The document is a letter from a mathematics department recommending a senior computer science student take an independent study course in computing. The independent study course, called Computing Independent Study (CIS), is a full-year math credit that meets every other week after school and focuses on building, maintaining, and using a Linux cluster as well as emerging applications in scientific and super computing using open source software. Topics covered in CIS include parallel programming, metrics, efficiency, and software related to graphics, large integers, number theory, and clustering. The student is encouraged to take CIS to further their computer science knowledge and discover new concepts in super computing.

1. Mathematics Department
Baldwin Senior High School
Dear APCS Student: Course Selection Week!!!
Congratulations, you are to be commended for all your hard work and success in
APCS so far this year! Due to your dedication to the study of Computer Science, you have
been selected to take Computing Independent Study as described below. You really should
understand Computer Science to be successful in many careers nowadays. Computer
Programming is a very useful skill in all Science and Technical degrees in college. A good
background in computing can even help you in fields related to Statistics, Economics,
Sociology and Psychology!
Computing Independent Study (CIS) is a full-year course of study for 1 Math Credit
that meets once every other week after school and is offered to Seniors who have
already taken AP Computer Science (APCS). The main emphasis of this class is to
learn how to build, maintain and use a Linux Cluster. Another focus of this course
is to learn about new and emerging applications related to Scientific Computing
and Super Computing. CIS will investigate Free Linux Open Source Software
(FLOSS). PreReq = APCS.
You may take CIS as a Senior if you have already completed APCS. CIS meets
every other week after school. At each meeting we install and test new software and discuss
at home research projects for the coming weeks. Topics explored in CIS may include:
Floyd’s Taxonomy, Amdahl’s Law, sequential vs. parallel programming, metrics,
running time, efficiency, speedup vs. workup, SMP clusters, Beowulf clusters,
Hybrid clusters, 2D plots, 3D plots, Iterated Fractal Systems, Mandelbrot Set, Julia
Sets, Ray Tracing, Large Integers, Fermat’s Last Theorem, Beal’s Conjecture,
Mersenne Primes, tachyon, povray, blender, openMosix, PVM, openMPI,
parallelJava, SAGE, pelicanHPC,
mpicc, mpiCC, mpif77, mpif90 and mpi4py.
I strongly recommend that you consider taking CIS next year. With your superior
computer background, I know that you will enjoy learning and discovering new concepts in
Super Computing!
Sincerely,
A. Jorge García
calcpage@aol.com
Applied Math & CompSci
Baldwin SHS & Nassau CC
http://shadowfaxrant.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/calcpage2009
Please fill-in the blanks below and return to your teacher.
Name: Grade: Coure Selection: Counselor:
____________________ __________ CIS
____________________