Computer and Information Sciences (CISC) 179 - Intro to Python Programming

Instructor: Hobson Lane

Instructor email: lane@totalgood.com

Course of Record Number (CRN): 53133

Description

This is an introductory course in Python programming, incorporating the fundamentals of object oriented software and user interface design. You will learn how to program a computer such that it can read from input devices (keyboard and files), write to output devices (console and files).

You will learn how to:

• Analyze user needs and requirements
• Design a user interface for a Python application
• Create classes with attributes and methods for implementing your program
• Write software for event procedures and business logic
• Test and debug the completed programs and applications
• Document your program for users and developers using Python “doctests”

This course is intended for Computer and Information Sciences majors or anyone interested in the Python programming language.

Important dates

• 01/29/2024 - Start of Spring Semester
• 02/09/2024 (Friday) - Drop deadline (drop class with full refund and no “W” on transcript)
• 02/16/2024 - 02/19/2024 - Lincoln/Washington Day (CAMPUS CLOSED)
• 03/25/2024 - 03/29/2024 - (SPRING BREAK)
• 03/29/2024 - Cesar Chavez Day (CAMPUS CLOSED)
• 04/12/2024 - Withdrawal Deadline (Primary 16-Wk Session)
• 04/30/2024 - Deadline to Apply for Graduation
• 05/25/2024 - End of Spring Semester

Prerequisites

    •  High School Algebra

Learning objectives and schedule

Week 1. Python programming language,  variables and types

        Sign into Runestone.Academy, read a chapter, and run code examples in the browser.

        FOPP-1: Edit and run Python expressions and programs from the command line

Week 2. Debugging and object oriented programming

        FOPP-2: Set and examine variable values and understand basic types (`str`, `float`, and `int` )

        FOPP-3: Error types, error messages, finding and correcting logic and syntax errors.

Week 3.  Sequences and iteration

        FOPP-4: Import and use modules, namespaces, and object methods.

        FOPP-5: : Use the Python `turtle` module to visualize program control flow in for loops.   

Week 4.

        Project: Install and use a text editor (SublimeText) or IDE (PyCharm) to edit Python programs

        FOPP-6: Indexing, slicing, and combining lists and strings (`list`, `str`, `[start:stop]`)

        FOPP-7: Iterating through sequences with `for` and `while` loops

Week 5.  Conditional expressions and modifying sequences

        Project: Create a single-turn text adventure game using `input()`, `print()`, `if`, `else`.

        Project: Run a Python program (*.py) file from command line.

        FOPP-8: Use conditional expressions (`if`, `else`) to control program flow

        FOPP-9: Modifying sequences and the accumulator pattern

Week 6.  Files and dictionaries

        Project: Create a text adventure game with 5+ turns using hard coding.

        FOPP-10: Reading and writing files (`open`, `read`, and `write`)

        FOPP-11: Dictionaries (nested `dict` containers)

Week 7.  Functions and tuples

        FOPP-12: Functions  (`def`)

        FOPP-13: Tuples (`tuple()`)

        MIDTERM EXAM

Week 8.  Midterm project - Build a text adventure game

        Define container variables (`list`, `tuple`, `dict`) with game content (`str`, `int`) 
        Use `input` and `output` to interact with the user through the console (terminal)
        Use conditionals and looping to handle invalid user input (`while` and/or `for)

Week 9.  Advanced iteration patterns and functions

        FOPP-14: Advanced iteration

        FOPP-15: Advanced functions and `kwargs`

Week 10.  

        FOPP-16: Sorting sequences

        FOPP-17: Nested data

Week 11.  

        FOPP-18: Test cases

        FOPP-19: Exceptions (`try` and `except`)

Week 12.  

        FOPP-20:  Classes and objects

        FOPP-21: Building Programs

Week 13. FINAL EXAM

        Designing, building, testing and debugging Python programs from scratch.

        Understanding nested data structures and flat file formats for data-driven Python programs

Week 14. Installing and using external Python packages (`pandas` and `doctest`)

        Pandas Python package for reading and writing HTML and CSV tables.

        Project: Move content from hard-coded Python variable definitions to a Spreadsheet

Week 15.

        Final Project: Load text-adventure game (or chatbot) content from CSV.

        Final Project: Use functions, loops, and text files (CSV) to create data-driven Python programs

Grading

Your final grade will be the weighted average of you accumulated scores on reading assignments, quizzes, programming assignments (labs) and exams.

15%: 15 Weekly reading assignments in Runestone (1 point per assignment)
15%: 15 Weekly quizzes in Runestone (1 point per quiz)
15%: Midterm exam in Runestone
15%: Midterm project (programming assignment)
      5%: Does the program run without syntax errors
      5%: Does the program contain all the required elements of the assignment
      3%: Does the program utilize correct Python style (PEP8)
      2%: Does the program utilize comments appropriately
20%: Final exam in Runestone
20%: Final project (programming assignment)
      5%: Does the program run without syntax errors
      5%: Does the program contain all the required elements of the assignment
      5%: Does the program utilize correct Python style (PEP8)
      3%: Does the program utilize doctests and docstrings appropriately