COMP 118.0x Introduction to Programming Fall 23

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Fall 2023

James Skon, Chalmers Library 428, 740-427-5369

Section 1: Pierce 09, Tuesday, Thursday 9:40-11:00
Section 2: Chalmers 300 Tuesday, Thursday 1:10-2:30
Office hours:
- Tuesday-Thursday 8-9am, 11-12am (Chalmers 428). Book Meeting LINK
- Monday-Wednesday 1-3 pm (Location TBA) Book Meeting LINK
I also plan on eating in the cafeteria most Tuesdays and Thursdays. Let me know if you want to eat with me!

Tutoring (MSSC)

Visit MSSC website. Schedule and zoom information link.

7-10 pm Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings.

Tutors:

Replit test issue – how to fix

There is a current issue with replit, and it does not put the right files in for the tests system to work.

Hewre are instructions on how to fix: link

Alternate Python IDE

Course Overview

This course presents an introduction to computer programming intended both for those who plan to take further courses in which a strong background in computation is desirable and for those who are interested in learning basic programming principles. The course will expose the student to a variety of applications where an algorithmic approach is natural and will include both numerical and non-numerical computation. The principles of program structure and style will be emphasized. The course teaches both Python and C++ programming. Offered every semester.

An introduction to computer science and computing systems
An introduction to algorithm development and problem solvingDemos
An introduction to programming with PythonDemos
An introduction to C++
Two daily classes Tuesday and Thursday.
POGIL group activities during most classes
Regular individual lab assignments
Computer history essays weekly

Course Objectives

Learn basic principles and structures of computer programming.
Provide an understanding of the role computation can play in solving problems in various disciplines.
Become proficient in the Python and C++ programming languages.
Help students feel confident of their ability to write small programs that allow them to accomplish useful goals.
Position students so that they can compete for research projects and excel in subjects with programming components.

Texts

How To Think Like A Computer Scientist: Interactive edition (KenyonCOMP118Fall23): link. (Free online text). You need to register for a free account, and join the class.
C++ for Python Programmers (KenyonCOMP118Fall23CPP) (C++). link
Think Python 3 (TP) – This is an optional book, free to download at link. You can use it as an additional reference.

Texts 1 & 2 must be access online through a registered account on https://runestone.academy/. Create an account using your name and kenyon email address, and then register for BOTH texts. This will require signing up with one, then adding the second.

You can add the C++ for Python Programmers (KenyonCOMP118Fall23CPP book to your account by logging in to https://runestone.academy/runestone/default/courses, and then clicking on the “Enroll in a course” button on the bottom. Put in “KenyonCOMP118Fall23CPP” the course name, and hit “Apply changes”. We will do this in the last few weeks of the semester.

Methodology

This course uses a variety of learning strategies in order to both enrich and enhance learning for every student of every background, as well as to keep the course interesting. Methods include:

Group (collaborative) activities:
- POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning). Discussed below, this is a team oriented, discovery based approach to learning with small groups of students. Teams report back to the whole classroom and share their discoveries.
- In class small group programming. This is to allow learners to explore and solve a problem as a small group, such that each student engages with the material and each other, experimenting, teaching, and learning together.
Individual activities:
- Laboratory assignments. These programming assignments give each learner the opportunity to develop skill, experience, and confidence as programmers as individuals.
- Programming problem solving. These small guided exercises, based on the repl.it online programming platform, provide small problems for the learners to gain experience programming with, and are automatically checked by the environment to give immediate feedback to the learner.
- Homework Assignments. These activities, based on readings, give each student familiarity with important course concepts outside of class.
- History essays – these small writing assignments, about one a week, give each learner the change to explore computer science in its larger historical context. These are shared in class on they day they are due.
Instructional Presentation and discussion. Occasionally the instructor will give a presentation related to the course topics. These will normally include discussion, and sometime be interleaved with in-class hands on programming activities.
Pair Programming: This course may at times use a methodology called pair programming to enhance learning. This collaborative process is structured to improve learning as well as outcomes.

