Below is the tentative course schedule for the term. The “tentative” is key since the schedule will almost certainly change throughout the term. Labs and assignments will be written and posted in real time, so be sure to check back regularly.

Each reading on the schedule has a corresponding forum on the course Moodle page. Be sure to make your posts about the readings by 8:00 AM the morning of the assigned reading.

Date Topic Reading
Week 1
M: 01/07 Introduction to CS
Due: Assignment 1 (Tue by 10pm) 		No Reading
W: 01/09 Getting Started with Python
Lab: Getting Started With Python 		Reading 1:
  • Zelle §§1.1–1.9
F: 01/11 Basic Types and Operations
Lab: Exploring Types And Operations 		Reading 2:
  • Zelle §§2.1–2.5
Week 2
M: 01/14 Numbers
Lab: Computing With Numbers
Due: Assignment 2 (Tue by 10pm) 		Reading 3:
  • Zelle §§3.1–3.3, 3.5
W: 01/16 Conditionals
Lab: Using Conditionals 		Reading 4:
  • Zelle §§7.1–7.3
F: 01/18 Pair Programming Reading 5:
Week 3
M: 01/21 Strings, Sequences, and Lists
Lab: Working With Sequences
Due: Assignment 3 (Tue by 10pm) 		Reading 6:
  • Zelle §§5.1–5.6
W: 01/23 Functions
Lab: Writing Your Own Functions 		Reading 7:
  • Zelle §§6.1–6.2, 6.4–6.6
F: 01/25 Loops
Lab: Simple Loops 		Reading 8:
  • Zelle §§2.6, 8.1–8.3
    (8.3.3 and 8.3.4 are optional)
Week 4
M: 01/28 Documentation and Testing
Lab: Testing Functions 		Reading 9:
W: 01/30 Pause for Breath
Due: Assignment 4 		No Reading
F: 02/01 Exam 1 No Reading
Week 5
M: 02/04 Debugging and Handling Exceptions
Lab: Debugging 		Reading 10:
  • Zelle §7.4
  • Debugging
  • Zelle §8.5 is recommended but optional
W: 02/06 Objects and Graphics
Lab: Using Graphics 		Reading 11:
  • Zelle §§4.1–4.5, 6.3, 6.7
F: 02/08 Graphics and Images
Lab: More Graphics
Due: Assignment 5 		Reading 12:
  • Zelle §§4.6–4.9
Week 6
W: 02/13 Files and Data Processing
Lab: Simple Data Processing 		Reading 13:
  • Zelle §§5.9, 8.3.3–8.3.4, 11.1–11.3
F: 02/15 Recursion and Searching Reading 14:
  • Zelle §§13.1–13.2
Week 7
M: 02/18 Classes
Lab: Basic Recursion
Due: Assignment 6 (Tue by 10pm) 		Reading 15:
  • Zelle §§10.1–10.3
W: 02/20 Encapsulation
Lab: Simple Classes 		Reading 16:
  • Zelle §§10.4–10.5
F: 02/22 Exam 2 No Reading
Week 8
M: 02/25 Object-Oriented Design Reading 17:
  • Zelle §12.1 and §12.4
W: 02/27 Sorting and (Intro to Project)
Due: Assignment 7 (Thu by 10pm) 		Reading 18:
  • Zelle §13.3.1
F: 03/01 Project Work Day No Reading
Week 9
M: 03/04 Merge Sort
Lab: Sorting
Due: Project Proposal (Tue by 10pm) 		Reading 19:
  • Zelle §13.3.2
W: 03/06 Measuring Efficiency
Lab: Comparing Sorts 		Reading 20:
  • Zelle §13.3.3
F: 03/08 Exam 3 No Reading
Week 10
M: 03/11 Project Work Day No Reading
W: 03/13 Wrap Up No Reading
Final Exam Days
Sa: 03/16 Final Presentations (at 3:30pm) No Reading