General Information.

Course Information.

CS111 is an introduction to the problem solving foundations of computer science. In this course, you will learn big ideas about solving problems, developing algorithms, and organizing programs. These ideas include:

  • abstraction: capturing common patterns, hiding information, making specifications (contracts);
  • modularity: expressing programs as the composition of mix-and-match parts;
  • problem solving strategies: divide-conquer-glue, recursion, iteration;
  • models: ways to understand how programs are executed;

You will get hands-on experience with these ideas by reading, modifying, debugging, designing, writing, and testing Python programs. Example programs will involve various text manipulation, Python graphics, and animations.

CS111 students must register for and attend a weekly laboratory. Problem solving and programming are skills best learned by doing.

The course uses the Python programming language to explore these ideas. Although you will learn a lot about Python along the way, our focus is on the big ideas. You will really be learning and practicing techniques for solving problems — techniques that apply to any programming language, and, indeed, to any discipline.

CS111 is required for students who wish to major or minor in computer science or elect more advanced courses in the field. Consult Choosing an Introductory CS Course for more information.

Prerequisite: None. No prior computer science background is expected.
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling. Does not satisfy laboratory requirement.
Unit: 1.0

Class Meetings

There are two 70-minute lectures each week, which will introduce the main content of the course.
  1. CS111 01 (Eni Mustafaraj) Tues/Fri 9:50--11am in SCI 257
  2. CS111 02 (Franklyn Turbak) Tues/Fri 11:10am--12:20pm in SCI 257
  3. CS111 03 (Sravana Reddy) Tues/Fri 1:30pm--2:40pm in SCI 257

Each week there is also a mandatory 2-hour laboratory session

  • CS111 L01 (Sohie Lee) Wed 8:30--10:20am in SCI 257
  • CS111 L02 (Sohie Lee) Wed 10:30am--12:20pm in SCI 257
  • CS111 L03 (Sohie Lee) Wed 2:15--4:05pm in SCI 257
  • CS111 L04 (Jean Herbst) Thur 8:30--10:20am in SCI S160A
  • CS111 L05 (Jean Herbst) Thur 10:30am--12:20pm in SCI 160A
  • CS111 L06 (Sohie Lee) Thur 8:30--10:20am in SCI E101
  • CS111 L07 (Sohie Lee) Thur 1:30pm--2:40pm in SCI S160A

Course Text and Reference Materials

Materials for Computer Science 111 may be found on the course web site http://cs.wellesley.edu/~cs111. Notes and example programs for most lectures may be found in the course schedule. Review materials will be posted during the semester on the Review Materials page.

There is no textbook for CS111. All course readings are available linked via the course syllabus.

There are many on-line Python tutorials and references. Other valuable references are the many introductory Python textbooks that are available on the bookshelves in SCI 257 and other rooms (see below).

SCI 257 Bookshelves: The CS department has purchased a collection of books relevant to CS111 that are kept on the bookshelves in SCI 257.

SCI 160A Library: The CS department maintains a large collection of computer science books in the computer lab (room SCI 160A). It's a good idea to become familiar with this room and the book collection early on.

Science Center Library: Many Python programming books can be borrowed from the Science Center library.

Exams

There will be three exams, all open book and open notes: one in-class midterm (70 minutes), one take-home midterm, and a final exam (2.5 hours) during the regular exam period. Check the course schedule for scheduling and mark the dates in your calendars, as exam dates are not flexible.

Laboratory

The mandatory, weekly, 2-hour laboratory sessions consist of additional instruction and both written and online problem-solving exercises. The exercises provide hands-on practice with new material and with problems similar to the weekly homework assignments. In lab, students work at their own pace and can get help from the lab instructor and a teaching assistant. Although lab problems are similar to homework problem, lab is not a place to work on homework.

Homework (problem sets)

Weekly problem sets will help you develop a working knowledge of the concepts presented in class. When assignments are due, you should submit both (1) a hardcopy of your assignment and (2) a softcopy (i.e., electronic copy) of all your code to the appropriate drop folder. More detailed instructions for submitting assignments are included in each assignment.

