INF 108: Programming for Problem Solving
Semester: Spring 2023
Time/Location: Fully Online (learn at your own pace)
Instructor: Chen Zhao
Contact: czhao4@albany.edu (Important: When emailing, please add [CINF108] at the beginning of the subject line)
Office Hour: By appointment (Online)
Course Description:
Ever thought about a problem and said “There should be an app for that”? This course provides an introduction to computer programming using Pyhon – a modern programming language – as a way to solve problems. It focuses on programming concepts and fundamentals within the context of solving real world problems. This course introduces students to computational thinking and programming as methods to solve problems related to Informatics. This is an Informatics-oriented introduction to programming; therefore, the course is designed for all students and does not require prior programming experience.
Note: This is a condensed semester schedule; instead of a 15-weeks semester, we have to do all work within 8 weeks.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, students should be able to accomplish the following outcomes:
- Understand basic programming concepts and fundamentals
- Gain the background needed to design, develop and implement computer programs
- Learn to program in Python (even if you have no programming background!) or expand your technical knowledge through hands-on development using the Python 3 programming toolset
- Practice programming in the context of solving real-world problems
- Develop your time-management skills through self-scheduling and discipline in an unstructured environment.
Textbooks & References:
There is no required textbook, but the following books may serve as useful references for different parts of the course.
- Programming for Problem Solving by Lenore G. Horowitz. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sunyalbany-programmingforproblemsolving-v2/
- Python for Everybody - Exploring Data In Python 3 by Charles R. Severance. https://www.py4e.com/book.php
- The Python community has developed a large set of materials for self-study and shared ideation, available at https://www.python.org.
Course Outline:
| Weeks | Topic | Deliverables | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course introduction, Installation of Python, Pycharm | Installing PyCharm | |
| 2 | Introduction to Machine Learning, Algorithms, How to become a machine learning engineer | ||
| 3 | Programming with Python, Writing simple programs, Variables, expressions and statements I | HW 1 | |
| 4 | Programming with Python, Writing simple programs, Variables, expressions and statements II | ||
| 5 | Conditional execution, Functions and Lists I | Quiz 1 | |
| 6 | Conditional execution, Functions and Lists II | HW 2 | |
| 7 | Midterm | ||
| 8 | Loops and iterations and Dictionaries I | ||
| 9 | Loops and iterations and Dictionaries II | HW 3 | |
| 10 | Classes I | Quiz 2 | |
| 11 | Classes II | HW 4 | |
| 12 | File Input/Output | Quiz 3 | |
| 13 | File Input/Output | HW 5 | |
| 14 | TBD |
Examinations and Grading:
This course is A-E graded. The final grade will be determined based on the following:
- Quizzes: 15%
- Homework Assignment: 35%
- Midterm Exam: 25%
- Final Exam: 25%
- Bonus: 5%
If a student feels they will miss a course obligation for any reason, they must reach out to the course instructor for guidance.
Homework:
Homework Assignments
- Homework assignments will be given every two weeks
- All assignments must have your name, student ID, course name/number, and section number
- Submit HW on the blackboard
- File Name: HW#_Name.pdf (writeup) Or HW#_Name.zip (code)
Late Homework
- -10 penalty for the first 24-hour
- -20 penalty for >= 24 hour
- Zero score for >= 3 days
Disability Policy:
Reasonable accommodations will be provided for students with documented physical, sensory, systemic, medical, cognitive, learning, and mental health (psychiatric) disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring accommodation in this class, please notify the Disability Resource Center (518-442-5490; drc@albany.edu). Upon verification and after the registration process is complete, the DRC will provide you with a letter that informs the course instructor that you are a student with a disability registered with the DRC and list the recommended reasonable accommodations. You can review the Equity and Compliance website as well for additional information.
Academic Integrity:
It is every student’s responsibility to become familiar with the standards of academic integrity at the University. Claims of ignorance, of unintentional error, or of academic or personal pressures are not sufficient reasons for violations of academic integrity. See http://www.albany.edu/undergraduate_bulletin/regulations.html
Course work and examinations are considered individual exercises. Copying the work of others is a violation of university rules on academic integrity. Individual course work is also key to your being prepared and performing well on tests and exams. Forming study groups and discussing assignments and techniques in general terms is encouraged, but the final work must be your own work. For example, two or more people may not create an assignment together and submit it for credit. If you have specific questions about this or any other policy, please ask.
The following is a list of the types of behaviors that are defined as examples of academic dishonesty and are therefore unacceptable. Attempts to commit such acts also fall under the term academic dishonesty and are subject to penalty. No set of guideline scan, of course, define all possible types or degrees of academic dishonesty; thus, the following descriptions should be understood as examples of infractions rather than an exhaustive list.
- Plagiarism
- Allowing other students to see or copy your assignments or exams
- Examining or copying another student’s assignments or exams
- Lying to the professor about issues of academic integrity
- Submitting the same work for multiple assignments/classes without prior consent from the instructor(s)
- Getting answers or help from people, or other sources (e.g. research papers, web sites) without acknowledging them.
- Forgery
- Sabotage
- Unauthorized Collaboration (just check first!)
- Falsification
- Bribery
- Theft, Damage, or Misuse of Library or Computer Resources
Any incident of academic dishonesty in this course, no matter how “minor” will result in
- No credit for the affected assignment.
- A written report will be sent to the appropriate University authorities (e.g.the Dean of Undergraduate Studies)
- One of (1) A final mark reduction by atleastone-half letter grade (e.g. B, B-, C-, D+), (2) A Failing mark (E) in the course, and referral of the matter to the University Judicial System for disposition.