SCHEDULE OVERVIEW

The schedule for this class closely follows the structure of the required textbook, "Starting Out with Python." We'll start with a high-level discussion of how computers work, then begin digging into a range of programming concepts. Most classes will combine lecture-style instruction with hands-on class exercises when you'll "learn by doing". Therefore, be sure to bring your laptop to class each day.

Below you'll find a TENTATIVE schedule for the semester. Please note that all topics/dates/etc. are subject to change at any time. I fully expect to make adjustments multiple times over the course of the semester.

Most course readings are from the required textbook "Starting Out With Python", which is referenced as SOWP throughout the schedule. TENTATIVE schedule for the semester. Please note that all topics/dates/etc. are subject to change at any time. I fully expect to make adjustments multiple times over the course of the semester.

Attention:

The schedule includes readings and exercises that are assigned as preparation for each class. These assignments (shown with a thick gray bar in the schedule) should be completed PRIOR to the start of the corresponding class.

While ungraded, this preparation is essential for your success in this course. It will provide you with a foundation that we will build upon in class through both lectures and hands-on exercises, both of which are designed with the assumption that you will have completed the assigned preparation tasks. In addition, it will help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to complete your programming assignments. Finally, the material covered in these pre-class assignments will be potential topics for exam questions.

DETAILED SCHEDULE

January
10 Lecture 1+2 Course Overview
Environment Setup
—Watch " What Most Schools Don't Teach" from Code.org
—Read " Why Coding Is Still The Most Important Job Skill Of The Future" from Fast Company
—Watch " Libraries Ready to Code" from the ALA
Introduction to Computers and Programming
—Read SOWP Chapter 1
—Watch " How computer memory works" from the TED Ed series
—Exercises 3-5 from SOWP Chapter 1
 A1 Assigned: Hello, World
17 Snow day! Class canceled.

A1 Due
24 Lecture 3+4 Types, Variables, and Operators
—Read SOWP Chapter 2: Sections 2.1-2.9
—Algorithm Workbench Problems 2, 4, 8, 10 from SOWP Chapter 2
Decision Structures
—Read SOWP Chapter 3: Sections 3.1-3.6
—Algorithm Workbench Problems 2-4 from SOWP Chapter 3

A2 Assigned: Compound Interest
31 Lecture 5+6 Repetition with Loops
—Read SOWP Chapter 4: Sections 4.1-4.4
—Algorithm Workbench Problems 3-4 from SOWP Chapter 4
Repetition with Loops Part 2
—Read SOWP Chapter 4: Sections 4.5-4.7
—Algorithm Workbench Problems 6, 8 from SOWP Chapter 4
 A2 Due
A3 Assigned: Square Roots
February
7 Lecture 7+8 Functions Part 1
—Read SOWP Chapter 5: Sections 5.1-5.6
—Algorithm Workbench Problems 1, 2, 3, 4 from SOWP Chapter 5
Functions Part 2
—Read SOWP Chapter 5: Sections 5.7-5.10
—Algorithm Workbench Problems 8, 9, 10 from SOWP Chapter 5
 A3 Due
A4 Assigned: Blackjack
14 Lecture 9 + Review
Dre out of town -- guest lecturer
Abstraction and Decomposition: Problem Sovling By "Breaking it Down"
—Read Decomposition on Wikipedia
—Read How to Solve It on Wikipedia
Review Checkpoint One: Come prepared with your questions!
21 Lecture 10+11 Working with Files
—Read SOWP Chapter 6: Sections 6.1-6.3
—Algorithm Workbench Problem 1 from SOWP Chapter
Catching and Handling Exceptions
—Read SOWP Chapter 6: Section 6.4
—Algorithm Workbench Problems 9, 10 from SOWP Chapter 6
 A4 Due
A5 Assigned: Assigning Grades
28 Lecture 12 + Review Lists
—Read SOWP Chapter 7: Sections 7.1-7.4
—Short Answer Problems 1-5 from SOWP Chapter 7
At the end of this class, I will distribute an ungraded take-home "midterm" exam. Completing the exam is worth 10% of your class participation grade, regardless of how accurately you answer the questions.
 E1 Assigned: Take-Home "Midterm" Exam
March
7 Lecture 13+14 Lists Part 2
—Read SOWP Chapter 7: Sections 7.5-7.7
—Algorithm Workbench Problem 4 from SOWP Chapter 7
Lists Part 3, Tuples
—Read SOWP Chapter 7: Sections 7.8-7.9
—Algorithm Workbench Problem 8 from SOWP Chapter 7
 A5 Due
E1 Due
A6 Assigned: Managing Collections
14 Spring Break
21 Lecture 15+16 Strings
—Read SOWP Chapter 8
—Short Answer Problems 1-5 from SOWP Chapter 8
Dictionaries
—Read SOWP Chapter 9: Section 9.1
—Short Answer Problems 1-6 from SOWP Chapter 9
28 Lecture 17+18 More Dictionaries; Sets
—Read SOWP Chapter 9: Section 9.2
—Short Answer Problems 13-17 from SOWP Chapter 9
Introduction to the Object-Oriented Paradigm (OOP)
—Read SOWP Chapter 10: Section 10.1
—Watch 'What Is Object-Oriented Language?' from Lynda
April
4 Lecture 19+20 Classes and Instances in Python: Part 1
—Read SOWP Chapter 10: Sections 10.2-10.4
—Short Answer Problems 1-4 from SOWP Chapter 10
Classes and Instances in Python: Part 2
—Short Answer Problems 5-7 from SOWP Chapter 10
 A6 Due
A7 Assigned: Battleship
11 Lecture 21+22 In-Class Design Problem: Battleship; Inheritance
—Read Description of the Battleship Game on Wikipedia
—Watch How to Play: Battleship from Triple S Games
—Try playing a free online version of the game.
—Read SOWP Chapter 11
—Short Answer Problems 1-3 from SOWP Chapter 11
18 Lecture 23+24 Recursion
—Read SOWP Chapter 12
—Algorithm Workbench Problems 2-3 from SOWP Chapter 12
25 Lecture 25 + Review In-Class Design Problem: Quicksort
—Watch Quicksort video from CS50
Web Programming
—Read CherryPy Overview, Introduction, and Tutorials 1-4
VCS
—Watch "What is VCS? Git Basics #1" from GitHub
—Watch "What is Git? Git Basics #2" from GitHub
—Watch "GitHub Integration Features in JetBrains IDEs" from JetBrains
 A7 Due
May
3 Final Exam Final exam begins at 7:00pm.