In-class notes for 02/10/2014

CS 121B (CS1), Spring 2014

Introduction to the course

This is an introductory course in computer science (CS) that is focused on applications of CS to many other disciplines. These applications in a wide range of fields demonstrate the relevance and usefulness of the CS topics we visit.

• Recurring themes in the course

• Survey of background and interests

• Course resources include:

  • Course home page (sliding blue navigation bar; course notes pages)

  • Online appointment signup ("office hours")

  • Online textbook

  • Piazza site

  • Course web forms, such as reading question submission, daily question submissions (for homework or technology or whatever)

  • Web resources, e.g., Google Translate, locally developed "HiPerCiC" applications

  • Class and lab "Link"computers, equipped with software for doing homework.

    • Linux, instead of Mac or PC

    • Python3 programming language; idle3 development environment ("IDE")

    • Added features for applications of CS using Python.

    Options for using your own computer (in most cases) are forthcoming.

• Daily homework

• Weekly quizzes (usually on Wednesday; not this week)

• Final project

• Final exam

Upcoming

• Homework 1

  • Fill out survey

  • Read two chapters and submit one or more questions (see below)

  • Type in two Python3 programs and run them

  • Use Google Translate

• Read online text: General Introduction and Simple Python Data
  submit at least one reading question by 9am before the next class meeting

>