Date	In Class	Code	On Your Own
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Week 14
November 28	Introducing objects in Python An object is a thing with its own state, along with operations that modify or observe that state A type of object is defined by a class Basic terminology functions defined in a class definition are traditionally called "methods" the __init__ method is known as a "constructor" The variables defined in the __init__ method are called "instance variables", since each instance of the class has its own copies of these variables.	cr_class.py cr_class_test.py cr_class_with_tax.py Picture of the cash register instances in pythontutor	Read How to Think Like a Computer Scientist, Chapter 14.
November 30	Modeling an object in the real world Describing an interaction with the object Determining the operations (methods) that are needed Writing a usage example or test case Defining the class and determining what instance variables are needed	coffeemaker.py coffeemaker_test.py	There will be a group quiz covering the basics of objects and class definitions in Python. Read How to Think Like a Computer Scientist, Chapter 14.
December 2	Using an object as a simple data container Reading a file and creating a list of objects	contacts.py contact_test.py contact_info.txt (sample text file)
Week 13
November 14	Exam 2
November 14	More about nested loops Using a 2-dimensional grid A "grid" is just a list of lists Each element of the grid is one row, consisting of a list The element at row r, column c is grid[r][c] The number of rows is len(grid) The number of columns is len(grid[0])	duplicate_letter.py grid_test.py
November 18	No class!
Week 12
November 7	A variable in a module that is declared outside of all functions is a global variable All functions can read the values of global variables To update a global variable, must use the global keyword Global variables are one way a program can keep track of state Use with caution: lots of global variables makes code very difficult to verify and maintain	cr.py cr_test.py number_game.py number_game_ui.py
November 9	Reading text files End-of-line characters The escape sequences \t, \n, and \r	file_read_test.py (You'll need a file called testfile.txt in your program's current working directory in order to run this )
November 11	Review
Week 11
October 31	Lists are mutable! item assignment appending or inserting elements deleting elements Common list operations - append, insert, pop, remove, index, sort The del keyword	loop_for_user_input_with_list.py list_modification_example.py	Read How to Think..., Section 10.14 and related sections
November 2	Operations that remove elements from a list remove(item), pop(pos), and the del keyword In general, you should not try to remove elements while you are iterating over the list! (see examples) List variables are references, understanding lst = temp versus lst[:] = temp	list_remove_examples.py	There will be a group quiz on list methods, e.g. see How to Think..., Section 10.14 and related sections
November 4	Binary arithmetic as a kind of boolean operation Logic gates for and, or, and not Combining logic gates to make a circuit for binary addition Registers for storing values, the system clock
Week 10
October 24	Introducing while-loops Anatomy of a while-loop 1. Loop body (What is the repeated action?) 2. Initialization (What do I need to get started?) 3. Condition (How do I know when to stop?)	while_loops.py interest.py	Read Eels, Chapter 17
October 26	Examples with while-loops Use a for-loop when iterating over a known sequence or range of values Use a while-loop when the number of iterations is difficult to predict or bound Thinking about types of loops Do I need a for-loop or a while-loop? Do I need to process every piece of data, or can I return as soon as I "find" something? (For string or list) Can I just iterate over the elements, or do I need to use an index?	loop_for_user_input.py primes.py	There will be a group quiz on while-loops. Read Eels, Chapter 17.
October 28	Using the string split() method Using split() with a delimiter Alternatives to using split() Even really smart programmers make mistakes! Tracking down errors using the Wing 101 debugger	sum_string.py	Read Eels, Chapter 17
Week 9
October 17	Using an index to access an individual character of string or list, s[i] Using the bracket notation to get a substring or slice of a string or list, s[i:j] Loops using an index	double_letter.py switch_first_and_last.py	Read Eels, Chapter 13
October 19	String operations are methods rather than built-in functions We write s.upper(), not upper(s)		There will be a group quiz on indices and substrings. Read Eels, Chapter 13 See Eels, Chapter 14 on string operations.
