Introduction to Programming and Scientific Applications (Spring 2018)

Welcome

Welcome to the course Introduction to Programming with Scientific Applications. The course gives an introduction to the Python 3 programming language using the book "Introduction to Computation and Programming Using Python With Application to Understanding Data" by John Guttag. The book covers the basics of Python and contains a long list of scientific applications. For the more subtle features of Python, students are encouraged to seek information online in e.g. the Python language specification.

The course will be run with 2 x 2 hours of weekly lectures, 3 hours of TA classes ("øvelser") supplemented with staffed study café hours.

During the course students are required to hand in 10 weekly handins and one larger implementation project. Handins and the project is done in groups of up to three persons. The final exam will be a multiple-choice exam without aids, and the final grade will be based on overall evaluation of the project and the multiple choice exam.

Disclaimer: This is the first time the course is running. The details of the course are designed while the course is running. Please do not hesitate to contact me with suggestions for improving the course. --- Gerth

Course content

The course gives an introduction to programming with scientific applications. Programming concepts and techniques are introduced using the Python programming language. The programming concepts are illustrated in other programming languages. The following content is included.

After the course the participants will have knowledge of principles and techniques for systematic construction of programs. At the end of the course, the participants will be able to:

Staff

Name Email Office
Lecturer Gerth Stølting Brodal gerth@cs.au.dk Nygaard 321

Lectures

Lectures take place on Wednesday at 14:15-16:00 and Friday at 08:15-10:00 in iNANO auditorium (1593-012A). The first lecture takes place on Wednesday January 31, 2018.

Exercise classes (TØ)

Exercise classes take place as follows:

Class Date & time Room
Hold 1 Monday 12-15 IT-huset, lokale 131 (5523-131)
Hold 2 Monday 9-12 IT-huset, lokale 131 (5523-131)
Hold 3 Tuesday 8-11 IT-huset, lokale 131 (5523-131)
Hold 4 Thursday 14-17 Nygaard 192 (5335-192)

Exercise classes start Monday February 5, 2018.

Study Café

Study café hours take place at the Department of Computer Science study café in Buildings 5335 and 5342 (Nygaard and Ada buildings) at the Computer Science department - starting Monday February 12.

Weekday Time Place
Monday 15:15-16:00 Ada 020 (5342-020)
Tuesday 11:15-12:00 Nygaard 184 (5335-184)
Wednesday 11:15-12:00 Nygaard 184 (5335-184)
Thursday 11:15-12:00 Nygaard 184 (5335-184)
Friday 10:15-11:00 Ada 020 (5342-020)

Expected work load

Below is an estimation of the time consumption of this course.

Lectures 4 hours pr week 56
Theoretical exercises 3 hours pr week 42
Study Café 1 hours pr week 14
Handins 3 hours pr week 42
Preparation for lectures 2 hours pr week 28
Preparation for theoretical exercises 2 hours pr week 28
Preparation for the exam 40
Exam 2
Grand total 252

Basic literature

The primary book for the course is the following:

Guttag 2016 John V. Guttag. Introduction to Computation and Programming Using Python With Application to Understanding Data. Second Edition. 472 pages. MIT Press, 2016. ISBN: 9780262529624.

The book will be available at Stakbogladen in January.