1. Elements of Computing Science I
Winter 2018 CISC101
9/21/2018
CISC101
Elements of Computing Science I
Course Web Site:
The lecture outlines and other stuff will be (and is) posted.
Welcome!
note the “f”
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod
Prof. Alan McLeod

2. Today
Introduction.
Administrivia: grading, labs, assignments, resources.
What the course is about.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

3. CISC101 Introductions
Me: Prof. Alan McLeod, Queen’s School of Computing
GOO 550
Office hours:
TBA
TAs: Junaid Abdul Jalal, Matthew Pollock, Michael Alarcon, Peter Scherzinger, Rory Bell.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

4. Queen’s School of Computing
(Linked to main page of course web site.)
Lots of info about what the School is all about, what’s happening and undergrad and graduate programs and courses.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

5. Labs No scheduled lab this week – start next week.
In JEFF155, 3 hours long, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:30, Mondays at 6:30pm.
TA will be there to help with course material, assignments and exercises.
You will write onQ quizzes in the lab.
Please fill out the onQ quiz to indicate which lab section you are in.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

6. Grading Grading scheme:
30% best three out of four quizzes, written in the lab (weeks 4, 6, 9 and 11)
25% five assignments (due Fridays, weeks 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12)
45% one final exam
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

7. Quizzes Written in the lab, electronic – in onQ, ~45 minutes, no aids.
Will focus on lecture material.
Later you will need to read and write Python code.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

8. Assignment Rules Assignments require you to write Python programs.
Exercises are good preparation.
Your code will be submitted to onQ.
Assignments are already posted.
Assignments are graded out of 20 – your mark and comments will be uploaded to onQ by your TA.
See the Assignment Submission page in the course web site.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

9. Assignment Rules, Cont. Late submission:
If you miss the Friday, 7pm deadline you can submit late up to 7pm on the following Wednesday (five days).
Minimum of 2 marks removed.
Your mark will be reduced by 2 marks per day late, unless you can prove extenuating circumstances, such as a serious illness.
Don’t leave your assignment to the night before!!!
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

10. Assignment Rules, Cont. “Group Efforts”:
I encourage you to discuss any difficulties with your peers, myself and your TA.
You may look at other people’s code.
You cannot copy other people’s code!
Submissions will be electronically and physically checked for code duplication.
If you are caught with duplicated code – all parties with such code will get zero on the assignment, and you may get prosecuted for a failure of academic integrity.
You will not learn anything if you copy someone else's code!
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

11. Resources Recommended text:
Nice, gentle introduction to programming and Python.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

12. Interactive, Electronic Textbook
Also recommended.
Instructions on getting access to this text have been updated in the Resources page.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

13. Resources, Cont. Previous textbooks: Getting dated… Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

14. Resources, Cont.
Older CISC101 textbooks will not refer to the Python language version 3.
Many other learning resources are available, electronic and paper – see the Resources page on the course web site.
“Should I buy the textbook?” (You ask!)
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

15. Buy or Rent the Book?
If you need to hear the material in a different way than how I teach it.
If it helps to see more examples and have more exercises to work on.
The text will be better proofed and will have more explanation than a typical web based resource.
If you find that you are struggling later on in the course.
The interactive textbook is more fun, but does not have the depth of a paper textbook.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

16. Five More Things…
Manually refresh the main page and the lecture notes pages of the course web site each time you view them.
is the best way to contact me – don’t call me. When ing try to avoid using your hotmail or gmail or non-queensu address.
Check to make sure you can access the CISC101 onQ site (Check the Student FAQ, then me (see above!) if you can’t).
Update your onQ profile.
Fill out the lab section quiz.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

17. Aside – onQ Profile... Choose your notifications and upload a picture:
The idea of the picture is to help us (me, especially!) know who you are.
Here are a few pics I have seen:
Maybe something like this would be better:
Boring, I know...
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

18. Another Thing – Snow Drill…
If you look outside and the roads do not look great (or you cannot see the road because there is too much snow!), check your and/or the course web site in case the lecture has been cancelled. Typically a “virtual lecture” will be supplied instead.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

19. Is This a “Bird Course”? No
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

20. Doesn’t say anything about:
Is This a Python Course?
So, what is this course about, anyways?
From the calendar description:
CISC101 is an "Introduction to algorithms: their definition, design, coding, and execution on computers. Intended for students who have no programming experience. All or most assignment work will be completed during lab time."
Doesn’t say anything about:
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

21. Purpose of Course, Cont.
Computers are not much use without the programs written by programmers.
Computer scientists to a lot more than just write programs of course, but this skill is pretty critical!
The best way to learn about programming is to do it – of course!
Python is a fun and easy language to learn.
Programming is a creative process…
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

22. Painting is Also Creative!
The Art of Painting by Johannes Vermeer
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

23. Learning How to Paint
If you were learning how to paint you would learn all about the paints, brushes, etc.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

24. Painting is Creative, Cont.
Eventually, you will end up with a blank canvas, a pile of fruit on a table and your teacher will say “Paint this!”
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

25. Programmer’s Blank Canvas
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

26. Purpose of Course, Cont. I will teach you about:
The basic structure and operation of the hardware we are using to express ourselves.
The fundamental parts of a computer language used to communicate with the hardware.
Some time-tested techniques used with the language to efficiently express algorithms.
Some common algorithms.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

27. I certainly could not teach you how to paint!!
Purpose of Course, Cont.
But, can I teach you how to program?
I certainly could not teach you how to paint!!
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

28. Purpose of Course, Cont. Have fun!!! You will:
Figure out how to write a program that does what you want.
Have a chance to see if you like programming.
Be exposed to other aspects of Computer Science.
Have fun!!!
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

29. Why Python?
Python is a solid language like many others: C++, C#, VB, Java, Delphi, etc.
It is:
Easy to learn.
Powerful.
Object Oriented.
Available for many platforms.
Structured the same as other modern languages.
Not named after a snake!!
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

30. Why Python, Cont. See the Tiobe Index at:
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

31. Python
Development tools for novice python programmers can be downloaded from
See the course Resources page for more information.
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod

32. What You Need to Do Decide to get the textbook or not.
Do the “Five More Things”.
Look over course web site.
Look over Resources page for other aids.
Install Python on your own computer?
me if you have any problems or questions!
Winter 2018
CISC101 - Prof. McLeod