CS 498 Course Syllabus

Dr. Edward Gellenbeck
Office: Hebeler 214 E
Phone: 963-1435
E-mail: gellenbe@cwu.edu
Office Hours: M 11:00 a.m., W 2:00 p.m., Th 10:00 a.m.
Others times by appointment (Check my weekly schedule)

None Required.

Course Information: www.cwu.edu/~gellenbe/498/
Course Wiki: www.cwu.edu/~gellenbe/wiki/pmwiki.php/CS498/CS498

Specialized hardware and software for this course is available in Hebeler 204W. This lab is kept locked; you should request a door key from your instructor.

According to 2002 census data, about 18% of Americans has some kind of disability; about 11% has a disability identified as severe. Unfortunately, the vast majority of software and Web sites are not designed to be accessible to the disabled because developers lack awareness, training, and clear guidelines. This course provides computer science majors exposure to the concepts and skills necessary to open up information technology to all users, regardless of disability.

This class will be run as a special topics seminar and employ the constructivist model of learning. Rather than a traditional lecture based model, students are expected to take an active role in interacting, collaborating, problem-solving, and learning by teaching. In particular, students will

• Build on prior knowledge and understanding to construct solutions for authentic situations
• Work on meaningful problems because of their real-life context. Students are encouraged to
  • Explore possibilities and invent alternative solutions
  • Collaborate with other students and outside experts
  • Challenge ideas and critically evaluate existing solutions
• Explain and teach their knowledge to others

An important component to this course is Academic Service-Learning (AS-L). Service-learning is a teaching methodology that allows students to perform community service as a means to acquiring and applying course knowledge and skills. Three organizations that serve the disabled have requested CS 498 servicei-learning projects:

• Central Washington Disability Resources (Ellensburg)
• Disability Support Services at CWU
• Special Education Technology Center at CWU

Upon completion of this course, you will have demonstrated the ability to

• Explain the principles of universal design
• Match disability types to specific adaptive technology
• Use alternative input and output assistive technology
• Design and code web pages that are compatible with assistive technology
• Design and code Windows applications that are compatible with assistive technology
• Test web pages for compliance with accessibility guidelines and laws
• Test Window applications for compliance with accessibility guidelines and laws

Overview of the principles and techniques used in adaptive technology for the disabled. Topics include universal design, specialized adaptive devices, web accessibility, and programming techniques.
Pre-requisites: CS 350 and CS 446 (Co-requisite)

A contract grading scheme will be employed

• All students are expected to
  • Attend class and participate in class discussions
    • You are permitted three free missed class sessions
  • Participate in the quarter-long group software project
  
  
• To receive a C
  • Participate and reflect on an academic service-learning experience (~10 hours over the quarter)
    • Keep a time log and notes on your experience
    • Report to the class at least once on your experience
  • Design, implement, and demonstrate to the class one accessible application that uses assistive technology (~10 hours of effort)
  
  
• To receive a B
  • Participate and reflect on an academic service-learning experience (~20 hours over the quarter)
    • Keep a time log and notes on your experience
    • Report to the class at least twice on your experience
  • Design, implement, and demonstrate to the class two accessible applications that uses assistive technology (~10 hours of effort each)
  
  
• To receive an A
  • Participate and reflect on an academic service-learning experience (~30 hours over the quarter)
    • Keep a time log and notes on your experience
    • Report to the class at least three times on your experience
  • Design, implement, and demonstrate to the class three accessible applications that uses assistive technology (~10 hours of effort each)
  
  

Note: alternatives to this contract grading scheme are welcome. Let's discuss options.

Students with disabilities who wish to set up academic adjustments in this class should give me a copy of their Confirmation of Eligibility for Academic Adjustments from the Disability Support Services Office as soon as possible so we can meet to discuss how the approved adjustments will be implemented in this class. Students with disabilities without this form should contact the Disability Support Services Office, Bouillon 205 or dssrecept@cwu.edu or 963-2171 immediately.

Due to the nature of this experimental special topics course, the schedule and procedures for this course will change. It is a shared faculty-student responsibility to communicate and adjust to these changes.