Group generator: https://www.randomlists.com/team-generator

Course Attendance

Given the methods of instruction, especially the group work and the hands on work, attendance in class meetings with full engagement is essential. Students are expected to attend all classes unless they have a legitimate excuse such as illness, participation in official collegiate athletic activities. In the case of any absence students are expected to contact the instructor prior to the absence. In the case of such excused absences the student will normally be required to complete course activities they missed in class. According to the Math Department’s attendance policy any student who missed six class meetings will be expelled from the course. Missing class will result in no credit that for day’s in-class activities. After one unexcused absence, each unexcused absence will lower your overall course grade by (n-1)*1% where n is the number of unexcused absence

Python 3 and C++

In this course we will be learning the Python 3 and C++ programming languages. We will be using an online programming environment repl.it. This allows you to program anywhere with any device (including smartphones and tablets!), while maintaining access to all your current and previous work.

You can also install Anaconda Python and an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) call Spyder by following these instructions: PythonInstall. Contact the instructor if you are interested in installing C++ programming environment.

POGIL

Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) is a pedagogy that is based on research on how people learn and has been shown to lead to better student outcomes in many contexts and in a variety of academic disciplines. Beyond facilitating students’ mastery of a discipline, it promotes vital educational outcomes such as communication skills and critical thinking. Its active international community of practitioners provides accessible educational development and support for anyone developing related courses.

We will be learning about POGIL early in the course, and then use this method on a daily basis.

Each activity is a link to a Google Doc. You must be logged into your Kenyon account to access. One member of the team will open the link, and make a copy in the same directory with your team name (color). The team will then work together to document the process on that document.

Useful POGIL links

POGIL ROLES:

Spokesperson/Facilitator
Process Analyst
Quality Control

Teams will normally have 3 people. On teams of less than three students some will have 2 roles

POGIL Process Analyst Report – The Process Analyst is encouraged to fill this out to give feedback to the instructor.

POGIL Feedback – complete this after every activity

POGIL Process Skills

Online resources

This course uses several online tools for learning and assessing student progress. All of these resources are free of cost but some require the creation of a login account. It is essential that everyone participaite in the associated activities as all are part of the learning process, and some are graded activities.

How To Think Like A Computer Scientist: Interactive edition (KenyonCOMP118Fall23) This is an interactive book. You must register, and complete the exercises in the assigned readings. Follow this link and register using your Kenyon email. Use “KenyonCOMP118Fall23” as the course name. You will be assigned problems in this book. You should complete all the work in assigned sections.
C++ for Python Programmers (KenyonCOMP118Fall23CPP) This is an interactive book. You must register, and complete the exercises in the assigned readings. Follow this link and register using your Kenyon email. Use “KenyonCOMP118Fall23CPP” as the course name. You will be assigned problems in this book. You should complete all the work in assigned sections.
Replit – This is an environment for learning Python and C++ that is hosted by replit.com. Regular Python and C++ exercises will be assigned as graded homework from this environment. You will receive as email invitation to join the class. You must sign up for the course, using your Kenyon Email address. For your assignments here you need to merely complete the problems and submit them by the due date. Link
Note on notifications: Every time we assign a problem you will get a notification from repl.it. (And there will be well over 100) We can’t stop the notifications, but you can. Just log into repl.it. Then click on your username in the upper right, and select account. If you scroll down to the bottom, you can open up the “Email Settings” section, and un-select the checkbox for “Receive email notifications”.
Codingame – This is a coding community that provides programming channels in the form of solving games. Please create an account here, and begin to explore it. We will begin using this early in the course.

Assignments

Due Date: All assignments are due as specified in the grading table below.

Missing Lab Assignments: Labs are an important part of this class; the effort spent on them is a crucial part of the learning process. Failure to submit labs is unacceptable: students earning 0s on two labs cannot receive a grade higher than a B- for the course; students earning three 0s on labs will receive an automatic F for the course.

Collaboration and Academic Honesty: In order to facilitate learning, students are encouraged to discuss assignments amongst themselves. Copying a solution is not, however, the same as “discussing.” A good rule of thumb is the “cup of coffee” rule. After discussing a problem, you should not take away any written record or notes of the discussion. Go have a cup of coffee or cocoa, and read the front page of the newspaper. If you can still re-create the problem solution afterward from memory, then you have learned something, and are not simply copying. (The in class assignments are exempt from this, as they are intended to be done together.)

Academic Honesty and using code you did not write: Turning in code you did not write is cheating.

