Syllabus

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 to interact with computer input and output devices to create a user interface for controlling that program.

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 - 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 Python and a text editor (Spyder, PyCharm or SublimeText) or IDE

  •   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 your 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)
    • 7%: 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