Basic Information
This course is the computer science department’s introductory course. The two primary goals are to introduce the general field of computer science and to introduce the concept of programming.
This website is subject to change as more content is added. Check it often!
Readings before class - ZyBook "participation" activities and readings are due before the class they are assigned. Each section usually takes on average 10 minutes complete (although some might take a little more time and some might take a little less time). "Challenge" activities are optional and may be used as examples in class. Chapter sections marked as optional will not be graded, but they will better help you understand Python.
Topics/Notes - Any class notes will be linked here. If you miss a class, screencasts are provided through eLearning. (Note - screencasts are only meant as note suppliments. You may miss things written on the board or in-class activities/bonus points.)
Assignments - Assignments should be submitted on the program submission system before they are due. The system will automatically run your program and report any errors. If you do not understand what the system means if it returns an error, it is your responsibility to ask. Assignments can be turned in up to two days late with a 10% penalty deducted per day.
| Date | Readings before class | Topics/Notes | Assignments |
| 8/20 | Get the online textbook: Instructions here |
Intro - Course Introductions | No programming assignment this first week. |
| 8/22 | zyBook 1.1 - 1.2 | Session One - Understanding the history and basics of computers | |
| 8/23 | Lab #1 in WRT 112 (check your assigned lab times) | ||
| 8/24 | zyBook 1.3 | Session Two - Numerical representation | |
| 8/27 |
zyBook 1.4 - 1.6 | Session Three - Finish numerical representation, Intro to Python | |
| 8/29 | zyBook 1.7 - 1.9 |
Session Four - Lab Two and Programming Prep (Notes and examples from zyBook) |
|
| 8/30 | Lab #2 in WRT 112 | ||
| 8/31 |
zyBook 1.9 - 1.12 | Session Five - More with data and types (Notes and examples from zyBook) |
HW #1 (due 9/5 at 11:59pm) |
| 9/3 | NO CLASS - LABOR DAY | ||
| 9/5 | zyBook 2.1 - 2.2 | Session Six - Introducing Branching in Python | |
| 9/6 | Lab #3 in WRT 112 | ||
| 9/7 | zyBook 2.3 - 2.4 | Session Seven - Boolean and Relational Operators | HW #2 (due 9/12 at 11:59pm) |
| 9/10 | zyBook 2.5 | Session Eight - More if/else | |
| 9/12 | zyBook 3.1 - 3.3 |
Session Nine - Introducing For and While Loops | |
| 9/13 | Lab #4 in WRT 112 | ||
| 9/14 |
zyBook 3.4 - 3.5 | Session Ten - Lab Debrief and More Practice | HW #3 (due 9/19 at 11:59pm) |
| 9/17 | zyBook 3.6 - 3.7 | Session Eleven - Advanced Looping | |
| 9/19 | zyBook 3.8 - 3.9 | Session Twelve - Nested looping | |
| 9/20 | Lab #5 in WRT 112 | ||
| 9/21 | Session Thirteen- Lab Debrief |
HW #4 (due 9/26 at 11:59pm) | |
| 9/24 | Powerpoint notes | Session Fourteen- Algorithms and Program Development | |
| 9/26 | zyBook 4.1 - 4.2 No Class |
Session Fifteen - Introduction to Strings Watch Screencast on eLearning |
|
| 9/27 | Lab #6 in WRT 112 | ||
| 9/28 | No Class | Session Sixteen - Working with Strings Watch Screencast on eLearning |
HW #5 - (due October 3rd) |
| 10/1 | zyBook 4.3 - 4.4 | Session Seventeen - More with Strings - Methods | |
| 10/3 | zyBook 4.5 | Session Eighteen - More with Strings - Penny Math | |
| 10/4 | Lab #7 in WRT 112 | ||
| 10/5 | Session Nineteen - Lab Debrief | ||
| 10/8 | Session Twenty- Exam prep, various examples, and wrap up | ||
| 10/10 | Note: Test in Sabin 102 | In-class Exam #1 | |
| 10/11 | Note: Test in 112 Wright Hall | In-lab Exam #1 | |
| 10/12 | zyBook 5.1-5.2 | Session Twenty One - Files | |
| 10/15 | Session Twenty Two - Files (pt 2) | ||
| 10/17 | zyBook 6.1-6.2 | Session Twenty Three - Defining your own functions (zyBook used in class) | HW #6 (due 10/22) |
| 10/18 |
Lab #8 in WRT 112 | ||
| 10/19 | zyBook 6.4 | Session Twenty Four - Lab 8 Debrief, more on functions | |
| 10/22 | Session Twenty Five - Function wrapup, code comments | ||
| 10/24 | zyBook 7.2 and 7.3 | Session Twenty Six - Introducing Lists | |
| 10/25 | Lab #9 in WRT 112 | ||
| 10/26 | zyBook 7.4 and 7.5 | Session Twenty Seven - More Lists | HW #7 (due 10/31) |
| 10/29 | zyBook 7.7 and 7.1 |
Session Twenty Eight - Lists - Indexing and Sorting | |
| 10/31 | Read class handouts | Session Twenty Nine- Intro to Functional Decomposition | |
| 11/1 |
Lab #10 in WRT 112 | ||
| 11/2 | Session Thirty - More Design | HW #8 (due 11/7) | |
| 11/5 |
Session Thirty One - Design Wrap-Up | ||
| 11/7 | zyBook 8.1 | Session Thirty Two - Introduction to Dictionaries |
|
| 11/8 | Lab #11 in WRT 112 | ||
| 11/9 | zyBook 8.2 | Session Thirty Three - Debrief Lab Eleven | HW #9 (due 11/16 at midnight no late submissions) |
| 11/12 | zyBook 8.3 and 8.5 (not 8.4) | Session Thirty Four- Finish going over last lab (sorting the results) | |
| 11/14 | zyBook 9.1 | Session Thirty Five - Sets | |
| 11/15 | Lab #12 in WRT 112 | ||
| 11/16 |
No Class Meeting Watch screencast video - should be available after noon |
Review of Lab Twelve | HW #10 - (due 11/30 at midnight, late submissions up to two days late possible) |
| 11/26 | zyBook 17.1-17.2 | Session Thirty Six - Intro to Searching | |
| 11/28 | zyBook 17.3-17.5 | Session Thirty Seven - Intro to Sorting | |
| 11/29 | Lab #13 in WRT 112 | ||
| 11/30 | Debrief of Lab 13 | HW #11 (due 12/7 at midnight, no late submissions) | |
| 12/3 | zyBook 17.5-17.7 and 9.5 (This week is extra credit) |
Session Thirty Eight - More with Sorting | |
| 12/5 | Session Thirty Nine - In-class review session | ||
| 12/6 | Note: Test in 112 Wright Hall | In-Lab Exam #2 Study Guide |
|
| 12/7 | Session Forty - Final Review | ||
| 12/10 | Final Exam for 10:00am lecture |
10:00-11:50am in SAB 102 | |
| 12/12 | Final Exam for 9:00am lecture |
10:00-11:50am in SAB 102 |