INTRODUCTION TO CODING

Academic year
2020/2021 Syllabus of previous years
Official course title
INTRODUCTION TO CODING
Course code
ET4018 (AF:345433 AR:184258)
Modality
On campus classes
ECTS credits
6
Degree level
Bachelor's Degree Programme
Educational sector code
INF/01
Period
2nd Term
Course year
2
Where
VENEZIA
Moodle
Go to Moodle page
This course aims to give an overview of the fundamentals and techniques at the base of computational systems.
The main purpose of the course is to introduce students to computational thinking, solving a variety of problems through simple programs developed in Python, a popular high-level programming language.

The course is important and relevant for all students who want to deepen or reinforce the most important basis of computer science and programming, thus getting some basic skills in the field of computer science.
Knowledge and understanding:

- Knowing and understanding the representation of information in computer systems
- Knowing the main components of a computer and their basic operation
- Knowing the principles of structured programming (variables, assignments, conditionals, loops, functions, basic I/O, etc.)
- Knowing and understanding the data types of languages and their manipulation
- Knowing the notion of algorithm with examples

Applying knowledge and understanding:

- Ability to realize simple Python programs for data manipulation
- Ability to debug a simple Python program
Basic logical/mathematical skills (ordering, means, logical operators)
Computer fundamentals:
- How computers store and transmit data
- How computer hardware and software operate on data
- How humans use computers to solve problems

The main topics include the notion of computation, problem solving and algorithms, the Python language, simple algorithms and data structures, testing and debugging software.

Finally, some topics regarding history of computer science, and social/ethic issues in computing.
- "Think Python. How to Think Like a Computer Scientist (2e)".
Allen Downey. Green Tea Press (available online).

- "Computer Science Illuminated (6e)." 
Nell Dale, John Lewis. Jones & Barlet Learning.

- Online resources

- Lecture notes
The exam consists of a project and an oral interview. The project is aimed at verifying the problem solving skills. The oral interview includes the discussion of the project as well as an assessment of the theoretical notions of the course.
Theoretical and practical lectures.
Exercise lectures.
English
written
Definitive programme.
Last update of the programme: 22/10/2020