Getting Ready (Before Quarter Begins)

Follow the instructions in the Before Classes Start: Getting Set Up document to be ready for the start of the term.

SCHEDULE


IMPORTANT NOTE: The schedule below represents the current best guess concerning due dates, topics covered, and discussions. I am providing this information to give you a general idea of the pace and timing of the class. As we move on, some dates might change. The readings listed are from the Miller/Resnick book, Foundations of Python Programming, online at Runestone Academy. As the term progresses, I will be posting notes and other readings for you.
Week 1
Day Before Class Class Topic
Tues1
Course Introductions
The Role of Computation in Science
Intro to Python
Getting started with the textbook
Work on Reflection #1
Prepare for the syllabus quiz (Prep questions here)
Thur1 Make sure you have completed the Syllabus Quiz.

Due on Kit before class: Reflection #1

Read Chapter 1: General Introduction from the book on Runestone.
(Go to Runestone Academy, then click on the "Our Library" tab, Scroll down to the Intro to Computer Science option, then choose the "Foundations of Python Programming" book.)

In-class Activity (ICA): Runestone In-Class Activity Thurs1: Values, Data Types, Operands, and Operations

Complete the ICA Concept check before Tuesday Week 2.
Week 2
Day Before Class Class Topic
Tues2 To be completed before class: ICA from Thursday Week 1, ICA Concept Check

Runestone Reading: Functions, Variables, and Input

  • Sections 2.4, 2.7 - 2.9, 2.12 - 2.16
    Work through the activities as you read!
  • Complete the post-reading/pre-class Reading Check before class.
ICA: Intro to Google Colab and Exploring Functions
Thur2 No new reading assigned. Make sure reading and exercises from Tuesday are completed. ICA on Colab and Functions is due on Kit. In-Class Activity: Quiz on Functions (TO BE DONE IN GROUPS)

In-Class Activity: Runestone Activities with Boolean Values and Expressions

Week 3
Day Before Class Class Topic
Tues3 Runestone Reading: Conditional Statements
  • Sections 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 8.11, 8.12. Skip Section 8.10. You should also skip Activity 8.9.5 in Section 8.9.
In-Class Activity: Conditional Statements
Thur3 Runestone Reading: Iteration
  • Read Sections 7.1 - 7.4
 In-Class Activity: Quiz on If-Statements

In-Class Activity: Repetition Statements
Week 4
Day Before Class Class Topic
Tues4 Runestone Reading: Python Modules, Introduction to Sequences
  • Read Chapter 4
  • Read Sections 6.1 - 6.5
In-Class Activity: Introduction to Lists
Thur4 Runestone Reading: Debugging, More with Iteration
  • Read Chapter 3
  • Read Sections 7.9, 7.10
  • (OPTIONAL) Read Sections 7.11, 7.12
In-Class Activity: Quiz on Debugging your Code

Begin to work on Project 1: Generating Passwords
Week 5
Day Before Class Class Topic
Tues5 Runestone Reading: More with Strings and Lists
  • Read Sections 6.6 - 6.11
  • Read Sections 9.1 - 9.3, 9.7
  • Make sure you work the exercises in 6.10 and 6.11
In-Class Activity: Download the Using Lists in Biology and Chemistry iPython notebook. Save it to your Google drive and then open it in Google Colab. Follow the instructions in the document.
Thur5 Due today: Project #1

No new reading 		Work Day Use the time to get caught up on project and assignments
Week 6
Day Before Class Class Topic
Tues6 Runestone Reading: Nested Iteration and Nested Data
  • Read Sub-section 7.8.3 up through Activity: CodeLens 7.8.3.2. You are welcome to read about image processing, but we are not covering that now
  • Read Section 17.1
  • Read Sections 17.4 and 17.5
  • (Optional) Read Section 17.6
  • Work through the Exercise in Activity 17.8.2
In-Class Activity: More with Lists: Cloning and Nesting
Thur6 Runestone Reading: Reading and processing data from files
  • Read Sections 10.1 - 10.7
 In-Class Activity: Reading and Processing Data
Week 7
Day Before Class Class Topic
Tues7 Runestone Reading: More with Files
  • Read Sections 10.8 - 10.12

Begin reading and working through the Pyplot tutorial, up to (but not including) the section "Controlling line properties".

 In-Class Activity: Introduction to Plotting
Thur7 No new reading In-Class Activity: Plotting Temperature Data
Week 8
Day Before Class Class Topic
Tues8 Python Libraries Review reading data into lists
Group quiz on lists

ICA: Discussion of Python modules and libraries

Finish ICA from Tues8 on Plotting Temperature Data

Thur8 Read about and play Conway's Game of Life. Watch the videos at the bottom of the Explanation Page.
Wikipedia page about Conway's Game of Life		 In-Class Activity: Conway's Game of Life
When you are finished, you may start on Project: Game of Life Extensions
Week 9
Day Before Class Class Topic
Tues9
Work on Game of Life assignments
Thur9
Work on Game of Life assignments OR Catch up with late work.
Week 10
Day Before Class Class Topic
Tues10
Evaluations
Start on Final Reflection (due by midnight Thursday)
Work on Game of Life Project
Thur10
Work on any unfinished assignments. If you have everything completed you do not need to come to class.