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CITS1401 Problem Solving and Programming. Semester 1, 2014 A/Prof Lyndon While School of Computer Science & Software Engineering The University of Western Australia. Introduction and Admin. Objectives. CITS1401 covers
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CITS1401 Problem Solving and Programming Semester 1, 2014A/Prof Lyndon WhileSchool of Computer Science & Software EngineeringThe University of Western Australia Introduction and Admin
Objectives • CITS1401 covers • Many important problem-solving techniques used widely in Computer Science and in programming • Writing basic programs in Python, a modern high-level programming language • An introduction to software engineering Computer Science is no more about computers than Astronomy is about telescopes. (Edsger Dijkstra)
Philosophy • CITS1401 is a first programming unit • No prior programming experience is assumed • But there is a wide range of student backgrounds • CITS1401 is the first in a series of units designed to give you • Excellent problem-solving skills • A good understanding of the programming process • Exposure to a wide range of topics in ICT Problem solving and programming are like swimming and juggling: practice is everything!
People & places • Unit coordinator: A/Prof Lyndon While • Consultation times: 11am-noon Wednesdays • Lectures: • 1–2 pm Mondays in Simmonds LT • 1–2 pm Wednesdays in ELT2 • All lectures are recorded and available via LMS • The slides are also available online via LMS
Labs • Supervised lab sessions run in Lab 2.03, starting in Week 2 • Several times are available • You are expected to attend one session each week • But feel free to attend multiple sessions • Free Wi-Fi is available • Working from home is also fine • But make sure you keep up! • The first two hours of each session is supervised
Workshop • Workshops are at 3–4 pm Thursdays in ELT2, starting in Week 2 • Purely optional on an as-needed basis • Aimed at students who are having difficulty with the content or the pace of the unit material • Basic questions will be given priority over more-advanced questions • Additional examples complementing the lectures • Embarrassment-free zone! The only stupid question is the one that isn’t asked! CITS1401 admin, Sem. 1 2012
Online • Everything that is distributed in CITS1401 will be available from • The lecture recordings and slides are on LMS • Nothing else will be available via LMS • To make a query in CITS1401, or to initiate discussion on any relevant topic, go to http://undergraduate.csse.uwa.edu.au/courses/CITS1401 https://secure.csse.uwa.edu.au/run/help1401
help1401 • Online discussion forum for CITS1401, based on the philosophy of • Asking questions is useful: • Sometimes just formulating a question properly helps you to realise the answer yourself! • Answering questions is useful: • Explaining something helps you to understand it, and it generates good karma too! READ FIRST: if the answer is not there, THEN POST DO NOT post assessment code to help1401
Announcements • Announcements will be made in three places • In CITS1401 lectures • On the CITS1401 web-site noticeboard • On help1401 • Any information distributed by email will be sent to your UWA account • Check your account regularly, or forward it When an announcement has been made in these three places, we will assume that you are aware of it.
Text and other resources • Fundamentals of Python: First Programs • Kenneth A. Lambert • ISBN: 9781111822705 • http://undergraduate.csse.uwa.edu.au/units/CITS1401/resources/
Development environment • In the lab you will be using the Python 3.3 IDLE available from python.org • An integrated software environment where you can create, edit, execute, and debug programs • You can download this software free from python.org and install it at home • It is available for all major operating systems Note that all work submitted for assessment will be tested on the lab set-up
Assessment • Assessment is based on both • understanding of fundamental concepts • practical problem-solving and programming skills • Mid-semester test • In Week 8, worth 15% • Two programming projects • Project 1 due in Week 8, worth 10% • Project 2 due in Week 13, worth 15% • Final exam • In the June exam period, worth 60%
Passing and satisfactory progress • To pass CITS1401, you must achieve • At least 50% overall, and • At least 40% in Project 1 and the test combined, and • At least 40% in the final exam Everyone in CITS1401 is capable of passing, but history suggests that 15-20% of you will fail – who do you want to be?
Seeking help • There are many avenues for seeking help • help1401 • Supervised labs • Workshops • The text and other resources • Consultation times, and after lectures • http://www.student.uwa.edu.au/learning You are not alone: when problems arise, seek help early!
UWA compulsory online modules • All students are required to complete three online learning modules • Academic Conduct Essentials • Communication and Research Skills • Indigenous Study Essentials • The above site also contains many other resources which will be useful in your studies http://www.student.uwa.edu.au/learning/resources
Week 1 in the labs • Obtain your computer account name and password • Organise your UWA email account • Obtain your timetable from OLCR • Familiarise yourself with the School web-site, and the CITS1401 web-site • Install Python 3 on your computer at home