Prof. Matthew Hertz SH 1029F /

Objectives Met in CSC107  Develop solution over entire software lifecycle  Implement & test computational solutions  Know foundations of computers  Perform Boolean logic  Trace and analyze algorithms

High-level Objectives  Learn how we solve problems using a computer  For this course, focus on scientific problems  Logical, methodical process used to write algorithms  Learn to master basics of software development  C/C++ concepts used by most programs  Skills needed to find & fix errors in code

High-level Objectives  Learn how we solve problems using a computer  For this course, focus on scientific problems  Logical, methodical process used to write algorithms  Learn to master basics of software development  C/C++ concepts used by most programs  Skills needed to find & fix errors in code

High-level Objectives  Learn how we solve problems using a computer  For this course, focus on scientific problems  Logical, methodical process used to write algorithms  Learn to master basics of software development  C/C++ concepts used by most programs  Skills needed to find & fix errors in code  Have fun

High-level Objectives  Learn how we solve problems using a computer  For this course, focus on scientific problems  Logical, methodical process used to write algorithms  Learn to master basics of software development  C/C++ concepts used by most programs  Skills needed to find & fix errors in code  Have fun

High-level Objectives  Learn how we solve problems using a computer  For this course, focus on scientific problems  Logical, methodical process used to write algorithms  Learn to master basics of software development  C/C++ concepts used by most programs  Skills needed to find & fix errors in code  Have fun

High-level Objectives  Learn how we solve problems using a computer  For this course, focus on scientific problems  Logical, methodical process used to write algorithms  Learn to master basics of software development  C/C++ concepts used by most programs  Skills needed to find & fix errors in code  Have fun

High-level Objectives  Learn how we solve problems using a computer  For this course, focus on scientific problems  Logical, methodical process used to write algorithms  Learn to master basics of software development  C/C++ concepts used by most programs  Skills needed to find & fix errors in code  Have fun

Expectations of Me  Lectures prepared and organized  Give interesting, thoughtful, fun problems  Be (reasonably) available to answer questions  Be honest and forthright

Expectations of Me  Lectures prepared and organized  Give interesting, thoughtful, fun problems  Be (reasonably) available to answer questions  Be honest and forthright

Why Most Classes Suck

Teaching Style

Adult Learning  Students read material before class  Answer initial questions at start of class  (Short) lecture explains key ideas  Provides 2 nd opportunity to see material  Limits long, boring droning  Students work in teams to solve problems  Make sure you actually understand material  Easy to correct when mistakes made early

Adult Learning

Expectations of You  Work hard  Come to class prepared  Support & help all your teammates  Ask for help early and often  Let me know what you are thinking

Attendance  Attendance is mandatory 6  Can miss up to 6 classes without penalty 2  From final grade 2 points lost for each add’l absence  If you know you will miss class, talk to me ASAP  You are responsible for every class  Missing class is never acceptable excuse  Best way to earn a poor grade: skip class

Deadlines  Have 2 virtual “extensions”  Each provides a 1 day extension on assignment  Can use both on 1 assignment for 48-hour extension  Late work not accepted without extension  If you know you cannot make a deadline, talk to me  Earlier we talk, the better we can find a solution

Grading Philosophy  Grades reflect student's demonstrated ability  Not a competition where grades are relative  I will quite happily give "A" to entire class if all earn it  "A" not automatically given to highest score in class  Remain fair for students past, present, & future  When in doubt, I consider what would be most fair  Hard work alone insufficient to raise a score  Working efficiently important life skill to be rewarded

Grading Philosophy Doctor Who Cures YouDoctor Who Works Hard Would you rather have:

Course Grading Midterm26% Final30% Projects24% Weekly Assignments11% Daily Activities9%  Grades available via Angel  Midterms given on Oct. 5 th and Nov. 12 th  3 programming projects during semester

Course Grading Goals  Build skills used by “real” programmers  Lots of opportunities to learn & improve  Present material in variety of ways  Develop understanding needed for later classes  Catch and correct problems early

Course Grading Goals  Build skills used by “real” programmers  Lots of opportunities to learn & improve  Present material in variety of ways  Develop understanding needed for later classes  Catch and correct problems early  I am mean & like watching students suffer

Weekly Assignments  Posted on CloudCoder – new experimental system  Usually due by 5PM following Tuesday  Virtual extensions okay to use on all but first one  Before submitting, ask me questions you still have  Several goals for these assignments  Provide additional programming opportunities  Reinforce material from each lecture  Questions should seem easy & take under 10 min.  Means you are doing well

PowerPoint Slides  Students need to take notes on their own  Writing increases odds of remembering ideas  Really, really bad idea to not take notes  Trapped me into specific way of lecturing  Limited opportunities to use clever memory tools  Lectures often resembled

Students During Lecture

Workings of My Slides  Slides contain many pictures, little text  Lectures interesting & fun (or at least better)  Provides you with good way to reinforce lessons  Will suck as actual notes  Print slide handout & take notes on the side  Write down what the steps shown in animations  Slides (with notes) actually useful on tests, labs, class…

Collaboration  Fellow students are a great resource  Provides multiple viewpoints & understandings  Get together, discuss material, and study  Can have them answer lingering questions  Clarify assignment and what it requires  Learn and practice some basic social skills

Collaboration  Work you submit must be done by you  When discussing homework or projects  Leave conversation with memories only  Wait 15+ minutes before starting on your own  Solutions always unique after waiting  Once started, each student should work alone  STEP AWAY FROM COMPUTER  STEP AWAY FROM COMPUTER then talk code

Collaboration  Work you submit must be done by you  When discussing homework or projects  Leave conversation with memories only  Wait 15+ minutes before starting on your own  Solutions always unique after waiting  Once started, each student should work alone  STEP AWAY FROM COMPUTER  STEP AWAY FROM COMPUTER then talk code  When in doubt, ask me

Textbook  Albert & Breedlove, C++: An Active Learning Approach, Jones & Bartlett,  Areas of C++ overlapping C will be course focus  Will go through most of the textbook  Hit all key concepts you will need for future work  Book also excellent resource to look back on

Angel Pages  Pages for course found on Angel  Handouts, slides, assignments posted before class  Can also find solutions after work is due  May not include everything said in class  Better than nothing, but worse than being here!

For Next Lecture  Mourn summer’s end & start of homework  For many, celebrate start of college life  Consider getting flash drive to hold coursework  Makes life much easier  Makes life much easier to have all your work to review  Read sections 3.1 – 3.7 for Wed.  Why is main so important for a C program?  What are comments & how do we write them?

For Next Lecture  Mourn summer’s end & start of homework  For many, celebrate start of college life  Consider getting flash drive for next week  Makes life much easier  Makes life much easier to have all your work to review  Read sections 3.1 – 3.7 for Wed.  Why is main so important for a C program?  What are comments & how do we write them?

For Next Lecture  Mourn summer’s end & start of homework  For many, celebrate start of college life  Consider getting flash drive for next week  Makes life much easier  Makes life much easier to have all your work to review  Read sections 3.1 – 3.7 for Wed.  Why is main so important for a C program?  What are comments & how do we write them?