You should never receive code from other students, use code from the internet, or use instructor solutions from past semesters. Any code you submit must be written entirely by you. (See the “cup of coffee” rule under collaboration.)
Likewise, “facilitating academic dishonesty” is a violation of academic honesty. Thus sharing your code with other students is also forbidden.
The instructor has tools for checking the similarity of code, and will use them periodically to see if students’ code is too similar to be explained by coincidence.
If you suspect someone has used your code, you should report it.

Academic Honesty and use of Replit: By default all programs you create on replit are public. That means anyone who can guess your username can then look at your code. This is cheating, and is not allowed for any non-collaborative assignments. You should ALWAYS set your programs to “Private” so that no one else can see them. If you leave your code public, and someone finds it and uses it, it will be flagged as a possible infraction, and you may find yourself in the difficult situation of having to explain what happened to the AIB. So please keep your work private!

Computer History Assignments: Once a week you will turn in a brief essay on some computer history fact from the Computer History Museum ( Timeline) (or other computer history source). One or two people people will be chosen each week to oraly describe what they found in 2 minutes at the beginning of class. I will ask for volunteers, but will cycle through everyone before I repeat anyone. The idea is give to us all an opportunity to explore the history of computer science, and to find something that interests each of us. Start by going to the computer history timeline, and for each assignment explore the requested years until you find something interesting. Then write up a 200-300 word essay about what you found, what you found compelling, and why you think it is significant. Write the essay in Moodle, and include a link to the item you found so it can be displayed while you share in class. These are due midnight before the day they will be presented (and appear in the calendar below)., but they will be accepted without penalty until noon on the class when they will be discussed. Late submissions will not be accepted on these assignments.

Grading

Category	%	Collaboration allowed?	Notes
History Essays	5%	No	Due by midnight the day before.
POGIL Activities	10%	Yes	You must be in class to get credit for these, except in cases of excused absence.
Individual Labs	35%	No	Due by midnight on the day due.
Homework Assignments	5%	No	Due by class on the day due. This includes questions in the interactive text ( How to think like a Computer Scientist: Interactive edition) and the assigned exercises in repl.it. Also includes questions from the other texts. Doing 80% of the problems gets to a 100% for this sections.
repl.it Problems	15%	No	These are problems within the repl.it course. These are autograded by the system, and you have as many tries as you need. Due by noon on the day due.
Quizzes	10%	No	A quiz at the beginning of each class. The quiz opens 10 minutes before class, and you are encouraged to finish the quiz prior to class starting. You must finish the quiz in the first 5-10 minutes of the class. You cannot make up quizzes, but the lowest 7 quiz scores will be dropped. Each quiz will include questions from the previous class as well as on the content of the reading assignment for that day.
Midterm(5%) Final Exam(15%)	20%	No	Taken in class during the final exam period. 2 hours in length.
TOTAL	100%

Late Assignment policy

Getting work done is essential to success in this course. Late assignments are problematic, they create a backlog of work for the student, as well as a grading backlog for the professor. Neither of these are optimal. Late assignment will be allowed, but ONLY when application has been made in advance. The following three options are permissible. The form for requesting a extention is here: Request Form.

One week extension. This is for major conflicts with academic or other college responsibilities are known of in advance, and can be planned for. For example a major assignment in another class (or classes) is overlapping with this assignment, and you believe more time will with needed. This request MUST be made at least one week before the assignment is due.
Three day extension. This is for conflicts or issues with course work or responsibilities that emerge while the assignmebnt is being worked on. For example perhaps you hit a roadblock on the assignment, or you are srtruggle to keep up with all your courses due to somethinng that was not known in advance. Appplications MUST be make at least three days before the assignment is due.
24 hour extension. This is for when you are just struggling to get it right, but almost there. This application can be made up to the due date/time.

