Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Course Outline CS 1113

Problem Solving and Programming I

Summer 2021 Professor Peter DePasquale

Course Anti-requisites CS-UY 1114

Course DescriptionThis course introduces problem solving and computer programming and is for undergraduate engineering students who do not have prior experience in programming in any language. The course covers fundamentals of computer programming and its underlying principles using the Python programming language. Concepts and methods introduced in the course are illustrated by examples from engineering and other disciplines. ABET competencies: 1, 7

In addition to the lectures, you must be registered for one of the mandatory lab sections that correspond to your lecture.

Course Objectives- By successfully completing this course, you will be able to

● solve problems computationally by designing, implementing, and testing programs using the Python language, and

● apply fundamental programming concepts (conditionals, iteration), types (integers, floating point, Booleans, and strings), and data structures (lists, tuples) in developing functional-based programming solutions.

Course Structure

This course includes 2 weekly lecture sections (herein known as “classroom meetings” due to the “flipped” nature of the class) and a mandatory weekly lab section.

Readings

The required text for the course is: The Practice of Computing Using Python, 3rd Edition, 2016, by Punch and Enbody, Pearson Inc, ISBN 0-13-437976-4

Required software for this course: You will need a Python editor (Thonny, Idle, PyCharm, etc.) and compiler (Python 3). Please see the editor’s installation instructions to determine if you need a compiler (many editors include the compiler) or how to install a compiler if you need one.

Required hardware for this course: You will need a computer. Generally speaking, most modern laptops work well for classroom meeting work. Some students choose to use a desktop computer, but of course, it’s not possible to bring that to classroom meetings and labs. Programming work performed during classroom meetings is not graded, but is much easier if you have a computer. Tablet computers and Chromebooks are strongly discouraged for the course, though if you must, speak with the instructor about how to complete your programs (and save them) via a browser-based environment.

Course requirements - For the Summer 2021 semester, the class will be flipped. I strongly recommend reading about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Flipped_classroom. Of particular note is the following quote.

“In a flipped classroom, students watch online lectures, collaborate in online discussions, or carry out research at home while engaging in concepts in the classroom with the guidance of a mentor.”

You are expected to attend the classroom meetings having watched the lecture online before the meeting. There are required quizzes at the end of many recorded lectures, which are due before the classroom meetings. During the classroom meetings we will focus on working problems (writing programs) related to the concepts presented in the lecture videos. It will not be a traditional lecture. It is expected that if you have questions resulting from watching the videos, you will raise them during the meetings. Please come prepared to do so.

Active participation in classroom meetings discussion is strongly encouraged. This is the best time for students to ask questions or clarify any confusing concepts. Classroom meetings will also be used to remind you of due dates, answer questions about logistics (test), and clarify homework issues. If you miss classroom meetings, you should contact a classmate to determine if there were any missed items you need to review.

Course Assessments

Post-Video Quizzes: 5% - Almost every recorded lecture video will be followed by one or more short concept quizzes. Quizzes (taken through Gradescope) must be completed before the classroom meetings commence. Late quizzes will only be accepted in accordance with our excused absence policy (see below). The list of which quiz(zes) must be completed prior to each classroom meeting will be provided.

Lab: 10% of final grade- Weekly lab assignments are given in a supervised in-person or online environment. You may discuss your work with other students and with teaching assistants. You may work in pairs. Your grade is based on completing a reasonable attempt for each problem. Extra credit opportunities may be offered in lab work. All lab grade disputes must be addressed no later than one week following the lab in question or the date of the final exam, whichever comes first.

Homework: 15% of final grade - Assigned throughout the semester, homeworks are to be completed independently, outside of class time. Your grade reflects to what extent your solution is correct. Grade disputes here are handled within the Gradescope platform. Regrade requests are usually within a 1 week window. Anyone caught plagiarizing or collaborating on homework assignments will be dealt with in accordance with the Tandon Student Code of Conduct (discussed below). The penalty for plagiarism or collaborating on homework assignments is a 0 grade for the assignment.

