INTRODUCTION TO CODING AND DATA MANAGEMENT-1

The goal of this course is to teach students how to solve problems with an algorithmic approach.
Students will learn some basic techniques for problem solving and how to use a programming language to provide a sound and formal description of a designed problem solution.

The course provides an introduction to the basics of computer science and to programming.
Programming is intended as a way to model real-world problems and to design algorithmic solutions to solve them.

The students will achieve the following objectives:

Knowledge:
- algorithms and data structures
- Python programming language

Skills:
- learn basic problem solving techniques.
- understand and realize computer programs written in the Python programming language.
- generate basic data visualizations for preliminary analysis.

Having achieved the learning outcomes of the course "Mathematics For Decision Sciences", with focus on logic, combinatorics, functions, vectors and matrices.

These are the themes of the course (not necessarily in the orders of the lessons)

1. Introduction to programming and Python
- Computational Thinking, a "computational machine" for Python
- Binary representation of information
- Introduction to the Python programming language
2. Python data types
- Variables, values ​​and types
- Integer, Float, String, Boolean data types and related operators
3. Conditions:
- boolean variables
- if / else
- nested conditions
4. Cycles
- The while loop
- The for loop
5. Strings
- slicing
- formatting
6. Lists in Python
- Creation and manipulation of lists
- Iterate through the lists
7. Functions
- definition and call
- return values
8. Algorithms and complexity
- introduction to complexity
- research example: bisection
9. Dictionaries and Sets
10. Reading and Writing of text files
11. Introduction to the Matplotlib graphics library

Textbook:
- Think Python. How to Think Like a Computer Scientist. Green Tea Press. Allen Downey. Second Edition.

Additional resources may be provided during the course.

Evaluation is achieved through a written exam.
The written exam assess the capability of the student to apply problem solving techniques to simple problems. The exam consists in a set of programming exercises, where the student is asked to write a small program to solve a given simple problem. After the written test a correction with the professor follows, and an optional oral exam (at the discretion of the professor).

Lectures and hands-on sessions. The frequent interleaving of exercises allows students to immediately apply abstract knowledge to practical problems and to self-evaluate their skills.

English

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