CSCI 188 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence - Spring 2025

Course Information (see link on Canvas course site)

Lectures/Labs:

MWF 2:00 - 2:50 PM, Freedom Hall Room 322

Professor:


Dr. Yana Kortsarts
Office: Freedom Hall 313
Phone: (610) - 499 - 4367
e-mail: ykortsarts@widener.edu
homepage: http://cs.widener.edu/~yanako

Office Hours:

Place: In Person Freedom 313 or ON ZOOM: Virtual Office Hours ZOOM link
Time:
• Monday:
  • 9:30 - 10:00 AM
  • 12:00 - 1:00 PM (In person/ZOOM, Freedom 313)
• Wednesday:
  • 9:30-10:00 AM (In person/ZOOM, Freedom 313
  • 5:00 - 6:00 PM (ZOOM ONLY)
• Friday:
  • 9:30-10:00 AM, 12:00 - 1:00 PM (In person/ZOOM, Freedom 313)
  • 5:00 - 5:30 PM (ZOOM ONLY)
• ADDITIONAL OFFICE HOURS ARE AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
  YOU MUST SEND AN EMAIL TO ykortsarts@widener.edu TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

Recommended Text - NOT REQUIRED:

AI for Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Artificial Intelligence by Mohit Pandey

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to artificial intelligence (AI) for beginners with no prior experience. Students will learn the basics of AI, its history, key technologies, and how it is used in the real world. The course also covers ethical issues related to AI. Through interactive lectures, activities, and hands-on engagement with free tools designed for beginners, students will explore how AI affects different parts of daily life, develop critical thinking skills in evaluating AI technologies, and gain insights into the future potential of AI.

Tentative Course Topics

• Definition, scope, and key concepts of AI
• History and milestones of AI (Turing, Turing test)
• Examples of AI applications (smart devices, social media, healthcare, finance, books, movies)
• Introduction to machine learning (types, datasets, training, testing)
• Computer vision (image recognition, face detection, optical character recognition and applications)
• Robotics and automation (basic parts and applications)
• Natural language processing (basics, techniques, applications in voice assistants, chatbots, language translation)
• AI and creativity (art, music, literature)
• Ethics in AI (ethical considerations, bias, fairness, privacy, security)
• AI and society (impact on jobs and the economy, AI in education, social implications)

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Understand AI concepts and applications:
   Define AI, describe its scope and milestones, and identify examples of AI applications in various fields.
2. Apply machine learning techniques:
   Explain machine learning fundamentals, types, and concepts, and apply simple machine learning techniques through projects.
3. Evaluate AI technologies and their societal impact:
   Assess AI technologies, their ethical implications, and societal impacts, including on jobs, the economy, and education.
4. Engage in AI-driven creativity and projects:
   Explore AI-generated art, music, and literature, create simple chatbots, and complete a project on AI's impact in a specific sector.

Corresponding A&S Goals

• Goal 1: A liberally educated graduate communicates effectively.
  • 1.a. Gives clear presentations before a group.
• Goal 2: A liberally educated graduate thinks critically.
  • 2.a. Makes claims and draws conclusions that require the analysis and evaluation of evidence.
  • 2.c. Makes and assesses ethical judgments
• Goal 4: A liberally education graduate has developed a wide range of intellectual perspectives and methodologies.
  • 4.a. Evaluates the workings of the natural and physical world using theories and models that can be tested by experiments and observations.

Corresponding Widener University Institutional Learning Objectives (ILOs)

• ILO 2. Students will be able to think critically and communicate effectively.

Policies

Attendance Policy

Widener University Attendance Policy will be applied

Academic Fraud

Student Academic Grievance Procedure

If a student has a grievance concerning a class in which he/she is enrolled, he/she will first try to resolve the problem with the instructor of the class. If it is impossible to resolve the matter at this level, then the grievance must be placed in writing and appealed in the following order:
• Division or Program Head
• Dean of Arts and Sciences (Arts and Sciences Academic Council)
• Provost of the University
• University Academic Council
All student grievances will first be referred to the class instructor before they are treated at the level of the Division Head.

Please see Widener's Undergraduate Catalog for:
Standards for Academic Integrity, Appeal Procedures for Student Academic Grievances, and Attendance Policy

Learning Accommodations

Academic Support, Guidance & Skills-Building Resources

Widener mySuccess Plan website

Electronic Devices in the Classroom

• NO CELL PHONES. Cell phones must be turned off for the duration of the class.
• All electronic devices except cell phones are permitted, unless otherwise specified.

Evaluation Criteria and Policies

• Make-up lab assignments
  
  Any make-up for the lab assignments must be arranged in advance and done IN CLASS.

• The work handed in must be the student's own work. Assignments written in groups are easily identified and will receive a grade of 0 for all participants.

• The weights of the homework, laboratory assignments, and final project in the final grade are as follows:

  Final Grade

  Laboratory Assignments	65%
  Final Project	25%
  Homework and In-Class Activities	10%
  Total	100%

  Grading System

  A:	95 - 100
  A-:	90 - 94
  B+:	87 - 89
  B:	83 - 86
  B-:	80 - 82
  C+:	77 - 79
  C:	73 - 76
  C-:	70 - 72
  D+:	67 - 69
  D:	60 - 66
  F:	59 - 0