Intro to Computer Science
CS1510
Dr. Sarah Diesburg
University of Northern Iowa
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Sarah Diesburg (diesburg@cs.uni.edu)
Office: 311 ITTC
Office hours: Wed 1:00-3:00pm, Thur 1:00-
3:00pm, Fri 1:00-3:00pm, and by appt.
Class website:
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http://www.cs.uni.edu/~diesburg/courses/cs
1510_sp16/index.htm
UNI eLearning
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 Calvin Brown – browncav@uni.edu
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Lab Assistant (8:00am)
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Grading Assistant
Chelsey Baysinger – baysingc@uni.edu
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Lab Assistant (10:00am)
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 Lecture M W F 11:00-11:50am in 328 ITTC
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Mandatory
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Three lectures per week
 Lab
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Section 1 Thurs 8:00-9:50am in 112 Wright
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Section 2 Thurs 10:00am-11:50am in 112 Wright
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Also mandatory
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Hands-on work on projects for points
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TA and I are available
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 Passing along attendance sheet
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For rest of lectures, please sign by your name
 Class objectives
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What is computer science?
 Logistics
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What is computer science??
 Computer science is a discipline that involves the understanding and design of computers and computational processes
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And it’s a REALLY diverse discipline
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Robotics
Computer Vision
Graphics
Ubiquitous Computing
Virtual
Environments
Wearable Computing
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Bioinformatics
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Digital Special
Effects
Databases
User information
Assurance
Information Security
Group
Icons
Groups of
Contacts
Human Computer
Interface Design
Icons
Representing
Individual contacts
High Performance Simulation
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What do these things have in common?
 They all treat the computer as only part of a bigger picture
 They all treat the computer as a tool!
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Just like other tools, we have to be careful they aren’t misused
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But how do we turn a computer from that thing on our desk… that helps us solve problems?
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 Programming is the process of writing, testing, and maintaining the source code of computer programs
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Collection of instructions that describe a task, or set of tasks, to be carried out by a computer
 While this course is an introduction to computer science, it focuses on how we can program the computer to be the tool we need!
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 Increase our problem solving skills
 Design good solutions to problems
 Test how well they are indeed solutions to the problem
 Provide the solution as a readable document
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Take the time outside of class to thoroughly read the course syllabus.
Some highlights…
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 eLearning is for interaction
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Submit assignments and labs, view your grades
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Traditional website is for notes, labs, and other downloads
Demo…
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 None
 Some of you may have programming experience, others may not
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Either way is fine
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 Time and patience
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 Lecture notes (posted at the class website)
 Textbook:
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The Practice of Computing Using
Python (2nd edition), by William
Punch and Richard Enbody
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Activity
Class Participation /
Attendance
In-lab work (Tuesday)
Programming
Assignments
Written Exams
Programming Exams
Total
Quantity random
13@15 pts each
11@25 pts each
100 and 150 pts
2@125 pts each
Points
30
195
275
250
250
1000
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
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100 – 92 A
91.9 – 90 A-
89.9 – 88 B+
87.9 – 82 B
81.9 – 80 B-
79.9 – 78 C+
77.9 – 72 C
71.9 – 70 C-
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69.9 – 68 D+
67.9 – 62 D
61.9 – 60 D-
59.9 – 0 F
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 Generally one a week
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Typically follow skills demonstrated in the lab
 Due on the due date!
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No late work accepted
Turn in what you have for partial credit – it’s worth it!
 10% bonus score if turned in early
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One class period before due date
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10% bonus is on top of what you earn
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 Understand lecture and reading materials
 Attend office hours for extra help, as needed
 Uphold academic honesty
 Turn in your assignments on time
 Check class web page and your UNI email account and regularly
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 Do share debugging experiences
 Do share knowledge of tools
 Do acknowledge help from others
 Do acknowledge sources of information from books and web pages
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Don’t cheat
Don’t copy code from other people or websites
Don’t paraphrase code from others either
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E.g., changing variable names & indentations
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Will be using sophisticated plagiarism checker
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 http://www.uni.edu/policies/301
Don’t post code to the discussion board
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 Attendance mandatory
 There are no make-up exams for missed exams…
 Honor code: read your student handbook
 Students with disabilities
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Report to Student Disability Resource Center
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Bring me a letter within the first week of class
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
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We are not psychics
Please let us know if…
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Class is too hard
You don’t have the background
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Class can be improved in certain ways
When in doubt, email us…
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Programming Environment
 Python freely available online (www.python.org)
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But get version 3.x
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Do NOT get version 2
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Prepare for lecture! Read the text selections before the start of lecture and complete any class prep assignment
On previous course evaluations, the NUMBER
ONE answer to the question “I could have improved my learning in this course by…” was some variation of “ read the textbook ”
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Start assignments early so you have time to ask questions.
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Face to face questions are better than email questions.
If you email me the night before something is due you shouldn’t get mad if I don’t respond.
If you spend more than 15 minutes staring at the computer stuck on something, ask for help!
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Make use of the office hours early! Don't wait until late in the term to seek help.
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Finally, remember, programming takes practice. You may not get it the first time, but keep trying, asking for help, and caring.
Eventually, you might find out that you are pretty good at this whole process!
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
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ITTC 328 – Lectures
ITTC 305 – The departmental office
ITTC 311 – My office
ITTC 335 – Student Lounge
Wright 112 – Section 1-2 lab. Can also work in here outside of lab times.
Wright 339 –Can also work in here outside of lab times.
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 You will want to save your work somehow before lab on Thursday
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Buy a class thumb drive
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Save your work on your UNI Google drive
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Dropbox
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Any others?
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