Course Policy
SI411 Operating Systems
Fall AY07

Instructor:      Associate Professor D. M. Needham, Office: MI-358, Phone: x36809, email: needham@usna.edu, www.usna.edu/Users/cs/needham

Course Goals:

-        To develop an understanding of the organization and architecture of computer systems at the programming level of system description.

-        To introduce operating system principles.

-        To introduce the principles of distributed and concurrent systems.

Student Outcomes: This course contributes to the students’ ability to:

-        Describe the fundamentals of computer networks, architecture, and operating systems.

-        Analyze and assess the computing environment foundational concepts with respect to security, performance, and evolving technologies.

-        Collaborate effectively in a team environment.

-        Evaluate contemporary legal, social, and ethical issues in computing professions

Texts:

Extra Instruction: Extra Instruction (EI) is available and encouraged when your own attempts to understand the subject matter are unsuccessful. You may schedule EI in advance via e-mail, or drop by and I will assist you if I am available. Come prepared with specific questions or areas to be discussed.

Honor: The guidance provided in the Honor Concept of the Brigade of Midshipmen (USNAINST 1610.3F), and in the published policies concerning graded academic work (USNAINST 1531.53, and COMPSCIDEPTINST 1531C available from http://www.usna.edu/CS/ academics/honor.htm applies to this course. Also, note that only non-programmable calculators may be used on the course exams.

Late Policy. Unless otherwise specified in writing, homework and programming projects are due at the start of class on the due date. Labs not completed within the lab period are due at the start of the class period one week later.  Items turned in after the due date will incur an automatic late deduction of 3n points where n represents the number of work days (including duty and movement orders) rounded up for fractions of days after deadline passage.  S.I.R., medical excusals, and emergency leave are not considered work days. Projects must still be completed in order to pass the course, even if they are so late that they earn a grade of zero. If you slide items under your instructor's office door, indicate the date and time that you submitted your solution, otherwise, it is assumed that the item was turned in at the time the instructor enters the office.

Projects: Programming projects will be done in assigned teams. As per COMPSCIDEPTINST 1531.1C (available http://www.usna.edu/CS/academics/honor.htm) midshipmen may give no assistance whatsoever to any person not on their assigned team and may receive no assistance whatsoever from any person not on their assigned team other than the assigning instructor.  Further, midshipmen may not use information in any format, electronic or printed, other than their own or a teammate’s class notes, the course textbook, or materials distributed by the instructor. If midshipmen wish to use additional sources, they must receive explicit permission from their instructor.

Homework:  You are permitted to collaborate with other students enrolled in the course on the homework problem sets.  

Exams: Exams will be comprehensive and closed book. If for some reason a make-up exam will be required, inform the instructor in advance.

Absences: Students are responsible for obtaining any material missed due to an absence from the instructor, section leader or classmates.  Additionally, students must ensure that their work is submitted by the deadline regardless of other commitments.  Should bona fide emergencies arise, it is the responsibility of the student to coordinate with the instructor.

Course Grade:           

Programming Projects

15%

Homework/Quizzes/Labs/Presentations

10%

Midterm Exam 1

25%

Midterm Exam 2

25%

Final Exam

25%

 

                        Submitted,                                                Approved,

  

D. M. Needham                                       K. G. Schulze
Associate Professor                                 Professor
Course Coordinator                                 Department Chair