Computer Science I:
Problem-Solving and Abstraction

Introduction

• Read Syllabus
• Read How to succeed
• Read 3.1 Getting started
• Read 3.2 Naming values

Aug. 28

Problem-solving and abstraction

Aug. 30

Expressions, values, and names

Sep. 1

Lab 1: Getting started

Abstraction and evaluation

• Read 3.3 From repeated expressions to functions
• Read 3.4 Conditionals and Booleans
• Read Vassar CS student integrity guide
• Assignment 1: Fun with flags

Sep. 4

No class

Sep. 6

Evaluating functions and conditionals

Sep. 8

Lab 2: Stormy weather

Tablular data

• Read 4.1 Introduction to tabular data
• Assignment 2: Ads take aim

Sep. 11

Tables

Sep. 13

Designing programs for tables

Sep. 15

Lab 3: Candy analysis

Data processing

• Read 5.1 From tables to lists
• Assignment 3: Sunrise, sunset

Sep. 18

Quiz 1

Sep. 20

Tables and lists

Sep. 22

Lab 4: Squirrels!

Defining data

• Read 6.1 Introduction to structured data
• Read 7 Trees
• Assignment 4: Decision trees

Sep. 25

Data definitions

Sep. 27

Trees

Sep. 29

Lab 5: Call the plumber

Recursive programs

Oct. 2

Further recursion

Oct. 4

Generating fractals

Review session,
7–8:30 pm
Taylor 203

Oct. 6

Exam 1

Simulation and interaction

• Read 26 Interactive games as reactive systems

Oct. 9

Reactive programs

Oct. 11

Graphs and simulation

Oct. 13

Lab 6: 99 red balloons

October Break

Oct. 16

🍁

Oct. 18

🍂

Oct. 20

🐿️

Python

• Read 9.1 From Pyret to Python, through §9.1.6.1
• Assignment 5: Much ado about lists

Oct. 23

Python and notebooks

Oct. 25

Lists and strings

Oct. 27

Lab 7: Python practice

Working with real data

• Assignment 6: Famous people

Oct. 30

Tables and arrays in Python

Nov. 1

Data sanitizing

Nov. 3

Lab 8: Cleaning table data

Analysis, visualization, and prediction

• Mini-project

Nov. 6

Visualization

Nov. 8

Tables and prediction

Nov. 10

Project work

Changes

• Read 9.1 From Pyret to Python, from §9.1.7 to §9.1.8.3
• Read 11.1 State, change, and testing

Nov. 13

Iteration and mutation

Nov. 15

Data classes and mutation

Nov. 17

Lab 9: Abstraction

Memory

• Read 11.2 Understanding equality
• Read 11.3 Arrays and lists in memory
• Read 11.4 Cyclic data

Nov. 20

Quiz 2

Nov. 22

Memory

Nov. 24

🥧

Dictionaries

• Read 9.2 Dictionaries
• Assignment 7: Predictive text

Nov. 27

Dictionaries

Nov. 29

JSON and Web APIs

Dec. 1

Lab 10: Distant memories