DSW-Unit 2-Python

Summary

Crash course in Python for students that have some programming background (e.g. in Scratch, Snap, Processing, Java, Swift, etc.)

Topics

• Python Read/Eval/Print loop (REPL)
• Saving and running Python files in IDE provided
• Variables
• Types: int, float, bool, str, list, dict, object
• Functions
• Print vs. Return
• Control Flow: if, for, while
• Iterating over lists
• Using iteration to find counts, sums, min and max
• Working with Dictionaries
• Nested data structures (lists/dictionaries)
• Errors: syntax, run-time, logic

Learning Objectives

• The student will be able to do basic create, edit, run operations for a simple standalone 'hello world' style Python Program
• The student will be able to distinguish between syntax, run-time and logic errors
• Students will be able to fix simple syntax errors when given code that is almost correct
• Students will demonstrate that they can use the Python REPL to evaluate simple Python expressions
• Student will demonstrate that they can load function definitions into the Python environment and use the REPL to evaluate the function at various values
• Students will demonstrate that they can use unit testing and test-driven development to develop simple functions
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of print vs return
• Students will demonstrate that they understand how to trace programs that involve if/else control structures
• Students will demonstrate that they understand how to compute functions of lists using iteration (including min, max, sums and counts)
• Students will demonstrate that they understand how to work with simple dictionaries using keys, values, and iteration
• Students will demonstrate that they understand how to work with nested data structures involving lists and dictionaries

UC a-g application information

Summary

In this unit, students will be introduced to the basic concepts of the Python programming language. Given that at least one programming course is a pre-requisite, it is assumed that students are familiar with the concepts of variables, expressions, types, functions, selection and loops, but that they will need to practice applying these concepts in a new programming language. The concept of nested data structures involving lists and dictionaries may be a new concept for many students, and is fundamental to working with web-based data represented in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), a skill needed later in the course; that will, therefore, be a major emphasis of this unit. In addition, the practice of test-driven development—fundamental both to undergraduate CS programs and software industry practice, will be taught and reenforced through hands-on practice.

Key Assignment

A key assignment for this unit will be to write a series of functions that computes results over increasingly complex data, starting with simple scalars, and progressing to lists, dictionaries, and nested data structures that combine lists and dictionaries. The students will be provided with stubs and unit tests for the functions, and will be required to write the code to compute the correct results. Students will learn to become proficient in a programming language (Python) not covered in previous courses in the curriculum, This is an academically challenging assignment involving problem-solving, and serious attention to analytical thinking.

Activities