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ECS 15
Introduction to computers
Fall 2014
Prof. Xin Liu
www.cs.ucdavis.edu/~liu/ECS15/F14/15.htm
ECS15
Xin Liu
Class Schedule
• prerequisites: None.
• Class: MWF 10:00a.m.-10:50a.m.;
• Labs:
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A01 M 12:10p-3:00p; 2020 SLB
A02 M 3:10 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.; 2020 SLB
A03 W 1:10p.m.- 4 p.m.; 2020 SLB
A04 F 2:10 p.m.- 5 p.m.; 2020 SLB
Additional Lab hour: M 12:10-3 2060 SciLab (No TA)
• Can I go to a different lab?
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Highlights
• Instructor: Xin Liu
– www.cs.ucdavis.edu/~liu
• Instructor office hour:
– F 11a.m.-2:00p.m. at 3013 Kemper Hall
– Extra office hours announced when necessary
• TAs:
– Gabriel Castillo Cortes at gcastillo@ucdavis.edu
– Huaguang (Chad) Song at hso@ucdavis.edu
– Sharmin Jalal at sjalal@ucdavis.edu
• TA office hour and location
– same as the lab sessions
• Reader (for the term paper):
– William Dyer at wdyer@ucdavis.edu
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Class material
• Optional Textbooks
– Michael Dawson, Python programming for the absolute beginner,
2nd edition, Thomson Course Technology, ISBN: 1-59863-112-8.
– Spraul, V. Anton, Computer Science Made Simple, Broadway
Books, 2005, ISBN: 0-7679-1707-3.
– Brain Kernighan, D is for Digital, ISBN: 1-4637-338-95
• Class website:
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www.cs.ucdavis.edu/~liu/ECS15/F14/15.htm
Check for notes
Notes and useful information links will be posted and updated.
Why some notes are not accessible (yet)?
• Announcement:
– Emailed to the mailing list
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Road Map
• Computers (3-4 weeks)
– Hardware: motherboard,
processor, memory, I/O
devices, etc.
– Software and application:
– Graphics: image, video,
2D, 3D, game,
– History and ethics
– Search (do you google?)
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Why does this help?
• Computer Literacy
• Basic knowledge of computers
– Order a computer
– Buy a digital camera
– Configure your wireless router
• Basic understanding of software and tools
– Word process, ppt, excel, access, etc.
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Road Map
• The Internet (2-3 weeks)
– Layered architecture
– Applications: web, email, p2p,
etc.
– The path of your
email/webpage.
– LAN: local area network,
wireless local area network.
– Security
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Why does this help?
• Internet drastically changes the world
• What do these things mean?
– Wikipedia
– Web 2.0
– Long tail
• Internet is reaching beyond PCs
• Security and privacy
– IRS sending you an email?
– Are you anonymous on the Internet?
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Are you anonymous on the Internet?
The above cartoon by Peter Steiner has been reproduced from The New Yorker, (Vol.69 (LXIX) no. 20)
only for academic discussion.
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Road Map
• Python Programming
(3-4 weeks)
– Getting started (Chapter
1)
– Basic concepts: type,
variable, I/O (Chapter 2)
– Loops: while, for, if
(Chapters 3-4)
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Why Programming
• What is a program?
• You can handle little problems yourself
• You know when you hire someone how big
a job it is (like going to a mechanic)
• You have some idea of what is possible.
• A good programmer has more job options
(you’ll need more than this one class,
though)
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Why Python?
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Great for interfacing one program to another
Free!
Used in industry –Google, ILM, NASA….
Easy to get started with!
Lots of “libraries” (add-ons) that do things
like sound editing, computational biology,
Web database access…..
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What should you get from this class?
• You can handle little problems yourself
– Do research, find interesting stuff
– Security
– impress your friends
• Your know when you hire someone how big a job
is.
• You know some idea of what is possible
• People with good IT skills have more job options.
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It teaches you to think!
• The computer is your genie in a bottle
– It can be your best help
– It can be really frustration
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It does exactly what you tell it to
Your job is to figure out what/how to tell it.
Learning the language is easy, …
Some people really like it!
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Other options
• ECS 10: Programming in Python
– You will get full credit (after taking ECS 15)
– GE class
• ECS 30: More intensive class for those with
some programming experience (basic, c,
java), learn C++, required for ECS majors.
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Grading
• Grading
– Term paper (20%)
• Computer in an area of your interest
– Lab assignments (35%)
• 9 small projects (basic computer skills, basic programming)
• No homework
– Midterm 20% (one mid-term)
• Close book, one sheet of notes allowed
• In class
– Final 25%
• Close book, one sheet of notes allowed
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Class Policy
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All lab assignments require individual efforts. Discussions are allowed,
copying NOT.