Schedule

Create groups: Section 1, Section 2, Section 3

Date	Topics	Reading	Notes/Activities	Slides & Video	Assignments Due
Aug 24	Introduction to Computer Science and course, Introduction to POGIL Text Book.		Student Information Form POGIL Role Wheel POGIL Roles POGILQualityIndicators POGIL Process Analyst Report POGIL Activity 1 POGIL Feedback Form	Introduction Skon Slides	Create Accounts: How to think like a Computer Scientist
Aug 29	Programs, languages, simple programming Introduction to algorithms History Assignments First Python Program	Python Chapter 1	Quiz 1 POGIL Introduction Python repl.it – link repl signup	Slides Create Accounts on repl	Student Information Form
Aug 31	Input and Variables Variables, data types, names, keywords, statements and expressions, operators and operands	Python Chapter 2.1-2.7	Quiz 2 POGIL Input and Variables POGIL – Arithmetic Operations and Assignment Statements	Slides	1930s (Comp History)
Sept 5	Python Work Algorithms Formatting Data	Python Chapter 2.8-2.11	Quiz 3 Sample Repl Problem POGIL – Formatting Output Lab 0 -Fun with candy bars	Slides Formatting Tutorial
Sept 7	Decision Making in Python	Python Chapter 3.1-3.6, 7.1-7.3	Quiz 4 POGIL – Boolean Expressions	Slides	Python Ch 2.13 Lab 0 – Fun with Candy Bars 1940s(Comp History) HW1 – Repl.it:1.1-1.7
Sept 12	Selection in Python	Python Chapter 7.4-7.5	Quiz 5 Codingames POGIL – If then else	Slides Selection	Codingames HW2 – Repl.it:2.1-2.7
Sept 14	Looping in Python. (Ignore xrange(). It does not exist in Python 3)	Loops	Quiz 6 POGIL – While Loops Lab 1 – Rivers Triangle	While Loops Slides .	1950s(Comp Hist)
Sept 19	For Loops Nested Selection, Strings	Python Chapter 7.6-7.7, 9.1-9.9	Quiz 7 Kattis – Midterm POGIL – FOR Loops POGIL Nested If-else statements More fun: Computing Loan Payoff	For Loops Nested If Slides .	HW 3 – Repl.it:2.8-2.C

