Foundations of Computation is a free textbook for a one-semester course in theoretical computer science. It has been used for several years in a course at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The course has no prerequisites other than introductory computer programming. The first half of the course covers material on logic, sets, and functions that would often be taught in a course in discrete mathematics. The second part covers material on automata, formal languages, and grammar that would ordinarily be encountered in an upper level course in theoretical computer science.
Type of Material:
Open (Access) Textbook
Recommended Uses:
It is suitable for self-reading. Particularly, it could be the first book to read for all computer science students.
Technical Requirements:
From this site, download as PDF Can also purchase at small cost.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Overview of computational theory, including logic, discrete math, formal languages, and computability.
Target Student Population:
College Lower Division, College Upper Division
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Fundamentals of computing and computer programming.
While it is not a prerequiste, basic understanding of symbol on propositional logic is helpful to understand in the logic introduced.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
It explains the concepts in good details and examples that the readers should be able to cope with. The structure of the book shows that it does not assume the reader having knowledge in computation.
It does not give any references for further reading. On one hand, it limits the reader in further exploring in the topic. On the other hand, it also show the book's objective as a self-contained one for reading alone.
It is very good to have exercises for self review after each section.
It also introduced some applications of the basic concepts of relations. in queries on database, development of programming codes.
Concerns:
Not as complete as other standard texts.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
While it does not explicitly state the objectives of each chapter or section, the titles showing the aim of the introducing the meaning of each term is clear.
Every term used in the text is well defined so that it is easy to follow.
As a self-contained text book, it would be helpful to give information about how the readers get the reference answers to the exercises.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The language used in the text is easy to articulate even for general non-native English readers. The purpose of the introducing foundations of computations is clearly achieved.
Visually, it cannot be said to be very appealing compared to many fuzzy online materials or animation, but the concepts are presented cleared in the diagrams.
It would be better it also provides a web based version, the navigation buttons - for going forward, backward and home - and it can be more user friendly for go through different pages
Concerns:
It is pdf file of a text book. No interactivity component embedded. It can only rely on the features in pdf reader to provide the navigating features.
Creative Commons:
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