Introduction to Computer Science COMP 112 2017 T1 . David Streader Engineering & Computer Science Victoria University of Wellington

Introducing the Course. COMP112 is two years old. Designed as a first university course in Computer Science for students who have already done some programming, and already know much of COMP 102 Driven by the new NCEA standards in Programming & CS Exciting because it is a course full of students who understand something of what this subject is about. No programming experience COMP 102 COMP 103 Programming experience eg level 3 NCEA DT programming standards COMP 112

Introducing People. Students: Group 1: Done NCEA level 3 DT standards in programming and maybe Computer Science. Group 2: Learned programming by themselves (not in a classroom) Group 3: Learned programming in another course, institution, school course….. Course is for all of you, but targeted at group 1.

What did language(s) did you learn? What programming languages have you used? (find out from the people around you). COMP 112 will teach you: The Java programming language (used in later courses) More about programming Exercises toutching aspects of computer science such as Graphics Artificial Intelligence Networking Relational Databases

What does COMP112 assume? COMP112 assumes programming experience up to this level: variables, loops, conditionals (ifs) input and output writing functions/procedures/methods with parameters lists or arrays little bit of event driven input, object oriented design Doesn’t care what language you used (as long as it is not drag-and-drop). What if you haven’t done enough to cope? Tell us!!! COMP102 may be better for you. We will talk to you in labs to find out how you are doing. We will let you switch back to COMP102 during the first two weeks. We may be able to extend this to the first 5 weeks.

Does it matter if you aren’t …. We don’t assume you have been programming since you were small We don’t assume you spend all you life programming and configuring computers. We don’t assume you to be male or scocially inadequate.

What will you do in COMP112? Design and write lots of little programs for a wide variety of tasks. 1st five weeks: four fairly small programs, getting up to speed in Java Rest of course: three larger programs for Graphics: bunch of photoshop-like tools for images Networks: build an IRC client (chat program for real IRC services) Databases: Program to interface to a Relational Database. Several exercises on other aspects of Computer Science. Stream programming is up can coming and we hope to add some work on this.

Work hard for you. Not for us. The shift from school to university is a major cultural shift that some students fail to make A degree can only open a door to a job. But to keep the job you must be good at what you do Passing your degree with out learning is very self destructive.

Your attitude and Your success If you believe that you intelligence has been given to you by a fairy godmother and is now fixed then you: are likely to not work very hard If you believe that intelligence is strongly influenced by the effort you put in then you: are more likely to work hard Fear of humiliation changes your behavior and limits your ability to learn Success follows Happiness! Research clearly shows that your attitude will significantly effect your likelihood of success! So view intelligence like weight lifting as improved with effort. What you are today is not what you are tomorrow.

Course Organisation Lectures Wed 14:10-15:00 MCLT101 Thur,Fri 13:10-14:00 SUMT228 Wed,Thur -Present new ideas, techniques, examples Fri - Codeing ideas Optional Tutorial/Review Session May offer a tutorial from third week.

University Study

Course Web Site An essential resource for the course: http://ecs.victoria.ac.nz/Courses/COMP112_2017T1 Course information, announcements, handouts, videos Lab Assignment details (times, dates, handouts, files, ...) Forum, for questions and discussion Info about doing work at home. Java documentation Other useful links Primary administrative communication channel.

People Lecturers (Academic/content issues) David Streader Office : CO 260 email : david.streader@ecs.vuw.ac.nz Senior Tutor (Administrative issues, esp labs) Zarinah Amin Office: CO 252 email : Zarinah.Amin@ecs.vuw.ac.nz Tutors (Help in labs or via online help system) Range of Undergraduates and Graduates Technical Staff (Reporting problems with the computers) email : bugs@ecs.vuw.ac.nz School Office (Forgotten passwords) Simonette School Office: CO 358

Lab assignments Seven lab assignments hand out on Tuesdays at 13:30. Due Thursday 9:00 4 assignments: 1 week each 3 assignments: approx. 2 weeks each. Apply material from lectures and text book to practical programming problems. This is where your learning happens! Done partly in scheduled lab sessions Further work required: expect 5 hours outside labs any of the ECS labs, on your home computer

Scheduled Labs A weekly 2-hr lab, in CO 242/243 Tutors present to help. Start Next week. First assignment is a real assignment! Sign up online Help Desk TBA

Text Book and Handouts No assigned Text Book COMP102 & COMP103 text book: Java Foundations Lewis, DePasquale, Chase May be a useful resource. The lectures complement the text, not replace it. Neither lectures nor text will cover all the details you need! You need to go and find things out! Handouts Course outline, Lecture slides, Assignments On COMP112 web page. Hope to video record the lectures.

Tests and Exams Terms Test: Exam: 15% Fri 5th May time to be arranged 55% Date tba (between 13 June and 2 July)

Read the Course Outline!!! Assessment Read the Course Outline!!! Mandatory Course Requirement: 40% for at least 6 of the assignments. Final Grade: Lab assigs 1-4: 12% (3% each) Lab assigs 5-7: 18% (6% each) Terms Test: 15% (mark boosted to exam mark, if better) Exam: 50% To pass the course, you must: Satisfy the Mandatory Requirement. Get overall grade of C- or better. Note for returning students: Passing grades now C-, C, … A, A+

Withdrawal dates Early withdrawal with refund: before 18 March no consequences to early withdrawal Standard withdrawal without refund: 18 March – 18 May Withdrawal recorded No grade recorded on transcript Withdrawal counts as a fail for determining "Satisfactory Academic Progress" Late withdrawal with Dean's permission: after 19 May Requires permission of Associate Dean Normally given only when special circumstances arise after 19 May.

Plagiarism (Cheating) You must not present anybody else’s work as if it were your own work: Basic principle of academic honesty. If you declare any work from someone else, then it isn’t plagiarism!!! In COMP112: We encourage you to talk to each other and help each other understand and solve problems BUT The code you submit should be yours. If you got some of the code from the web or someone else, you must put a comment in your code saying that.

Cheating in the assignments. Assignments are primarily for learning, not assessing Cheating in the assignments is not worth it! You won't learn, so you will probably fail. If caught, you'll lose marks --- or worse. Assignments have a fairly small contribution to your grade.

Lab Facilities All scheduled labs are in CO242/243 Can use other ECS labs Can use home computers. Lab Hours: 24/7 Need ID card to access in evenings and weekends The labs are for getting work done Don’t prevent other people from working If you want to play around, go somewhere else Read the lab rules!

Where to go for Help Depends on the kind of help needed Staff: Lecturers, Senior Tutor, tutors Forum Questions, answers, comments, discussion. Online help system. ECS School Office: Student Services: http://www.vuw.ac.nz/st_services/ Science/Engineering/Arch&Des Awhina programme The Web

What to do NOW! Sign up for the labs Read the course outline. Note: You need to be registered for the course (a) to sign up for a lab (b) to be able to use the ECS school computers Read the course outline. Read Assignment 1 before your lab session You can start on the assignment before the lab session if you wish.