EBoard 01: Getting Started (Section 3)
Approximate overview
- Lots of administrative stuff, including attendance
- What is “computer science”?
- A group activity, more or less
- Debrief on activity (possibly continued on Monday)
Administrative stuff
- Please take a playing card, if you haven’t already.
- Sit where you wish (withn reason).
Introductory Notes
- Hi, I’m Sam (or SamR).
- Our class mentor is Drilon
- They will introduce themselves
- Sam will be unable to pronounce Drilon’s name
- Mentors go beyond TA’ing; they can also provide advice.
- Mentors help during class time
- Mentors run weekly mentor session - a time to get help, but as
a group. Often a time to review. Optional.
- The class Web site is at
https://rebelsky.cs.grinnell.edu/Courses/CSC151/2026Fa/.
- I will email you the link.
- The class Web site is (always) a work in progress.
- I don’t use Canvas.
- 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 CS 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 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.
- Isn’t this beautiful? (No, not really.)
- 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 try to record our class sessions (audio, mediocre transcript, and
pointless video) using Teams. You will be able to find the recordings
on Teams. Due to technological difficulties, today’s class will not
be recorded.
Other introductory stuff
- 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.
- And masks.
- Also whiteboards with whiteboard markers and erasers.
- I prefer to have you book office hours. First priority in any time
slot goes to those who book. https:/bit.ly/book-samr
- Office hours are not yet posted, but they will be next week.
- You can also DM me on Teams to arrange office hours (or email me, or
talk to me after class).
- You’ll learn more introductory stuff when you read the syllabus
over the weekend.
Apologies
- The syllabus is long.
- I am old. My hearing is not great, even with hearing aids. Please
try to speak loudly. I may ask you to repeat yourselves. I may ask
the people near the front of the room to repeat what you said.
- Our Web site is not as up to date as I’d like. But it will be.
- I am behind on class prep. I expect to catch up over the weekend.
- I am traditionally bad at names+faces. It will take me some time
to learn your names. I have about 70 students in 151.
- My wife passed away nearly two years ago. As I near the anniversary,
I am likely to be especially maudlin.
- I make “Dad jokes”
- I am snarky/sarcastic.
- More to come ….
Upcoming activities
Guidelines
- You can earn “tokens” (more info in syllabus) 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 within three days afterwards.
- Only those activities that I list count.
- Unless otherwise specified, each activity earns one token.
Scholarly
- Thursday, 3 September 2026, 11:00 a.m.–noon, JRC 101.
Scholars’ Convocation: Anne Harris
Artistic/Cultural
Multicultural
- Friday, 28 August 2026, 4:10–5:00 p.m., HSSC N1170.
Middle of Everywhere
- Friday, 4 September 2026, 4:10–5:00 p.m., HSSC N1170.
Middle of Everywhere
Peer
Musical, theatric, sporting, academic, and similar events involving this
section’s students are welcome.
Wellness
- Monday, 31 August 2026, 8:00–9:00 p.m., Prayer Garage.
Meditation Group
- Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 4:30–6:00 p.m., Bear Center Multipurpose Dance Studio (P103).
Wellness Yoga
- Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. JRC Lobby, Table 3.
Free Mom Hugs
- Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 4:00–5:00 p.m., Burling 1st.
Speed Friending
Misc
- Saturday, 29 August 2026, 3:00–?? p.m., Roberts Theatre.
PerforMIXER
Other good things
These do not earn tokens, but are worth your consideration.
- Saturday, 29 August 2026, 9:00 a.m.–noon, Tennis Courts.
Women’s Tennis vs. Coe College
- Saturday, 29 August 2026, 1:00–4:00 p.m., Rosenbloom Field.
Football Scrimmage vs. Buena Vista
- Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 4:30–6:30 p.m., Springer Field.
Women’s Soccer vs. U. Dubuque
- Friday, 4 September 2026, 5:00–7:00 p.m., Darby.
Volleyball vs St. Benedict vs. Simpson
Upcoming work
Attendance
- Sam will (attempt to) call you by first name.
- You will respond with
- “Hi, my name is FIRST LAST. (PROPER SURNAME)
- (Optional pronouns.)
- I prefer to be called NAME.
- Note: For the first few weeks of class, please say your name each time
you ask or answer a question.
Friday Public Service Announcement (PSA)
You will receive a Friday PSA each week.
- You can make whatever (non-harmful) choices you wish and still be
a Grinnellian.
- Please take of yourselves for the people who care about you.
- Plan in advance. Know what’s right for you.
- Consent is essential.
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.)
Question
What language do we use?
We are using Scheme (Scamper)
Why don’t we use Python or Java?
Python encourages bad habits.
Java introduces imbalances.
Scheme can be beautiful. Python and Java can rarely be.
Scheme introduces a way of thinking (functional thinking) different than
the other languages, one we find valuable.
Are we using Racket, which I’ve heard the class uses.
Scheme is the umbrella term. We’ve used Racket in the past, which is a
variant of Scheme. We are using a different variant of Scheme called
Scamper. They are all worth.
What if I am better than everyone?
You’re not because you clearly use an inferior set of criteria.
Exercise
Practice writing algorithms!
Preparation
- Form a group with everyone with the same number.
- Grab a few whiteboards. (plus pens and erasers)
- Introduce yourselves to each other.
- You only need to write one copy of the algorithm.
The problem
Teach our clueless professor how to make a Wow Butter and Strawberry Spread
sandwich.
Materials
- Jar of wow butter.
- Jar of strawberry spread.
- Loaf of bread.
- Pack of plates.
- Two knives.
- Two spoons.
- Two forks.
- Plastic bags.
- Apron.
- Tablecloth.
- One Sam
Questions
How clueless is Sam?
Fairly. Significantly. More than we expected.
Sam does know what hands are and what the various objects are.
We will try an experiment midway through to try to understand how Sam
(fails to) think.
Can we look at the jars and loaf of bread?
No.
Observations
- Surprise! Bread can be double wrapped!
- Whoops. Bread will fall to the ground if unwrapped poorly.
- “Place face up on table” seems to be a comment about Sam’s head.
Debrief
What did you learn? Or what might you have learned?
- We can’t predict everything when writing an algorithm. Things will go wrong.
- When things go wrong, laugh.
- Make sure to get the details right.
- English is ambiguous. Perhaps we should find ways to express things
in a less ambiguous way.
- Sam has no sense of self preservation. “Grab knife” should be “Grab
knife by handle.”
- Try as you go; you can learn from your mistakes.
- Know your audience; express in terms they will understand.
- Try to realize where you’re making assumptions.
- Algorithms have to be specific.