CITS1401 Problem Solving and Programming

Introduction and Admin

Semester 1, 2012

A/Prof Lyndon WhileSchool of Computer Science & Software Engineering

The University of Western Australia

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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 the object-oriented paradigm of

software construction

Computer Science is no more about computers than Astronomy is about telescopes. (Edsger Dijkstra)Computer Science is no more about computers than Astronomy is about telescopes. (Edsger Dijkstra)

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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!Problem solving and programming are like swimming and juggling: practice is everything!

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People & places

• Unit coordinator: A/Prof Lyndon While

• Consultation times: 3–4 pm Tuesdays

• Lectures: – 1–2 pm Mondays in Ross LT– Noon–1pm Thursdays in Wilsmore LT– All lectures are recorded and available via LMS– The slides are also available online via LMS

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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

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Workshop

• Workshops are at 2–3 pm Tuesdays in Blakers LT, 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!The only stupid question is the one that isn’t asked!

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Online

• Everything that is distributed in CITS1401 will be available from

– The only exception is that the lecture recordings and slides are available via LMS

• Nothing else will be available via LMS

• To make a query in CITS1401, or to initiate discussion on any relevant topic, go to

https://secure.csse.uwa.edu.au/run/help1401https://secure.csse.uwa.edu.au/run/help1401

http://undergraduate.csse.uwa.edu.au/courses/CITS1401http://undergraduate.csse.uwa.edu.au/courses/CITS1401

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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

READ FIRST: if the answer is not there, THEN POSTREAD FIRST: if the answer is not there, THEN POST

DO NOT post code to help1401 if it is relevant to an assessmentDO NOT post code to help1401 if it is relevant to an assessment

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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.When an announcement has been made in these three places, we will assume that you are aware of it.

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Text and other resources

• Fundamentals of Python: First Programs

• Kenneth A. Lambert

• ISBN: 9781111822705

• http://undergraduate.csse.uwa.edu.au/units/CITS1401/resources/

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Development environment

• In the lab you will be using the Python 3.2 IDLE available from python.org– An integrated software environment where you can

create, edit, debug, and execute 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-upNote that all work submitted for assessment will be tested on the lab set-up

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Assessment

• Assessment is based on both – understanding of fundamental concepts – practical problem-solving and programming skills

• Mid-semester test– In the lecture on 16 April (Week 7), 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%

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Passing and satisfactory progress

• To pass CITS1401, you must achieve– At least 50% overall, and– Satisfactory progress: at least 40% in

Project 1 and the test combined, and– At least 40% in the final exam

• Students who fail to make satisfactory progress will be notified in writing by the end of Week 10 and will be excluded from the final exam

Everyone in CITS1401 is capable of passing, but history suggests that 20% of you will fail – who do you want to be?Everyone in CITS1401 is capable of passing, but history suggests that 20% of you will fail – who do you want to be?

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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!You are not alone: when problems arise, seek help early!

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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/resourceshttp://www.student.uwa.edu.au/learning/resources

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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 3.2 on your computer at home