October 21	More examples of loops with indices The idea of a nested loop	duplicate_letter.py
Week 8
October 10	Using an auxiliary variable as an accumulator or counter in a for-loop The search pattern - once you find something, don't "un-find" it	loop_counter_examples.py	Read Eels, Chapter 16
October 12	Using accumulator pattern with multiplication or string concatenation Using an early return in a loop for searching	more_loop_counter_examples.py	There will be a group quiz covering for-loops. Review your notes from Monday and read Eels, Chapter 16
October 14	Binary (base 2) numbers Encoding characters as numbers Comparing strings, lexicographic ordering		See Eels, Chapter 12
Week 7
October 3	Exam 1
October 5	More about for-loops Using the loop variable More about range expressions Iterating over other types of lists	turtle_polygon.py loop_examples.py ninetynine.py	See How to Think... Sections 4.4 - 4.7
October 7	Problem-solving strategies Can I solve a part of the problem? Can I solve a related, simpler problem? Procedural decomposition: break a problem into sub-problems, and compose the solutions together	arc_experiment.py	See the summary at the beginning of the homework 3 spec
Week 6
September 26	DeMorgan's laws Using multiple return statements	grade_calc_multiple_returns.py
September 28	Using a "unit test" to quickly check results from a function Incremental development - write code a little at a time and test frequently	postage.py postage_test.py	There will be a group quiz on Chapter 8 (value-returning functions)
September 30	Exam review Using boolean variables and boolean expressions Unit testing and incremental development, con't Function that determines leap years	leap.py leap_test.py	See the exam review sheet Try some of the Logic problems on codingbat.com
Week 5
September 19	Defining functions Arguments are the values you pass to the function when you call it, can be any expression of the right type Parameters are the variables listed in parentheses in the function definition; they get their values from the arguments you supply Parameter variables are "local" (not visible outside the function body) Flow of control in function calls	ninetynine.py area_printer.py	Read Eels, Chapter 7
September 21	Value-returning functions and the return statement Two kinds of functions Functions that return a value (like len, pow Functions that perform some action (like print) and usually don't return a value Using our own modules	area.py area_test.py carpet_cost_calculator.py	Read Eels, Chapter 8
September 23	The boolean operators and, or, and not. Truth tables	grades_ui.py	There will be a group quiz today covering Eels, Chapter 7 Read Eels, Chapter 9
Week 4
September 12	Recap: for-loops and the idea of a statement block Conditional statements: using if and if...else	hats.py	Read Eels, Chapter 5
September 14	Nested conditional statements Multiple alternatives and the elif keyword	grades.py	There will be a group quiz covering Eels, Chapter 5 Read Eels, Chapter 6
September 16	Problem-solving with conditional statements	Sally orders lunch (video) Our solution in pseudocode MU parking rates parking.py
Week 3
September 5	No class
September 7	Using built-in Python functions Reading input with the input function Type conversion functions int, float, and str String concatenation using the + operator	input_test.py	Read Eels Chapter 4 Start the homework!
September 9	Recap: input and number conversions Integer arithmetic vs. floating point arithmetic Floating point arithmetic is almost never exact Try calculating (1/3) * 300 on a pocket calculator Try calculating (29 / 100) * 100 in Python Modules such as math or turtle and how to find documentation The basic for loop: repeating some action a fixed number of times	quiz_sept_9.pdf turtle_loop_test.py loop_test.py	There will be a group quiz on topics from Eels, Chapter 4 We will do much more with for-loops and ranges in a couple of weeks, but you can start reading more about them in ThinkCS (How to Think Like a Computer Scientist), Chapter 4
Week 2
August 29	Defining variables The assignment operator = Use == to check equality, not = Example: making change A general problem-solving strategy: start with a simple, concrete example E.g., to solve the problem of making change for an unknown amount, first work it out for 67 cents.	change.py	Read Eels Chapter 2 and try the examples Remember to go to lab this week!
August 31	A general problem-solving strategy: start with a simple, concrete example E.g., to solve the problem of making change for an unknown amount, first work it out for 67 cents. Small group problem-solving exercise.	class_exercise_aug_31.pdf
September 4	Problem-solving strategies reviewed: start with a simple, concrete example	time.py
Week 1
August 22	Welcome Writing an algorithm in English or "pseudocode". Pseudocode example (pdf)		Read the syllabus! Read Eels Chapter 1!
August 24	Formal syntax of a programming language keywords, operators, identifiers, literal values Some ways to experiment with Python code: The "activecode" windows in the textbooks The Python interactive shell Philip Guo's Python Tutor (aka the "codelens" tool in the textbooks) To create a program or script that we want to save: Use any text editor Use an "Integrated Development Environment" or "IDE" such as Wing 101 or IDLE Writing our first Python program	hello.py	Read Eels Chapter 2 and try the examples If you want to get started writing programs, take a look at the Lab 1 from last year and see the page on "Wing 101". (All the computers in the Pearson labs should have Wing 101 installed.)
August 26	Operators and literal values in Python Integer division and the "mod" operator (%) Some of Python's types: int - whole numbers float - numbers with a decimal point str - strings of text bool - the values True and False Making syntax errors and interpreting error messages Role of the Python interpreter