1. CS-1004 — Introduction to Programming for Non-Majors
Professor Hugh C. Lauer CS-1004 — Introduction to Programming for Non-Majors
(Slides include materials from Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science, 2nd edition, by John Zelle and copyright notes by Prof. George Heineman of Worcester Polytechnic Institute)
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
Introduction

2. Welcome to CS-1004 Introduction … … to Computer Programming
No specific computing background assumed
General High school education and basic math
Familiarity with Word, Excel, computer games, keyboard, etc., helpful
Need to do computing in your own field!
… to Computer Programming
How to instruct a computer to do something specific for your needs …
… in your own field
… for Non-Majors
Not CS, IMGD Tech, most RBE, some BCB, etc.
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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3. CS-1004 vs. CS-1101/1102 How many … CS-1101/1102
Know how to drive a car?
Use of Word and Excel
Know how to drive a stick shift?
Advanced features of Word Formulas in Excel
Could change a tire if necessary?
This course
Could change the oil if necessary?
Could break down and rebuild an automatic transmission?
… or design a new one?
CS-1101/1102
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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4. CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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5. This Course Python programming language Doing things!
Specifically, Python 3.4
Doing things!
Getting a program to work at all
Building up your reflexes!
Debugging
Thinking computationally
What you could do with your data …
… if only you could compute on it!
Preparation for next CS courses for non-majors
CS-220X
CS-2301
Also CS Minor
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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6. Courses for CS Minor Other courses for CS Majors
CS 3043 Social Impl. of Info. Processing
CS 2102 Object Oriented Design
CS 220X Non-Major Building SW Apps with OO OR
CS 2022/ MA 2201 Discrete Mathematics
CS 2223 Algorithms
CS 2303 Sys. Prog. Concepts
CS 2301 Sys. Prog. For Non-majors OR
CS 3133 Foundations of Comp. Science
CS 3431 Database Systems I
CS 3041 Human Comp. Interaction
CS 3733 Software Engineering
CS 2011 Mach. Org. & Assem. Lang.
Artificial Intelligence
CS 4233
CS 3013 Operating Systems
CS 3516 Computer Networks
Other courses for CS Majors
CS 4515
CS 4513 CS 4516
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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7. Outline for Today Introduction Logistics
Discussion: What is Programming?
Our first program
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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8. Logistics Lectures:– Quizzes:– No make-up quizzes!
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 8:00-9:00 AM
Lower Fuller Auditorium
Overflow:– Fuller 320 (live streaming)
No class on Monday, September 1 (Labor Day)
Quizzes:–
Every Thursday from Sept 4  Oct 16
At start of class time. Approx 20 minutes (except last quiz)
You may start as soon as you arrive!
Stay in seat when you are finished
Best five out of seven
No make-up quizzes!
See Professor if you have to be away
e.g., interviews, projects, etc.
Let me know ASAP if you are sick/need to be away
We will figure something out
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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9. Logistics (continued)
Lab sections
Goddard 012:– 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 4:00 PM
Higgins 230:– 11:00 AM
Attendance Counts!
Must attend your own, registered session
Space not guaranteed in later sections if you oversleep!
Waitlist:–
12 students at time of this writing!
Will operate an overflow room — Fuller 320
Seats in Lower Fuller Auditorium
First-come, First-served
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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10. Course Survey Please complete ASAP Leave at front table
All students should complete this:
Both Registered and Waitlisted
Note: use your WPI ID!
Not the nine-digit serial number on your ID card.
Reason:– all of the tools and databases for administering the course are indexed by ID
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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11. Names and Faces It is in your own interest that I know who you are.
Class pictures
Students who speak up in class usually get more favorable grades than those who don’t
When speaking in class, please identify yourselves
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12. Questions?
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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13. Teaching staff Ph. D. Carnegie-Mellon, 1972-73
Dissertation “Correctness in Operating Systems”
Faculty at University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Approximately 30 years in industry in USA
WPI since 2006
21 US patents issued
2 seminal contributions to Computer Science
Hugh C. Lauer
Adjunct Professor
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14. TAs and SAs Zhongfang Zhuang Alex Chen Samantha Swartz Jonathan Wu
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15. MASH leader
Tim DeFreitas
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16. Textbook
John Zelle, “Python Programming: an introduction to Computer Science, Second Edition”, Franklin, Beedle, & Associates, 2010
$22.48 from Amazon!
Reading Assignment — §1.1 – 1.5
By tomorrow!