Late policy
– Full credit if on time
– 50% if within 24 hours
– 0 after 24 hours
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Regrading Policy
– One week regrading period after grades returned to students
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Incomplete will not be granted
– Unless proved emergency with filled emergency form
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Academic Integrity
– Writing, commercial software for checking plagiarism
– Lab assignments
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Email
• Please include “ECS 15” in your subject
line, to me and to TAs.
• Why?
• One day response, TA/reader, myself.
• If your requests not responded, let me
know.
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Email etiquettes
> R U handing back midterms Th?
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Email
Hi Gary,
This is Shareen, from your Thursday discussion
section. I was wondering if you are going to be
handing back the midterms this week?
Thanks,
Shareen
 It is also best to address your email to one person,
possibly cc to others.
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Good Grade Guideline
• Computers are rational
– Understand, not memorize
• Active classroom participation
• Do your own assignments
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Help you understand
Help you do well in exams
Help you in your later studies
Projects and term paper are “easy” grades.
• Sufficient time, sufficient help
• Follow the lecture and notes
• Final review
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First Quarter Here?
• College is different, for most, very different
• First year, and for some, second year, can
be very challenging
• Course work and extra curriculum activities
• A lot of freedom, independence, and
responsibilities
• Growth is when one overcomes challenges.
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Growth Mindset
• Test your mindset: Intelligence is something about
a person that he/she can’t change very much.
– Strongly agree to strongly disagree
• Fixed mindset vs. growth mindset
• Can one learn to be good at computers?
– Yes, absolutely.
– And yes, absolutely worth your time and effort
• Google “growth mindset” for more information.
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Lab Session
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Go to your registered Lab session if possible.
Priority goes to students registered in the lab session
TAs will be there the whole time to help you.
Joint with TAs’ office hours
Yes, you can go and ask any question related to the class.
Please let the TAs talk about the lab assignment first.
Lab assignments are posted two weeks in advance
All due on Friday 6pm, on smartsite
Grades posted one week after due date.
Please check your grade and TA comments (if any).
Xin Liu
Computer Labs
• We have two computer labs you can use
– SLB 2020 (where your lab sessions are)
– Sometimes used by other classes
– M 12:10-3 2060 SciLab
• Of course, you can also do everything on
your own computer
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Lab Assignments
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Lab 1: Create your webpage, due on Friday, Apr. 8
Lab 2: Advanced Word Techniques, due on Friday Apr. 15,
Lab 3 : Introduction to Excel, due on Friday, Apr. 22
Lab 4: Excel Chart and Pivot Tables, due on Friday, Apr. 23
Lab 5: Introduction to Access, due on Friday, May 6
Lab 6: Starting Python, due on Friday, May 13
Lab 7: Jeopardy, due on Friday, May 20
Lab 8: Wheel of Fortune, due on Friday, May 27
One more
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Lab Assignments
• I may change sequence to better coordinate with
classroom material
• 1 lab assignment per week
• Assignments posted
– You can go to your lab sessions at least twice.
• Do not be afraid to ask for help!
• We are here to help.
• Computer related questions are much easier to be
answered when demonstrated.
• Google.
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Term paper
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20% of the total grade
Credit for writing
~2500 words (around 10 pages)
A research paper on a topic related to computers
that interests you
• An opportunity to learn some detailed information
and how they are used in some area of interest to
you.
• Lecture on writing the term paper
• Start early!
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Steps
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Introduction & Prospectus Due Friday, Oct. 24
Progress Report Due Friday, Nov. 7
Draft Due Friday, Nov. 21
The paper itself Due Friday, Dec. 5
All due at 6pm
Hard copy samples available for viewing
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Topics
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Check a list of potential topics at the class website
computers in education
– for teaching reading
– for teaching music
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computers in biology
– bioinformatics
– computational biology
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computers in art, architecture, and design
– computer-generated and computer-supported art
– computer-aided design
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digital libraries
– legal issues (e.g., intellectual property)
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music on the Internet
– legal issues and debates
– technologies
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Topics
• Internet on entertainment
– P2p file sharing
– Video-on-demand
• Netflix’s video-streaming service
• $1.99 TV show downloads from Amazon/iTune
– E-books
• Amazon’s Kindle and $9.99 book offering
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Topics
• Social networking websites and their
impacts
• Online advertising
– Google?
• Security and privacy
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Topics
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computer and/or Internet addiction
failures regarding computers in schools
famous computer viruses and "worms"
"computer illiteracy" or lack of access to
computers as a problem in society
• Digital divide
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Again
• Projects and term paper are good for your
grades.
• Plan early.
• Do them well.
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Last slide
• I am constantly looking for ways to make this
class better, more useful, more fun
• All comments/suggestions welcome.
• Anonymous if you like.
• http://www.cs.ucdavis.edu/~liu/ECS15/F14/15.htm
– Or google “Xin Liu”
– Go to my webpage, click on Teaching, and you will see your class.
• Questions?
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