COMP1310: Introduction to Computers and Computing Ethics

First Semester 2026/27
Hisham Ihshaish
Department of Computer Science, Birzeit University

About the Course

What it covers

How a computer is built and how it represents data, numbering systems, algorithms and pseudocode, and an introduction to programming in C, alongside the ethics of computing. Weekly labs cover MS Office, algorithms and C.

Assessment

Midterm exam30%
Lab work (5 quizzes + mini project)30%
Final exam40%

Textbooks

David Reed, A Balanced Introduction to Computer Science, 3rd ed.
Hanly & Koffman, Problem Solving and Program Design in C, 7th ed.

Course outline (topics, lab schedule, regulations)

Lectures

1 Computer BasicsWhat a computer is, hardware and software, the CPU, memory, input/output, the operating system Slides Companion
2 Responsible AI UseWhat AI and generative AI are, how they learn, and how to use them to support your learning. Slides by Dr. Sobhi Ahmed Slides
3 Numbering Systems IDecimal, binary, octal and hex; conversions; binary addition; signed numbers Slides Companion
4 Numbering Systems IIFractions, subtraction with two's complement, characters, integers and floating point in memory Slides Companion

Lecture 1 and Numbering Systems slides are shared departmental material (with thanks to Mr. Abdallah Karakra). The companions follow the same topics, worked through step by step.

Study Companions

Computer Basics

A short walk through Lecture 1: what happens between a key press and a result on the screen, what the CPU and the different kinds of memory each do, how a computer starts up, and what the operating system is for. Ends with self-check questions.

Open companion

Numbering Systems

Both numbering lectures in one place, built up from the question of why computers count in binary. Covers converting between bases (and why the methods work), fractions, binary addition and subtraction, negative numbers in two's complement, and how integers, characters and real numbers are stored. Includes a bit board, step-by-step converters and practice questions with answers.

Open companion