Subject:
Re: Data Structures Course Subcommittee --> My first thoughts
From:
navlakha@cs.fiu.edu
Date:
10/20/2015 11:03 AM
To:
"Prabakar" <prabakar@cis.fiu.edu>
CC:
"Debra Lee Davis" <dledavis@cs.fiu.edu>, "Antonio Bajuelos" <abajuelo@cis.fiu.edu>, "Alex Pelin" <pelina@cis.fiu.edu>, "Mark Allen Weiss" <weiss@cs.fiu.edu>

Dear Debra, Antonio, Alex, and Mark:

I have looked at the ACM requirements for the Data Structures course and
related topics as well as the associated Learning Assessments. Here is my
conclusion:

1) Our Data Structures course is very well designed and its Course
Outcomes as well as Learning Outcomes are appropriate and in conformance
with the ACM guidelines.
2) The only topic that we may not be covering is "Space Complexity" which
is mentioned in the "Topics" and "Learning Outcomes" sections of AL/Basic
Analysis description in ACM guidelines. Not only is there no time to cover
this topic in any detail, but we mention it in the context of Complexity
Measurements and what it defines, and this should suffice for
"familiarity" of the subject matter.

My conclusion: No Changes are needed for any assessments related details
pertaining to our Data Structures course. Antonio's comments were included
in Prabu's attachment file, and hence, no changes are required there
either.

Share your views with me no later than Oct. 27, 2015, and I will decide if
a meeting is in order to discuss this further.

Thanks.

Jai
____________________________________________________

> > Dear All,
> >
> > The undergraduate committee intends to revise the BS-CS programming
> > course outcomes and learning outcomes according to ACM 2013 guidelines.
> > Since Data Structures is a key course, UGC wants to revise its contents
> > before making any changes to Prog I and Prog II.  As most of the UGC
> > members have not taught Data Structures for several years, I consulted
> > with Mark and formed this subcommittee with Jai as the Chair.
> >
> > Please review the ACM Guidelines
> > at http://www.acm.org/education/CS2013-final-report.pdf
> > for Topics and Learning Outcomes together for the following related
> > sections:
> >       Algorithms and Complexity (pages 56-59]
> >            AL/Basic Analysis
> >            AL/Algorithmic Strategies
> >            AL/Fundamental Data Structures and Algorithms
> >       Software Development Fundamentals (pages 170]
> >            SDF/Fundamental Data Structures
> > Note the depth of coverage for learning outcomes increases as
> >            Familiarity -> Usage -> Assessment
> >
> > I have attached the current Course Outcomes and Learning Outcomes for
> > COP3530.
> > I will appreciate if you meet together and revise the Course Outcomes
> > and Learning Outcomes by Monday, Oct 26th.
> >
> > Thank you
> > --Prabu
> >