CMSC 105: Introduction to Computer Science

Lab assignments and other relevant links for CS105

Semester & Year: Fall 2008

Instructor:David Wonnacott

Schedule: Lecture MW 12:30-2:00 in Hilles 109; Lab F 12:30-2:00 in Hilles 110, with second section t.b.a. run by J.D.

Required Text: As we have not (yet!) found a textbook that matches the way we teach this course, the only required reading will be from course notes written by Dave Wonnacott. Printed copies from lulu.com have arrived in the bookstore and should be on the shelf some time on Monday, September 3. They cost $8 from the bookstore (vs. $9.35 including shipping to order 1 directly from lulu.com).
Recommended Texts: The course notes cover all the features of the Python language and all the mathematical techniques that will be needed in this course, but students who want more details can read the tutorial on the Python web site to learn about the Python language, or read David Gries' The Science of Programming (Springer-Verlag 1987, ISBN 0387964800) for more detail about the use of formal reasoning techniques to develop programs.

Prerequisites: None
Experience with programming or Python is not required; we will discuss, in the lecture and lab, all of the programming techniques and language features that we expect you to know and use. This course is intended to serve all interested students.

Description: A general introduction to the study of computer science.

Computer science investigates the fundamental laws governing computational processes and objects. The basic elements of a computation are algorithms and data structures. Computer scientists study the construction and properties of these elements, their composition into larger scale software programs or computer hardware, and their interactions with human beings and effects on society. (By analogy, biology investigates fundamental questions about life, exploring scales both small (molecular biology) and large (ecosystems), and physics investigates fundemental questions about matter, energy, space and time.)

CMSC 105 begins the study of computer science with a brief overview of algorithms, data structures, and software, followed by an in-depth introduction to the intellectual tools used by computer scientists to create and investigate algorithms, including:

• Producing and understanding formal and informal descriptions of problems to be solved.
• Developing an appropriate test suite for a given problem.
• Developing an algorithm to solve a given problem, using techniques such as
  • deriving an algorithm from a precise problem statement,
  • breaking a problem into cases,
  • reducting a problem to a previously solved problem,
  • top-down design,
  • and enumerate-and-test.
• Expressing an algorithm as a collection of Python functions using either recursion or iteration.
• Distinguishing an abstract statement of what an algorithm does from a concrete statement of how it does it.
• Documenting the important algorithm design decisions with Python comments.
• Understanding the execution of an algorithm in terms of both a process of mathematical substitution or a process of step-by-step instruction following.
• Understanding and explaining why a correct algorithm is correct.
• Comparing different algorithms to solve a given problem.
• Separating the computational core of a program from its user interface.
• Constructing algorithms to simulate natural phenomena ("scientific simulations").

The detailed introduction to data structures is given in CMSC 206.

Related Courses:

• CS 110 at Bryn Mawr: CMSC 105 differs from CS 110 in that CS 110 covers topics from both CMSC 100 (see below) and from CMSC 105. Both CMSC 105 and CS 110 can be used as a prerequisite for CMSC 206 and a basis for a Computer Science Major, Minor, etc.
• CMSC 100: The World of Computing surveys the basic concepts of computer science with an emphasis on breadth instead of depth. CMSC 100 does not count as a prerequisite for other CS courses, and is primarily intended for students who who wish to enrich their understanding of computing and gain experience with information technology while pursuing a major in a field other than computing.
• CMSC 101: Fluency with Information Technology does involving some programming and other topics from CMSC 105, but focuses more on the implications associated with the effective usage of computing and IT; this course also serves students looking to enrich their understanding of computing (like CMSC 100) while pursuing a major in a field other than computing.

Evaluation: 1 midterm & 1 final exam, weekly labs, with the final grade determined by approximately 45% exam grades, 50% lab grades, and 5% participation (including attendance and completion of in-class exercises/assesments.)

Collaboration: You are encouraged to discuss the lecture material and the weekly labs and problems with other students, subject to the following restriction: the only "product" of your discussion should be your memory of it - you may not write up solutions together, or exchange written work or computer files. Collaboration is not allowed on exams.

Learning Accomodations: Students who think they may need accommodations in this course because of the impact of a disability are encouraged to meet with the instructor in private (e.g., during office hours) early in the semester. Students should also contact Rick Webb, Coordinator, Office of Disabilities Services (610-896-1290) to verify their eligibility for reasonable accommodations as soon as possible. Early contact will help to avoid unnecessary inconvenience and delays, and facilitate learning.