EBoard 01: Getting Started
Approximate overview
- Lots of administrative stuff, including attendance
- What is “computer science”?
- A group activity, more or less
- Debrief on activity
Administrative stuff
Please take a playing card, if you didn’t already.
Introductory Notes
- Hi, I’m Sam (or SamR).
- Our class mentor is Eamon Worden
- Eamon will introduce themselves.
- Helping out here in lab/class.
- Holds weekly mentor session.
- Please fill out his poll.
- Mentors go beyond the roles of traditional teaching assistants.
- We have mentors for the other CSC-151 sections who you can also use.
- We will likely get a second class mentor.
- The class Web site is at
https://rebelsky.cs.grinnell.edu/Courses/CSC151/2021Fa/.
- I will email you the link.
- The class Web site is (always) a work in progress, but is
particularly behind this year. Sorry!
- CSC-151 is an introductory course in computer science.
- You can succeed (and even excel) with no prior experience.
- We approach material differently than many other intro courses;
prior experience may help, but it may also hinder. For example,
we will not let you re-assign variables. (Don’t worry if you
don’t know what that means.)
- CSC-151 is a community. We come from multiple cultures and backgrounds.
Treat each other with respect and learn to appreciate what each person
can contribute.
- We will return to this issue and the associated learning outcomes
throughout the semester.
- I type our online class notes in a format called “markdown”. You should
find it relatively readable. It permits me to make “nice” Web pages.
- Look, the page changed!
- Sam: Don’t forget to show off today’s eboard.
- Don’t just rely on my notes; There is good evidence that taking your
own notes helps you learn.
- I will record our class sessions (audio only + mediocre transcript)
using Otter.ai. I will try to remember to post the link. Remind me
if I don’t.
Other introductory stuff
- The CS department maintains a mailing list. Let me know if you’d like
to be added. (Conveniently, the question is on our intro survey.)
- I’m switching back to in-person teaching after a year or so of teaching
online. Please excuse me if I’m a bit rusty.
- CSC-151 is significantly over-enrolled. I’ll be adding a second class
mentor (I hope). We may need to modify some other activities for th
size.
- We provide supplies in this classroom to support you in working
and learning.
- Small cards to serve as flashcards, which are a good learning technique.
- Also large post-it pads that are gridded.
- And pens.
- I prefer to have you book office hours. First priority in any time
slot goes to those who book. https:/bit.ly/book-samr
- I will hold office hours online while we are in code blue or code teal.
(Also if we reach code yellow, code red, or code infrared.)
- You’ll learn more introductory stuff when you read the syllabus.
Apologies
- I am old. My hearing is not great, even with hearing aids.
- Some combination of age + meds + temperature in room + air movement in
room means I sweat a lot.
- Our Web site is not as up to date as I’d like. But it will be. Soon.
Ish.
- I am traditionally bad at names+faces. I will be worse with masks. It
will take me some time to learn your names.
- More to come ….
Upcoming activities
Guidelines
- You can earn “tokens” (more info follows) for attending designated
academic events or supporting your classmates in their pursuits.
- Attend (or watch recording within a day or so) and record a one-paragraph
reflection asap afterwards.
- Only those activities I list count.
- But you can suggest others.
- Links should appear in the Announcements channel on MS Teams.
- Unless otherwise specified, these each earn one token.
Events
- First Scholars’ Convocation, 11 am, Thursday, September 2.
- Sam will give a shpiel about Scholars’ Convocation next week
Upcoming work
Attendance
- Sam will (attempt to) call you by first name.
- You will respond with
- “Hi, my name is FIRST LAST.
- (Optional pronouns.)
- I prefer to be called NAME.
- If you must call me by last name, please call me Mr./Ms./Mx. LAST NAME.
- This semester , I am excited about ….
- Optionally, ask me a question. You’ll also have another chance later.
- This will take extra time because we are larger than normal.
- Note: For the first few weeks of class, please say your name each time
you ask or answer a question.
Excited About
- Swing, Contra Dance, Ultimate [+1]
- Grinnellephants
- Grinnelleanor Roosevelts
- Pickleball
- Grinnell
- Desserts
- Cold weather
- In-person classes, at least until we hit code yellow [+1]
- Here in the middle of the corn and soy fields [+3]
- On campus
- Nerf at Noyce (Humans vs. Zombies in this building)
- Football
- CS + (something else: Latin, Math)
- School is better than work
- Mock Trial
- New extracurriculars
- Drums!
- It stays under 100 degrees F, most of the time.
- Lunch
- Free time
- Morning classes
- Sarcasm (or Samrcasm)
- Multiple inches of snow! (and the things you can do with them)
- Open Mike
- Meeting people
- Swim season
- Seeing snow
- Band
Q&A
Can we get extra credit for going to volleyball games?
Only if we have a volleyball player in class. But you should go. Our
team is awesome, particularly Kaylin Kuhn (even though she chose Math
rather than CS).
What OS should we use on our computers?
Whatever is easiest for you.
In class, we will ask you to use our computers.
Can I have lots of your time to resolve the lack of clarity in the course
design?
Yes.
Do I have to give a question?
No. But I appreciate that you did.
Can we use our personal computers to take notes?
Yes. You can also keep them open. But I confiscate computers that
have (social media) open, and if I notice you focusing on your computer,
rather than the person you are supposed to be working with, I will
defenestrate your computer, even if you don’t run MS Windows.
Can you include the question “What is defenestrate?”?
I suppose so.
What is defenestrate?
To throw out a window. In the computer world, it is “Improve your computer
by removing MS Windows.”
Are you a pushover?
Yes.
Does Alina get one token for making sure Sam asks all the right questions?
Yes. As long as Sam remembers to record it. So probably not.
What is computer science?
- Computer science is the study of algorithms and data
structures
- Algorithms: Sets of (unambiguous) instructions.
- Data Structures: Ways to organize information.
- We study algorithms by …
- writing algorithms to accomplish certain tasks.
(E.g., Organizing or searching information.)
- identify problems
- generalize / simplify
- write instructions that allow “you” to solve them
- analyzing their efficacy.
- writing systems that implement those instructions (e.g., hardware
or languages).
- considering their effects on individuals or society.
- We study data structures in similar ways.
- Most of this class will be writing and thinking about sets of
instructions in an artificial language (aka a programming language).
- We use an artificial language because artificial languages
can be designed to be less ambiguous. (Also easier for the
computer to follow.)
Exercise
Practice writing algorithms!
- Form a group with other people with the same card.
- Write instructions so that Sam can make a WowButter and jam sandwich
using the bag o’ sandwich supplies.
- Assume that Sam is clueless.
Debrief