation, Generation of Fibonacci Sequence, Reversing the digits of an Integer, Base Conversion.

Activities: Algorithm Development for simple mathematical problems

Programming Languages: Program Development Life Cycle, Program Design Tools, Algorithms, Flowcharts, Pseudocodes, Role of Algorithms, Programming Languages, Programming Paradigms Traditional Programming Concepts, Procedural Units, Language Implementation, Declarative Programming.

Activities: Flowchart design for simple mathematical problems

Scratch Programming: What is Scratch, Scratch Programming Environment, Paint Editor, Scratch Blocks, Arithmetic Operators and Functions, Use Motion Commands, Pen Commands and Easy Draw, Looks Palette, Sound Palette, Power of Repeat, Data Types, Variables, Getting Input from Users.

Making Decisions, Comparison Operators, Decision Structures, Logical Operators, Repetition, Loop Blocks, Stop Commands, Counters, Nested Loops, Recursion, String Processing, String Manipulation, Lists, Dynamic Lists, Numerical Lists, Searching and Sorting Lists.

Activities:

1. Creation of Functional Block for simple mathematical problems

2. Drawing and Painting operations

3. Scratch Animation for understanding Conditional and Loop statements.

4. Draw artistic, geometric patterns and create games.

5. Scratch Programs for applied scientific computing and data manipulations

App Development: Building Apps using problem, solving techniques on any app development platform, Modeling, incremental and iterative, reuse, modularization, algorithmic thinking, abstracting and modularizing, decomposition, testing and debugging.

Activities: Sample App Developments for societal problems.

Weightage: Continuous Assessment: 40%, End Semester Examinations: 60%

Assessment Methodology: Assignments (10%), Quiz (5%), Project based learning (20%), Flipped Classroom (5%), Review of GATE questions (10%) & Internal Assessment: 50%

References:

1. Thareja, R. (2020). Fundamentals of computers. Oxford University Press.

2. Rajaraman, V., & Adabala, N. (2014). Fundamentals of computers. PHI Learning.

3. Brookshear, J. G., & Brylow, D. (2015). Computer science: An overview. Pearson.

4. Dromey, R. G. (1982). How to solve it by computer. Prentice Hall International.

5. Marji, M. (2014). Learn to program with Scratch: A visual introduction to programming with games, art, science and math. No Starch Press.

6. Riley, D. D., & Hunt, K. A. (2014). Computational thinking for the modern problem solver. CRC Press.

7. Venkatesh, G., & Mukund, M. (2021). Computational thinking. Notion Press.

E-Resources:

1. Brennan and Resnick’s CT Framework 2012: https://scratched.gse.harvard.edu/ct/files/AERA2012.pdf

2. CS50X 2025 Scratch YouTube lectures by Prof. David J Malan, Harvard University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WtPyqwTLKM

3. https://teachinglondoncomputing.org/resources/developing-computational-thinking/

4. Scratch software: https://scratch.mit.edu/

5. MIT APP INVENTOR software: https://appinventor.mit.edu/

6. app.diagrams.net