Admission requirements
Not applicable.
Description
This course teaches the basics of programming concepts and how to apply these in the programming language Python. The overall course goal is to enable students to create conceptually solid, and readable, Python code without the need to resort to examples or AI programming aid. The course focuses on code fluency in Python, and on basic programming concepts including variables, types, operators, constants, control flow (sequence, repetition, selection) and functions. It also provides an introduction to simple data structures such as strings, number formats, arrays and lists. Finally, it introduces simple algorithmic concepts such as iteration and recursion, and touches upon the necessary computational thinking skills needed to design simple algorithms to solve problems. This course also covers basic errors, exceptions and debugging, and teaches code standards.
Course objectives
- Understanding basic programming concepts:
Remember the basic programming language pipeline including file system, source files, parsing, syntax, semantics, compiling and interpreting, and runtime.
Remember and understand the concepts of variables, data types, constants, variable assignment, variable scope and basic memory allocation, as well as operators, functions, expressions and statements.
Understand control flow of imperative programming languages including conditional branching, loops and function calls.
Understand the basic principle of classes, methods and attributes.
- Understand basic algorithm design and data structures:
Remember and understand simple data structures including sequences, sets, and matrices, and understand how to address these using keys and indices.
Understand iteration and recursion.
Explain choices in the design of simple algorithms.
- Apply, explain and analyze basic programming concepts in Python
Apply and explain implementation of theoretical programming concepts (1) in Python.
Apply and explain implementation of basic algorithms and data structures (2) in Python.
Understand and analyze errors and exceptions, and apply basic debugging strategies.
Apply proper Python coding standards.
Apply available tools to program and run Python code (text editor, IDE, command line, Jupyter).
Timetable
You will find the timetables for all courses and degree programmes of Leiden University in the tool MyTimetable (login). Any teaching activities that you have sucessfully registered for in MyStudymap will automatically be displayed in MyTimetable. Any timetables that you add manually, will be saved and automatically displayed the next time you sign in.
MyTimetable allows you to integrate your timetable with your calendar apps such as Outlook, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and other calendar apps on your smartphone. Any timetable changes will be automatically synced with your calendar. If you wish, you can also receive an email notification of the change. You can turn notifications on in ‘Settings’ (after login).
For more information, watch the video or go the the 'help-page' in MyTimetable. Pleas note: Joint Degree students Leiden/Delft have to merge their two different timetables into one. This video explains how to do this.
Mode of instruction
Lectures: to teach the theoretical concepts of programming, programming on paper in pseudocode, and implementation in Python in the form of examples. Furthermore, we cover practical sessions for debugging and structuring code.
Labs: during labs students hand in their assignments live (see below assessment). Furthermore, during lab hours students can ask clarifying questions about the lab assignments, exercises, and course material.
Assessment method
Assignments (70%): approx. 15 individual assignments, to be handed in and explained live during the lab sessions. Overall grade for assignments is the weighted average of the individual assignment grades. Assignments need to be handed in before the assignment deadline. Failure to do so without a valid reason results in failing the assignment (and therefore the course, see below). There is no retake possibility for an assignment after the deadline has passed. Before the assignment deadline, an assignment may be handed in as often as needed to pass.
One theoretical exam (30%): The exam focuses on understanding theoretical programming concepts and analyzing simple algorithms. A retake exam will be offered at a later date.
To pass the course, each assignment must be passed with a sufficient grade AND the exam must be graded >=5.5.
The grade for non-completed (empty, not delivered or invalid) assignments is 0.
Reading list
No book, but lectures slides, referenced material, and a potential reader are required studying material.
Registration
From the academic year 2022-2023 on every student has to register for courses with the new enrollment tool MyStudymap. There are two registration periods per year: registration for the fall semester opens in July and registration for the spring semester opens in December. Please see this page for more information. An exemption is the fall semester for 1st year bachelor students, the student administration will enroll this group.
Please note that it is compulsory to register for every exam and retake. Not being registered for a course means that you are not allowed to participate in the final exam of the course.
Extensive FAQ on MyStudymap can be found here.
Contact
Education coordinator LIACS bachelors
Remarks
Not applicable.