Midterm Exam - 30% final grade - DATE: June 14, 2021

Final Exam: 40% of final grade - DATE: July 5, 2021

Collaboration and plagiarism on exams is strictly prohibited. Anyone caught plagiarizing or collaborating on exams will be dealt with in accordance with the Tandon Student Code of Conduct (discussed below). The penalty for plagiarism or collaborating on the first exam is a 0 (zero) grade for the exam. The penalty for plagiarism or collaboration on the final exam is a "F" grade for the course.

Communication

We use email to make class announcements. It is your responsibility to check your email account regularly. Assignments will typically be posted on Brightspace and submitted through Gradescope. It is your responsibility to check Brightspace for assignments, and to submit your work in a timely manner.

Late Policy

We do not accept late assignments and do not offer substitute times for exams. If you have extenuating circumstances, please contact Deanna Rayment (see below) for accommodations for excused absences.

Grading Schema

The following schema will be used in assigning overall course letter grades:

Fully OnLine Policy

The class this semester is fully online. While attendance for "class meetings" is not taken, you are expected to be online and participate in the class. Class meetings will be recorded, but you are discouraged from skipping class meetings, due to the nature of the flipped classroom model and the activities we engage in during the class meetings.

Exam Policy

Exams this semester will be 100% online and held during the class meeting times. Exams will be issued via Gradescope using a Lockdown Web Browser that will prevent use of other software while taking the test. The midterm exam will be 1 hour, 20 minutes in length. The final exam will be the standard 2 hour length.

If you have a question during an exam, you will reach the professor via email. All electronic devices (phones, laptops, etc.) are banned from use in all tests, except only to email the professor during the exam.

Final Exam

Final exams will be held during the class meeting time on the last day of the class. We are unable to provide earlier final exams or exams at other times. Please do not make any travel plans that could potentially conflict with final exams. If you have another final exam that conflicts with this exam, please notify your instructor ASAP.

Forgetting the due date, not knowing the time zone differences, or failing to check that your work is uploaded is not a valid reason for late work. We operate on a policy that is fair and equal to all students. Extra time for you without an excused absence is not fair and equitable to other students.

Attendance

Students are expected to be online for each class and lab promptly. You should be actively engaged in the learning process during the duration of the class time. Class attendance is strongly suggested.

Course Schedule

School of Engineering Policies and Procedures on Academic Misconduct – complete Student Code of Conduct here.

A. Introduction: The School of Engineering encourages academic excellence in an environment that promotes honesty, integrity, and fairness, and students at the School of Engineering are expected to exhibit those qualities in their academic work. It is through the process of submitting their own work and receiving honest feedback on that work that students may progress academically. Any act of academic dishonesty is seen as an attack upon the School and will not be tolerated. Furthermore, those who breach the School’s rules on academic integrity will be sanctioned under this Policy. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the School’s Policy on Academic Misconduct.

B. Definition: Academic dishonesty may include misrepresentation, deception, dishonesty, or any act of falsification committed by a student to influence a grade or other academic evaluation. Academic dishonesty also includes intentionally damaging the academic work of others or assisting other students in acts of dishonesty. Common examples of academically dishonest behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Cheating: intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized notes, books, electronic media, or electronic communications in an exam; talking with fellow students or looking at another person’s work during an exam; submitting work prepared in advance for an in-class examination; having someone take an exam for you or taking an exam for someone else; violating other rules governing the administration of examinations.

2. Fabrication: including but not limited to, falsifying experimental data and/or citations.

3. Plagiarism: intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise; failure to attribute direct quotations, paraphrases, or borrowed facts or information.

4. Unauthorized collaboration: working together on work meant to be done individually.

5. Duplicating work: presenting for grading the same work for more than one project or in more than one class, unless express and prior permission has been received from the course instructor(s) or research adviser involved.

6. Forgery: altering any academic document, including, but not limited to, academic records, admissions materials, or medical excuses.