COMPSCI 101 : Principles of Programming
Science
2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Course Requirements
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
Learning Outcomes
- Read and explain what a program does (Capability 1 and 4)
- Make changes to a given program to meet updated requirements. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Write a simple Python program that meets given specifications and adheres to standard Python style conventions. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Decompose a simple problem into several smaller tasks, given a brief textual description of the problem. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Use code tracing to determine the state of a program both during and after execution, given code that may include functions and parameters, loops, conditionals and sequences. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Determine if a program meets given specifications by writing appropriate tests (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Debug a program to correct errors. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Write docstrings that explain the purpose of code at a high level and ensure program code uses meaningful identifiers. (Capability 1, 2 and 4)
- Use Python API documentation to explore and use new Python functions. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
- Perform a code review to evaluate the quality of code. (Capability 1, 2, 4 and 5)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratories | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Assignments | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Mid-Semester Coderunner Test | 20% | Individual Test |
| Final Exam (on Coderunner) | 50% | Individual Examination |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Mid-Semester Coderunner Test | ||||||||||
| Final Exam (on Coderunner) | ||||||||||
Pass requirements:
- To pass the course, a student must pass the "test + exam" component of the course (70%) and the "labs + assignments" component (30%) separately, as well as getting at least 50% of the overall mark.
Tuākana
Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials,
one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html
The School of Computer Science Tuākana programme provides support for this course. See: https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/34081. For more information and to find contact details for the School of Computer Science Tuākana coordinator, please see https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacific-at-the-faculty/tuakana-programme.html.
Key Topics
- Simple variables
- Expressions
- Input and output
- Control structures
- Functions
- Standard data structures
- Standard Python modules
Special Requirements
- The mid-semester test will be held on campus either in the evening (6pm) or Saturday afternoon (2pm).
- To pass the course, a student must pass the "test + exam" component of the course (70%) and the "labs + assignments" component (30%) separately, as well as getting at least 50% of the overall mark.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, each week you can expect:
- 2 two-hour labs
- 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content
- 3 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
There are no formal lectures for this course. Lectures have been replaced with short videos which students watch on Panopto before attending their lab.
Attendance is required at scheduled labs. There are two 2-hour labs each week. The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Textbook:
- An online textbook, Foundations of Python Programming, is used to supplement the material covered in the course
- (https://runestone.academy/ns/books/published/fopp/index.html)
- All resources will be available on Canvas and Panopto Video
Health & Safety
To avoid OOS (Occupational Overuse Syndrome, also known as RSI), please take regular breaks from your computer and also try to maintain good posture. When in the lab, please use a lab computer, not a laptop.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Delivery mode has been shifted from lectures to lab-based delivery based on feedback from students that practical activities in laboratories was most effective for learning.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.