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17. CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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18. What is Python? Created in 1989 by Guido van Rossum
Originally as a scripting language
Since then, has grown to broad user base
Many scientific and engineering applications
Many 3rd-party packages — more than 45,000
Simple, easy to learn
Extremely rich in concepts and capabilities
Intelligent about numerical calculations …
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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19. Grading 40% quizzes 40% Programming assignments
Final quiz is worth 2 times any other quiz
40% Programming assignments
Roughly equal in weight (??)
20% Class and Lab participation
Helping each other
Contributing to discussion groups
Asking questions & asking for help
It is in your interest that the Professor and TAs know you by name
Please don’t be embarrassed/annoyed if we ask you often
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20. Grading Emphasis How much you grow during this term!
HOW you solve the programming problem — NOT the resulting program
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21. Policies: Programming Assignments
Team work
First programming assignment is individual
Remaining assignments are 2-person teams
Turnin
Assignments due at 6:00 pm on due date
Electronic turn-ins using web-based Turnin (unless otherwise specified)
Late assignments
5% per hour for the first two hours
10% for each additional hour
Based on timestamp in Turnin
CS-2011, D-Term 2014
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22. Policies: Programming Assignments (continued)…
Conflict exams, other irreducible conflicts
Make PRIOR arrangements with Prof. Lauer
Notifying us well ahead of time shows maturity and makes us like you more (and thus to work harder to help you out of your problem)
Appealing grades
Within 7 days of completion of grading
Labs: to the staff mailing list
Quizzes: Talk to Prof. Lauer
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23. Link to be provided after first lecture!
Getting Help
Class Web Page:
Complete schedule of lectures, quizzes, and assignments
Copies of lectures, assignments, exams, solutions
Clarifications to assignments
myWPI
Repository for copyright materials (lecture notes)
Lecture Capture
Lectures will be recorded using WPI’s Echo Lecture Capturing system.
Can be viewed at
Link to be provided after first lecture!
CS-2011, D-Term 2014
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24. Getting Help Course mailing list: cs1004-all@cs.wpi.edu
Use as discussion list
Staff mailing list:
Use this for ALL communication with the teaching staff
Send to individual instructors or TAs only to schedule appointments
Office hours (Prof. Lauer):
Monday, 1:30 – 3:30 PM Also: see course web- site
Tuesday, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Thursday, 10:00 – 11:00 AM
Friday, 1:30 – 2:30 PM
1:1 Appointments
You can schedule 1:1 appointments with Professor or any of the TAs at other times
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25. Ground Rule #1 There are no “stupid” questions.
It is a waste of your time and the class’s time to proceed when you don’t understand the basic terms.
If you don’t understand it, someone else probably doesn’t it, either. 25
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26. Ground Rule #2 Help each other!
Even when a project or assignment is specified as individual, ask your friends or classmates about stuff you don’t understand.
It is a waste of your time try to figure out some obscure detail on your own when there are lots of resources around.
When you have the answer, write it in your own words (or own coding style). 26
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27. WPI Honesty Policy What is cheating? What is NOT cheating? …
Sharing code: by copying and pasting, supplying a file
Coaching: helping your friend to write a program, line by line
Copying code from previous course or from elsewhere on WWW
Only allowed to use code we supply
What is NOT cheating?
Explaining how to use systems or tools
Helping others with abstract design issues
Working out a problem together on a whiteboard, back of napkin, etc.
Typing it in yourself …
Unless otherwise specified!
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28. WPI Honesty Policy (continued)…
It is a violation of the WPI Academic Honesty Policy to submit someone else’s work as your own.
It is not a violation of WPI’s Academic Honesty Policy to ask for help!
Classmates, TAs, friends, mentors, …
Explanations of things you don’t understand
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29. Special Rule for this Class
You may discuss problems with anyone
Unless otherwise specified!
You may jointly working out solutions on whiteboard, back of envelope, napkin, etc.
You MUST write it down with pen, pencil, etc., and then TYPE IT YOURSELF into a program file
You may not copy and paste from an electronic version.
WHY?
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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30. Questions? Cheating Penalty First offense:– Subsequent offenses:–
Homework grade reduced by entire value of homework project
I.e., a negative score!
Letter to Dean of Students Office
Subsequent offenses:–
Campus Hearing Board
Questions?
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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31. Note on Quizzes Open book, open notes
Many students have electronic textbooks
Kindle
Tablet
Laptop
Okay to consult electronic textbook
May NOT connect to network, web, etc.
CS-2011, D-Term 2014
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32. Work practices 1.5 – 2 hours per day Every day of the week
Including weekends
Like learning a (spoken) language!
CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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33. Welcome to CS-1004 Let’s get to work! CS-1004, A-Term 2014
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