Course Information

Course Number and Section: CS:3110:0001 (22C:104:001)

Semester, Year: Spring 2015

Time: 11:30pm - 12:20pm, Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Location: 217 MacLean Hall

Instructor: Tianbao Yang

Office hours: 1:20pm - 2:20pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday or by appointment

DEO: Alberto Segre, 14D MacLean Hall

Course Description and Objective

Description: An introduction to programming, computing principles and fundamental aspects of computer science. Topics covered include programming in Python, fundamentals of relational databases, algorithmic idioms, computational complexity, and example applications. This course is for graduate students only; undergraduates should enroll in CS:2110 instead.

Texts

Introduction to Computation and Programming Using Python, Revised and Expanded Edition, Guttag, The MIT Press ©2013 $25.0 ISBN: 9780262525008
University Book Store, Iowa Book

Grading System and the Use of +/-

The plus/minus grading system will be used.

Percentage of Final Grade

Participation of class: 5%
Homework assignments: 45%
Exams 50% (Mid-term 20%, Final 30%)
Note: Expectations for auditing students: 60%+ of the homework assignments and class participation. Date for the mid-term exam will be announced one month before. Date for final exam to be announced by Registrar.

Late Policy

Homework is worth full credit at the beginning of class on the due date (later if an extension has been granted). It is worth at most 90% credit for the next 24 hours. It is worth at most 50% credit for the following 24 hours. It is worth 25% credit after that. If you need an extension, please ask for it (by sending email to the instructor) as soon as the need for it is known. Extensions that are requested promptly will be granted more liberally. You must turn in all assignments.

Documenting your programs

For assignments that contain programming components, you must submit via the appropriate ICON dropbox, a zip file containing:

• your program code (and test data files, when appropriate)
• a short README file documenting the
  • the status of your program (e.g. you think it works completely, it compiles but doesn't run, it compiles and runs but doesn't work in certain cases, etc.)
  • what hardware platform(s) you tested it on
  • how to run the the program (e.g. what is the name of the main procedure, what kind of arguments does it expect, in what order, etc.?)

A Note on Collaboration

Homework The purpose of student collaboration is to facilitate learning, not to circumvent it. Studying the material in groups is strongly encouraged. It is also allowed to seek help from other students in understanding the material needed to solve a particular homework problem, provided no written notes are shared, or are taken at that time, and provided learning is facilitated, not circumvented. The actual solution must be done by each student alone, and the student should be ready to reproduce their solution upon request. Any form of help or collaboration must be disclosed in full by all involved on the first page of their assignment. In any case, you must exercise academic integrity.

Resources for Students

Students will find the Writing Center and the Speaking Center very useful for this course; the Tutor Iowa site is also very valuable for students seeking extra help:

Writing Center: http://www.uiowa.edu/~writingc/


Speaking Center: http://clas.uiowa.edu/rhetoric/for-students/speaking-center


Tutor Iowa: http://tutor.uiowa.edu/


Computers: For implementing homework assignments, there are Windows and Linux PCs in 301 MLH, though many of you will find it most convenient to use Python on your own machines. For the Windows machines, your HawkID and password will work right away. For the Linux machines, you first need enable CLAS Linux machine use by entering your HawkID and password here: https://mail.divms.uiowa.edu/clas_linux.
You can access departmental Linux machines remotely using a secure shell program (e.g. you can download a good one, SecureCRT, from the ITS software download site. Rather than trying to remember the names of particular departmental Linux machines, you should simply use "linux.divms.uiowa.edu" as the host name when you connect.
If you access departmental Linux machines using a simple secure shell program, you will not be able to run the IDLE or other IDEs that have GUIs. It is possible to run IDEs while remotely logged in to departmental Linux machines if you are using NoMachine or similar software that provides appropriate windowing support. For many of you, however, it would be simpler and more effective to install and run python (and an IDE like IDLE) directly on whatever machine you are using.


Software: The course software (Python and IDLE IDE for Python) is available on the Windows and Linux computers in 301 MLH.
You can download and install Python and IDLE on your own computer from http://www.python.org/download.
During the second part of the course, we will probably need several third-party modules (libraries). Sometimes these modules are not easy for people to install. Enthought's Canopy is a free Python with IDE that has a large number of important modules pre-installed. The basic version is here, but doesn't have a *lot* of modules pre-installed. To get the full set of modules, you need to get the free-for-academic-use version here.


Online Resources:
Online Python Tutor website allows stepping forward (and backward) through Python code and visualizing variable values as they are updated.
The official Python website.
Coding Bat - interactive python exercises

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Important Policies and Procedures

Administrative Home
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the administrative home of this course and governs matters such as the add/drop deadlines, the second-grade-only option, and other related issues. Different colleges may have different policies. Questions may be addressed to 120 Schaeffer Hall, or see the CLAS Academic Policies Handbook.

Electronic Communication
University policy specifies that students are responsible for all official correspondences sent to their University of Iowa e-mail address (@uiowa.edu). Faculty and students should use this account for correspondence (Operations Manual, III.15.2. Scroll down to k.11).

Accommodations for Disabilities
A student seeking academic accommodations should first register with Student Disability Services and then meet with the course instructor privately in the instructor's office to make particular arrangements. See www.uiowa.edu/~sds/ for more information.

Academic Honesty
All students taking CLAS courses have, in essence, agreed to the College's Code of Academic Honesty: "I pledge to do my own academic work and to excel to the best of my abilities, upholding the IOWA Challenge. I promise not to lie about my academic work, to cheat, or to steal the words or ideas of others; nor will I help fellow students to violate the Code of Academic Honesty." Any student committing academic misconduct is reported to the College and placed on disciplinary probation or may be suspended or expelled (CLAS Academic Policies Handbook).

CLAS Final Examination Policies
The date and time of every final examination is announced by the Registrar generally by the tenth day of classes. No exams of any kind are allowed during the last week of classes. All students should plan on being at the UI through the final examination period. It is the student's responsibility to know the date, time, and place of the final exam.

Making a Suggestion or a Complaint
Students with a suggestion or complaint should first visit with the instructor (and the course supervisor), and then with the departmental DEO. Complaints must be made within six months of the incident (CLAS Academic Policies Handbook).

Understanding Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment subverts the mission of the University and threatens the well-being of students, faculty, and staff. All members of the UI community have a responsibility to uphold this mission and to contribute to a safe environment that enhances learning. Incidents of sexual harassment should be reported immediately. See the UI Comprehensive Guide on Sexual Harassment for assistance, definitions, and the full University policy.

Reacting Safely to Severe Weather
In severe weather, class members should seek appropriate shelter immediately, leaving the classroom if necessary. The class will continue if possible when the event is over. For more information on Hawk Alert and the siren warning system, visit the Public Safety website.