Sept 21	Python Turtle Graphics, Strings	Python Chapter 4.1-4.6, 9.10-9.19	Quiz 8 Practice Kattis Contest POGIL – Turtles Hands On with Turtles	Turtle Guide Turtles Choose Random Color Slides .	Lab 1 – Rivers HW4 – Repl.it 3.2-3.9 1960s
Sept 26	Built in and Void Functions	Python Chapter 5.1-4, Chapter 6.1-6.5	Quiz 9 POGIL Built-In Functions POGIL Void Functions	Functions Slides .	HW5 – Repl.it 5.1-5.7, 3.A-3.O
Sept 28	Functions, local variables, parameters Strings	Python Chapter 6.6-6.10, 7.8, 8.1-3	Quiz 10 POGIL Functions Returning Values Turtle Scalable Object Start Lab 3	Variable Scope Slides Nested Loops Strings Slides	HW6 – Repl.it 5.8-5.C Python 4.11 Ex 1,2,5,6,9 1970s
Oct 3	No Class – take home midterm	All previous chapters	Midterm Link		Python Ch 7.10 Ex 1,2,3,6,7,8,9 HW7 – Repl.it 4.1-4.A
Oct 10	Reading Files	Python Chapter 11.1-11.5	Quiz 12 POGIL Reading Files Emily Dickinson Experiment	Reading Files Slides	Lab 2 – Turtle Drawing Python Ch 6.13 Ex 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10 1980s
Oct 12	Writing Files	Python Chapter 11.6.11.7	Quiz 13 POGIL Writing Files Baby Names	Writing Files Slides	Lab 3 – Bouncing Balls Python Ch 5.7: 16, 17, 18. HW8 – Repl.it 6.1-6.A
Oct 17	Lists, Passing lists	Python Chapter 10.1-10.5	Quiz 14 POGIL – Lists More Emily Dickinson	Lists List Functions Slides . Video	1990-94 Python Ch 9 Ex 1-12
Oct 19	Lists and Strings, List Comprehension	Python Chapter 10.6-10.20	Quiz 15 POGIL – More Lists and Strings Mid-semester reflection and evaluation	List Comprehension Slides	Python Ch 11.9 Ex 1-5 HW9 – Repl.it 6.B-6.G
Oct 24	Dictionary	Python Chapter 12.1-12.5	Quiz 16 POGIL Dictionary Exercises	Slides . Dictionaries	Lab 4 Word Game 1995-99
Oct 26	Dictionary	Python Chapter 12.1-12.5	Quiz 17 Dictionary Activity Lab 5	Dictionaries Slides	Python Ch 10 EX 1,2,3 HW10 – Repl.it 7.1-7.D
Oct 31	Python Classes	Python Chapter 17.1-17.6	Quiz 18	Slides .	2000s
Nov 2	Python Classes	Python Chapter 17.7-17.9	Quiz 19 POGIL Classes Model 1 Code Model 2 Code Model 3 Code	Slides . Classes Tutorial	Lab 5 Word Analysis Python Ch 10 Ex 4,5,6,7,8,11,12
Nov 7	Python Classes, OOP	Sign up for the C++ textbook at runestone	Quiz 20	Classes Example 2Dimensional Array Code Solution	Python Ch 12 Ex 1,2,3,4,5 2010s
Nov 9	Introduction to C++, First program	CPP Chapter 1	Quiz 21	C++ Intro	HW12- Repl.it A.1-A.8 CPP Ch 1.6, 1.8
Nov 14	C++ Data types, control structures	CPP Chapter 2, 3	Quiz 22 C++ POGIL Intro	Slides	CPP Ch 2.7, 2.8 HW11- Repl.it 8.1-8.7 HW13 – Repl.it CPP 1-7
Nov 16	C++ Strings, Arrays, Vectors	CPP 5.1-5.4	Quiz 23 C++ POGIL Vectors and Arrays	Slides	Lab 6 – Word Classes CPP Ch 3.4,3.7,4.7 Matching HW14 – Repl.it CPP 8-17
Nov 28	C++ Functions	CPP Chapter 4	Quiz 24 C++ POGIL Functions Type Conversion	Slides	Lab 7 – Rivers C++ HW15 – Repl.it CPP 18-21
Nov 30	C++ Files	CPP 6.1-6.6	Quiz 25 POGIL C++ Files Emily Dickinson Count Emily Dickinson Search Baby Names	Slides
Dec 5	C++ Classes	C++ Classes Reading C++ Classes Tutorial	Quiz 26 POGIL C++ Classes .	Slides	HW16 – Repl.it CPP 22-26
Dec 7	C++ STL		Quiz 27 POGIL C++ STL Random Numbers in C++	Slides	HW17 – Repl.it CPP 27-35 Lab 8 – Word Game C++
	Final Exam On your own: Any time Tues Dec 12 In class: Thur Dec 14, 6:30 pm, Hayes 311 Fri Dec 15, 8:30 am, Pierce 09		Final Exam Signup Form

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All employees, including faculty, are considered Responsible Employees and must notify the College’s Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator with any relevant information.

For further information, please refer to the following Kenyon College policies:

Sexual Misconduct & Harassment: Title IX, VAWA, Title VII:
https://www.kenyon.edu/directories/offices-services/ocr/title-ix-vawa/kenyon-policies/title-ix-policy/

Discrimination & Discriminatory Harassment Policy (non sex or gender):
https://www.kenyon.edu/directories/offices-services/ocr/discrimination/

ADA & Section 504:
https://www.kenyon.edu/directories/offices-services/ocr/discrimination/504-ada-grievance/student-grievance-procedure-resolving-complaints-under-ada-section-504/

Disabilities

If you have any disability and therefore may have need for some type of accommodation in order to participate fully in this class, please feel free to discuss your concerns in private with Erin Salva, director of Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS). (phone: (740) 427-5453).

Statement on Title IX

All employees, including faculty, are considered Responsible Employees and must notify the College’s Civil Rights & Title IX Coordinator with any relevant information.

For further information, please refer to the following Kenyon College policies:

Sexual Misconduct & Harassment: Title IX, VAWA, Title VII:

https://www.kenyon.edu/directories/offices-services/ocr/title-ix-vawa/kenyon-policies/title-ix-policy/

Discrimination & Discriminatory Harassment Policy (non sex or gender):

https://www.kenyon.edu/directories/offices-services/ocr/discrimination/

ADA & Section 504:

https://www.kenyon.edu/directories/offices-services/ocr/discrimination/504-ada-grievance/student-grievance-procedure-resolving-complaints-under-ada-section-504/

Tutoring (MSSC)

[Details to come with hours and location]

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