This course is all about understanding: understanding what's going on inside your computer when you flip on the switch, why tech support has you constantly rebooting your computer, how everything you do on the Internet can be watched by others, and how your computer can become infected with a worm just by turning it on. In this course we demystify computers and the Internet, along with their jargon, so that students understand not only what they can do with each but also how it all works and why. Students leave this course armed with a new vocabulary and equipped for further exploration of computers and the Internet. Topics include hardware, software, the Internet, multimedia, security, website development, programming, and dotcoms. Through optional hands-on sections and workshops, local students have opportunities to dissect as well as upgrade a computer with additional hardware, search the Internet more effectively, build a wireless network, create digital images, eradicate spyware, and design webpages. Problem sets offer online students similar opportunities. This course is designed both for those with little, if any, computer experience and for those who use a computer every day.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the material with others, you may want to join the Google Group at right.
Below are problem sets (i.e., homework assignments).
If you have questions or would like to discuss the material with others, you may want to join the Google Group at right.
Below are exams; other answers may be possible. Reviews were led by Dan Armendariz, Rei Diaz, and Eugenia Kim.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the material with others, you may want to join the Google Group at right.
Workshops are in-depth segments on topics related to lectures. These workshops were led by Dan Armendariz and Eugenia Kim; they were filmed by Chris Thayer.
Videos of the week are bite-sized segments on topics related to lectures. These videos were produced by Dan Armendariz, Rei Diaz, Eugenia Kim, and Chris Thayer.
Computer Science E-1 is a course at Harvard Extension School. E-1 isn't so much about computer science as it is about technology and how it all works. Most every student who takes this class uses computers every day but doesn't necessarily understand what's going on underneath the hood (or, in some cases, is outright scared!). All students exit this more comfortable with computers and the Internet.
Even if you are not a student at Harvard, you are welcome to "take" this course via computerscience1.tv by following along via the Internet. (The course's own website is at www.computerscience1.net.) Available at left are videos of lectures along with PDFs of problem sets. Sample solutions to the latter are not available, but if you have questions or would like to discuss the material with others, do join the course's Google Group.
If you're a teacher, you are welcome to adopt or adapt these materials for your own course, per the license.
If you'd like to take this course for real (on Harvard's campus or via the Internet) in order to receive feedback on work, grades, and a transcript, the course will next be offered through Harvard Extension School in Fall 2011. You can register online as of August 2011.
Have a question about the course (even if you're not a student at Harvard)? Want to field questions from others? Join computerscience1-discuss, the course's Google Group!
