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 |
| 8/22 | Get the online textbook: Instructions here |
Class Notes - Course Introductions | No programming assignment this first week. |
| 8/24 | zyBook 1.1 - 1.2 | Advice from last semester's students - Log into your UNI account to view Class Notes - Understanding the history and basics of computers |
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| 8/25 | Lab #1 in 112 (check your assigned lab times) | ||
| 8/26 | zyBook 1.4 -1.5 | Go over lab Finish 8/24 lecture Programming with Python |
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| 8/29 | zyBook 1.6 - 1.7 | Preparing to write programs (Notes and examples from zyBook) |
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| 8/31 | zyBook 1.8 - 1.10 | Starting to write programs (Notes and examples from zyBook) |
|
| 9/1 | Lab #2 in WRT 112 | ||
| 9/2 |
zyBook 1.11 - 1.13 | Notes - More with data and types (Notes and examples from zyBook) |
HW #1 (due 9/7) See homework link in Blackboard |
| 9/5 | HOLIDAY | ||
| 9/7 | zyBook 2.1 - 2.2 | Notes - Introducing Branching in Python (Notes and examples from zyBook) |
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| 9/8 | Lab #3 in WRT 112 | ||
| 9/9 | zyBook 2.3 - 2.4 | Notes - Boolean and Relational Operators (Notes and examples from zyBook) |
HW #2 (due 9/14) |
| 9/12 | zyBook 2.5 - 2.8 | Notes - More if/else (Notes and examples from zyBook) |
|
| 9/14 | zyBook 3.1 - 3.3 |
Class Notes - Introducing For and While Loops | |
| 9/15 | Lab #4 in WRT 112 | ||
| 9/16 |
zyBook 3.4 - 3.5 | Class Notes - Lab Debrief and More Practice | HW #3 (due 9/21) |
| 9/19 | zyBook 3.6 - 3.7 | Class Notes - Advanced Looping | |
| 9/21 | zyBook 3.8 - 3.9 No class meeting |
Class Notes - Nested looping Watch Lecture Video |
|
| 9/22 | Lab #5 in WRT 112 | ||
| 9/23 | No class meeting | Watch Lab 5 explanation Video | HW #4 (due 9/28) HW #4 Intro Video |
| 9/26 | Powerpoint notes | Class Notes- Algorithms and Program Development | |
| 9/28 | zyBook 4.1 - 4.2 | Class Notes - Introduction to Strings | |
| 9/29 | Lab #6 in WRT 112 | ||
| 9/30 |
Class Notes - Working with Strings | HW #5 (due 10/5) | |
| 10/3 | zyBook 4.3 - 4.4 | Class Notes - More with Strings - Methods | |
| 10/5 | zyBook 4.5 | Class Notes - More with Strings - Penny Math | |
| 10/6 | Lab #7 in WRT 112 | ||
| 10/7 | Class Notes - Lab Debrief | ||
| 10/10 | Class Notes- Exam prep, various examples, and wrap up | ||
| 10/12 | Note: Test in Sabin 102 | Concepts Exam #1 | |
| 10/13 | Note: Test in 112 Wright Hall | In-lab Exam #1 | |
| 10/14 | No Class | Instructor grading time and student recovery time | |
| 10/17 | zyBook 5.1-5.2 (Counts for last week's reading) |
Class Notes - Intro to Files | |
| 10/19 | zyBook 6.1-6.3 | Defining your own functions (zyBook used in class) | HW #6 (due 10/26) |
| 10/20 | Lab #8 in WRT 112 | ||
| 10/21 | zyBook 6.4-6.6 | Class Notes - Lab 8 Debrief, more on functions | |
| 10/24 | zyBook 6.9 | Class Notes - Function wrapup, code comments | |
| 10/26 | zyBook 7.1-7.3 | Class Notes - Introducing Lists | |
| 10/27 | Lab #9 in WRT 112 | ||
| 10/28 | zyBook 7.4-7.5 | Class Notes - More Lists | HW #7 (due 11/2 at 11:59pm) |
| 10/31 | zyBook 7.6-7.8 |
Class Notes - Lists - Indexing and Sorting | |
| 11/2 | Class Notes - Using Files and Lists to Parse Text |
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| 11/3 | Lab #10 in WRT 112 | ||
| 11/4 | Lab 10 review | HW #8 (due 11/9) HW #8 Intro Video How do I make the points list? |
|
| 11/7 | No class zyBook 8.1 and 8.2 |
No class, watch video here over dictionaries Class Notes - Introduction to Dictionaries |
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| 11/9 | zyBook 8.3 and 8.4 | Class Notes - Word Frequency Analysis | |
| 11/10 | Lab #11 in WRT 112 | ||
| 11/11 |
Review of Lab Eleven letterCount.py - Code example of how to sort a dictionary by frequencey/value |
HW #9 (due 11/18) No late days |
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| 11/14 | zyBook 10.1-10.4 | Class Notes- Namespaces and Memory | |
| 11/16 | zyBook 9.1 | Class Notes - Sets | |
| 11/17 | Lab #12 in WRT 112 | ||
| 11/18 | No Class | I will be in the classroom for homework help during class time Lab 12 Explanation Video |
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| Thanksgiving Break | |||
| 11/28 | zyBook 11.1-11.3 | Class Notes - Intro to Searching | HW #10 (due 12/2) In-Lab Exam 2 Study Guide |
| 11/30 | zyBook 11.4 | Class Notes - More Searching | |
| 12/1 | Optional Lab | Not a graded lab. Use lab time for homework help or for help studying for upcoming finals. | |
| 12/2 | zyBook 11.5 - 11.7 | Class Notes - Sorting | |
| 12/5 | Anonymous Survey on eLearning for participation points (due 12/9 at 11:59pm) | Programming Final Review - In-class lab final review session | |
| 12/7 | No class | No class, study for finals | |
| 12/8 | Note: Test in 112 Wright Hall | In-Lab Exam #2 | |
| 12/9 | Final Review | ||
| Finals | Note: Final Exam in SAB 102 at 10:00 - 11:50am | 9am class on Wednesday, December 14 10am class on Monday, December 12 |