Instructions for turning in each assignment will be included with the assignment. We ask you to keep track of the time you spend on each problem to help us design problem sets for future semesters. Each problem set will come with a header sheet on which you can report the times you spent on the problems.

The amount of time required to complete each assignment varies from student to student and from assignment to assignment. For many students, most assignments take roughly 10 hours.

In order for us to grade and return assignments promptly, we cannot accept late assignments. In extenuating circumstances (e.g., sickness, personal crisis, family problems, religious holidays), you may request an extension. We will often require that an extension request be made on your behalf by your dean.

If you have not completed an assignment, you should still turn in your work for partial credit. You will learn techniques in lab for developing a program in stages, gradually solving more and more of a problem. If there is something that you cannot get to work, do the best you can and comment out code that does not compile. Including a description of your strategy and what is going wrong in the comments can result in some partial credit.

Many of the assignments will be challenging. Keep in mind that programming often consumes more time than you think it will. Start your problem sets early so that you have time to think about the problems and ask questions if you hit an impasse. Waiting until the last minute is a recipe for disaster.

Also, keep in mind that computers do break down and that, outside of laboratory hours, you may have to compete with other students for a computer. Plan accordingly (and back up your work often)!

Assignments are listed on the course schedule.

Software

We will be using the Enthought Canopy environment to create and execute Python programs on the Macintosh and the PC. Canopy comes with Python version 2.7.6. This software is installed on the lab machines. If you would like to program in this environment on your own computer, we have some helpful information available about computing at home.

Coursework for this class will require you to use computing resources provided by the Library & Technology Services (LTS) group on campus. Specifically, you need to be comfortable with Google Groups, a file-transfer program (Fetch on Macs, WinSCP on PCs), and a web browser (e.g., Safari, Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Chrome). If you have any questions about these applications, see the software for Macs or software for Windows websites.

Google Group

We have created a Google Group, cs111-fall15, and have added all students enrolled for the class as members. If you have not received a confirmation email, please add yourself to this group. Search for cs111-fall15. It's important because this is how we contact all enrolled students with changes in course content or deadlines. This is also a place where you can post questions (no python code, please). You can send emails to this group at the email address: cs111-fall15@wellesley.edu.

You are encouraged to post questions or comments that are of general interest to people in the course. Also, you are encouraged to respond to questions posted by other students. In addition, the instructors and TAs will read the cs111-fall15 group on a regular basis and post answers to questions found here. This is a good place to find people to join a study group or ask questions about the course or about homework (please do not post any Python code here — all homework discussions should be at a high-level English description).

Finding Help

If you have any questions at all about the class (whether big or small, whether on labs, problem sets, lectures, reading, or whatever) please contact one of us. That's what we're here for!

Simple questions can often be answered via the cs111-fall15 group. Questions of general interest (e.g. clarifying ambiguities in an assignment, wondering why posted programs don't work as expected) should be posted to the cs111-fall15 group.

If you have a complex question or need help in understanding the material, you are encouraged to see the instructors or a CS111 teaching assistant. The best time to see us in person is during our scheduled office hours and drop-in hours (listed at the top of this document).

Drop-in teaching assistants are available to answer your questions during certain hours. The names and schedules of the drop-in teaching assistants are given above.

Some hints on working with teaching assistants:

  • Drop-in teaching assistants tend to get the most questions near the end of their time slot. Try to arrive early so that you can ask questions in the first part of their shift.
  • Just like you, drop-in teaching assistants have lots of work and very tight schedules. It is not reasonable to expect them to help you after their official tutoring hours are over.
  • Teaching assistants tend to see less traffic far in advance of the problem set due date. Start your work early so that you can take advantage of all the available drop-in hours.
  • Please sign in on TutorTrac when you arrive at drop-in hours. TutorTrac keeps a record of how much demand there is for teaching assistants, and affects how many teaching assistants we can have in future semesters.

If you need more personalized attention than a drop-in teaching assistant can provide, you can get a one-on-one tutor from the Pforzheimer Learning and Teaching Center (PLTC). This service is confidential, free of charge, and no stigma is attached to it. It is a wonderful way to get additional help — please take advantage of this program if you think you might need it!

Finally, when looking for help, don't overlook other students. Get to know your classmates early in the term so that you can help each other out!