Winter Term - 2017
Prerequisites: COGS 100/3.0 or PSYC 100 or PSYC 221; CISC 121 or CISC 124 or CISC 102 or some software programming experience can be helpful
Instructor:
Farhana H. Zulkernine, PhD, PEng
Assistant Professor
Coordinator, Cognitive
Science Program
756 Goodwin Hall, School of Computing,
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 2N8
E-mail: Farhana at cs dot queensu dot ca (farhana@cs.queensu.ca)
Website: http://research.cs.queensu.ca/home/farhana/
Tel:
1 (613) 533-6426
This course is an introduction to the computational aspects of the mind. Can thought be understood in terms of computation? How do we process logic in planning and problem solving? The theory of cognition compares representation and metal processes with data structures and computation. This course explores that theory by taking the students through an exciting journey of very simple programming to understand the human thought process. The latter part of the course explores other computational and theoretical aspects of cognition such as information theory and behaviourism, cognitive architectures and computational modeling of cognition, perception and memory processes.
The students should leave with a good understanding of computational aspects of human cognition acquired through some hands-on fun programming exercises which requires no previous programming experience. They would also learn the importance of computational modeling and simulations, and get a brief overview of the major cognitive models and architectures.
Course Learning Outcomes: http://www.cs.queensu.ca/students/undergraduate/CLO.php#COGS201
COGS 201
W/3.0: Cognition and Computation
Unit 1: |
Computation depicted as the core essence of Cognitive Science as
thoughts are merely the products of mental processes as they are applied
to perceived information in the mind. This
is illustrated through simple logic programs that simulate human
thoughts in problem solving, planning, decision making and language. |
Unit 2: |
Introduction to information theory, cognitive modeling techniques –
Physical Symbol System and Artificial Neural Network models with example
models from the literature. |
Unit 3: |
Overview of Cognitive Architectures. Includes student group presentation
of the different architectures. |
Class time and location
|
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Days & Times | Room | Dates |
---|---|---|
Mon 1:30pm -2:30pm | DUNNING RM10 | Jan 09 - Apr 07 |
Wed 12:30pm -1:30pm | DUNNING RM10 | Jan 09 - Apr 07 |
Fri 11:30am -12:30pm | DUNNING RM10 | Jan 09 - Apr 07 |
Office Hour
Wednesday 1:30pm - 2:30pm. Otherwise contact the TA to setup meeting times.
Marking
Assignments 20%
Online Quizzes 20%
Group Project 10%
Midterm 20%
Final exam 30%
Course Details
Details about the course content can be found at the OnQ website.
Textbooks
by Hector J. Levesque, published 2012
Available at Campus Book Store
edited by Ron Sun, published 2008
Available online at Queen's library
Supplementary Book
by Nir Fresco, published 2013
Available online at Queen's library