Welcome to CSCA20

An Introduction to Computer Programming

Anna Bretscher

Why Study Computer Science?

• Computers provide tools to simplify processes

• Computers allow for analysis that is otherwise impossible

• Computer science can be applied to many problems in the sciences, business, arts, humanities…

• Computers don’t always do what we think they are doing, better to understand when this happens!

Course Goals

• To learn most Python instructions.

• To be able to write programs that solve

scientific (or other) problems.

• To understand what computer scientists do.

• To acquire an appreciation of how computer

science applies to other areas of research.

CSCA20 - Content• Intended for students with no

programming experience.

• Introduction to

• algorithms

• programming using Python

• Data analysis and plotting

• Database design

CSCA20 - Course WorkTextbook – ebook or hardcopy

“Practical Programming 2nd Edition” by Campbell, Gries, Lockwood, Montojoand Wilson

http://pragprog.com/book/gwpy2/practical-programming

Labs (10%)2 hour labs every week, starting in week 2.

Assignments (40%)4 assignments - 10% each

CSCA20 - TestsQuizzes (15%)

Quizzes in weeks 4, 7 and 11 during lab time.

Think of quizzes as practice for the final.

Final (35%)

You need to score at least 40% to pass the

Course.

Labs

• 2 hour labs every week starting in week

2.

• You earn 1% per lab attended up to 10%.

• This means you may miss one lab.

• These are the “tutorials” on ROSI

• Labs are your new best friend. This is

where you will learn the most!

Assignments

• Posted on the website.

• Submitted electronically.

• First assignment very short and easy

– an easy way to earn 10%.

• 2nd, 3rd and 4th assignments

progressively more challenging.

Where do I get HELP!!Labs

Ask your TA questions. Your labs are also like office hours!!

Office Hours M 11:00 - 11:45, W 11:30 – 1:00, F 12:10 - 1:00Come visit me, I want to get to know you.

Online Tutorialhttp://interactivepython.org/courselib/static/thinkcspy/index.html

Email Me •bretscher@utsc.utoronto.ca•Include a relevant subject (e.g., CSCA20 - A1 question 2).•Sign your name.

Week 1 - To Do List

Read the course information sheet and check out the website.

Order/download the text and read chapters 1 and 2

Install Python and Wing 101 (if working at home)

See the “Resource” page on the website

Computer Science

Is about problem solving and writing algorithms.

ALGORITHM (WEBSTER’S). A step-by-step procedure for solving

a problem or accomplishing some end especially by a computer

Lets Practice AlgorithmsGive the smiley face instructions to get to the star. Use Give the smiley face instructions to get to the star. Use Forward, Right, Left.Forward, Right, Left.

F x 2, RF x 2, RF x 2, LF x 2, LF x 7, RF x 7, RF x 2, R F x 2, R F, LF, LF, RF, RF, LF, LF x 2, RF x 2, RF x 3, RF x 3, RFF

Let Practice Algorithms – Take 2

F x 9, RF x 9, RF x 9, RF x 9, RF x 9, RF x 9, RF x 7, RF x 7, RF x 7, RF x 7, RF x 5, RF x 5, RF x 5, RF x 5, RF x 3, RF x 3, RF x 3, RF x 3, RFF

Let Practice Algorithms – Take 2

F x 9, RF x 9, RF x 9, RF x 9, RF x 9, RF x 9, RF x 7, RF x 7, RF x 7, RF x 7, RF x 5, RF x 5, RF x 5, RF x 5, RF x 3, RF x 3, RF x 3, RF x 3, RFF

F x 9, RF x 9, R

stepssteps 9 9(F x (F x stepssteps, R) x 2, R) x 2stepssteps 7 7(F x (F x stepssteps, R) x 2, R) x 2stepssteps 5 5(F x (F x stepssteps, R) x 2, R) x 2stepssteps 3 3(F x (F x stepssteps, R) x 2, R) x 2

FF

Algorithms – Take 2

F x 9, RF x 9, Rstepssteps 9 9

(F x (F x stepssteps, R) x 2, R) x 2stepssteps 7 7(F x (F x stepssteps, R) x 2, R) x 2stepssteps 5 5(F x (F x stepssteps, R) x 2, R) x 2stepssteps 3 3(F x (F x stepssteps, R) x 2, R) x 2

FF

F x 9, R F x 9, R stepssteps 9 9

while while stepssteps > 2 repeat: > 2 repeat:(F x (F x stepssteps, R) x 2, R) x 2stepssteps stepssteps - 2 - 2

FF

F x 9, RF x 9, Rstepssteps 9 9

(F x (F x stepssteps, R) x 2, R) x 2stepssteps stepssteps - 2 - 2(F x (F x stepssteps, R) x 2, R) x 2stepssteps stepssteps - 2 - 2(F x (F x stepssteps, R) x 2, R) x 2stepssteps stepssteps - 2 - 2(F x (F x stepssteps, R) x 2, R) x 2

FF

Python

• Python is the language we will use to write our algorithms.

• We use Wing 101: a free environment and editor for coding in Python.