(Class will start at 12:35 today to give everyone time to join)

Spring 2021

CSE 101: Computer Science Principles

LECTURE 0 – COURSE INTRODUCTION
ALEX KUHN
Some Tips on Using Zoom
Can send text chat messages
◦ Please feel free to write in questions at any time

Can mute / unmute yourself to talk

Just re-join if you lose connection to Zoom
Make sure to login to Zoom with your Stony Brook email address
Please send me any feedback if you have any issues or suggestions
Course Information
CSE 101: Computer Science Principles
Course webpage:
http://www3.cs.stonybrook.edu/~alexkuhn/cse101-spring2021/
Lecture: Tue/Thu 5:00-6:20 PM
Lab: Mon: 12:30-1:50PM
Staff
Instructor
◦ Alex Kuhn
◦ Office: B423
◦ Email: alex.kuhn@sunykorea.ac.kr
◦ Phone: +82-032-626-1230
◦ Office Hours: Mon 2-3:30 pm and Wed 3-4:30 pm in-person or via Zoom
Announcements
Please connect to the same Zoom URL each class
If classes go in-person, bring your laptop each class
◦ Classes will involve lectures, demos, and some in-class
activities
◦ Labs will involve coding in class
General Information
For non-CS majors:
◦ This course is an excellent way to get an introduction to what computer
science is all about and learn how to program
Many non-CS jobs require or benefit from some programming
◦ Data scientist, researchers, project manager, designer, most jobs at
technology companies

For CS majors:
◦ This course is the starting points for your CS career

This course assumes no background knowledge of programming

Course Overview
CSE 101
◦ Introduces the important, central ideas of computer science
◦ Explores computational thinking and problem solving
◦ Covers the fundamentals of computer programming

Computer science is the study of problem solving with computers

◦ Astronomers don’t study telescopes. They use telescopes to study the stars!
◦ Likewise, computer professionals use computers to solve important
problems in the modern world
◦ Computer scientists also build computers and software that makes the
computer run.

An important thread of this course is computational thinking, which is

the way computer scientists think about and solve problems
Major Course Topics
Computational thinking and problem solving
Fundamentals of programming in the Python language
Boolean logic
Basic algorithms for searching and sorting
Data representation and compression
Social, legal and ethical issues in computing

Additional topics may be covered and this list may be modified based
on interest and time
Textbooks
Software
o Python 3
o Visual Studio Code

Download links will be available on the course website

We will use a class to setup the software and get
familiar with it
Homework Assignments
o Over the course of the term you will be required to solve
computational problems by writing software in Python
o These homework assignments will reinforce concepts from class and
have you explore new concepts
o All work will due on fixed dates and times
o All work will be completed on an individual basis (write your own
code) unless otherwise instructed
o You will use Blackboard to submit your completed assignments

Please start early on the assignments! Most students find that

completing the homework assignments for CSE 101 takes a lot longer
than they anticipated
Late Homework Policy
Assignments must be turned in by the due date and time.
◦ Turning in any part of an assignment late means the entire assignment is
late.
◦ If your assignment is incomplete or not entirely working by the due date,
turn in what you have to get some partial credit.

If you have an emergency situation, email me before the due date and I
may be able to work something out
Bottom line: Plan ahead, start early!
Lab
Lab exercises will involve a variety of programming tasks,
such as:
◦ Writing your own, original, short programs to solve problems
◦ Running existing programs and collecting data about them
◦ Fixing errors in programs
Quizzes
The class has 6 quizzes and 1 final exam.

Quiz dates are posted on the schedule page of the course website.

If in-person, all quizzes and exams will be closed-notes and closed-

book.

o Do not miss the tests

o Arrange your work and travel schedules to be present for the test
o Makeup tests will only be given for verified, officially sanctioned
university activities. All makeup tests may be oral.
Grading
o Quizzes: 40% [6 quizzes, lowest grade dropped]
o Assignments: 25% [~8 assignments]
o Labs: 10% [~10 graded lab sessions]
o Class Attendance/Participation: 5%
o Comprehensive Final Exam: 20%

Must receive at least 50% on quizzes AND at least 50% on assignments to get a
grade higher than C-
Grade Cutoffs: A [93-100], A- [90-93), B+ [87-90), B [83-87), B- [80-83), C+ [77-80),
C [73-77), C- [70-73), D+ [67-70), D [63-67), F [0-63).
◦ Grade cutoffs may be adjusted downwards if warranted by the grade distribution at the
end of the semester
Participation
I expect everyone to attend class and have their video camera on (and
pointed at them)
There will also be in-class questions and polls asked through Zoom
◦ These are not graded – as long as you submit an answer, you will get full
participation credit

If you've responded to over 80% of the in-class questions and regularly

attend, you will get full points for participation
◦ I will calculate the participation grade at the end of the semester based on
the response and attendance logs
Re-Grading
To promote consistency of grading, questions and concerns about
grading of labs or homework assignments should be addressed first to
the graduate TA and then, if that does not resolve the issue, to the
instructor.

You are welcome to contact the graduate TA by email or come to their

office hours. If you would like to speak with the TA in person, and have a
schedule conflict with their office hours, you are welcome to make an
appointment to meet the TA at another time.

Questions on grading of the quizzes or exams should be sent to me

directly.

For the assignments, quizzes and exams, request for re-grading must be
made within one week from after the announcement of grades.
 My Prior Grade Distribution
Fall 2019 Spring 2020 Fall 2020
Final Grade Number of Final Grade Number of Final Grade Number of
Students Students Students
A 9 A 7 A 25
A- 1 A- 1 A- 8
B+ 1 B+ 0 B+ 3
B 9 B 2 B 9
B- 3 B- 0 B- 5
C+ 1 C+ 3 C+ 2
C 5 C 1 C 1
C- 0 C- 1 C- 0
F 3 F 1 F 9
Q 3 Q 4 Q 10
Cooperation vs. Copying
Cooperation (talking over problems) is a good way to learn and is
encouraged! But…
Do not copy code. Do not let others look at or copy your code.
Copying is not allowed on assignments or exams no matter the source
(written or verbal).
Ø When you submit your homework or exams, you are pledging that the
work is your own and you have not copied it.
Ø You are also pledging that you have not allowed others to copy it.

DO NOT COPY! (Software tools catch cheating easily)

Please ask me anytime if you have any questions on this
TA Assistance
TAs are available most days each week
◦ Schedule is forthcoming (will post on course website)
◦ TAs are available online via Zoom (links will be posted on website)

Come with specific questions and/or code with which you need help
◦ TAs try to spend time with everyone that comes to a session
◦ Be courteous and share the TA’s attention
CampusWire
CampusWire is a website that you can post questions and get answers
from TAs, the professor, and classmates
You will receive an invitation after class to join CampusWire
◦ Post any questions on the course material on the CampusWire website, so
that everyone benefits from the answer
◦ If you have a personal issue, you can always email or talk to me directly

Do not post more than a few lines of code for a homework assignment
or any solutions
◦ Please visit office hours for the instructor or TAs if you need more extensive
help debugging your code
Disability
If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability,
please contact the Department of Student Affairs.
◦ Location: Academic Building A207
◦ Phone: 626-1190
They will determine with you what accommodations, if any, are
necessary and appropriate

All information and documentation of disability is confidential

How to Succeed in this Class
Attend class and be on time!
◦ Not all information is in my lecture notes or in the book
◦ I do in-class demos that emphasize non-obvious details

This is an introductory course, but we’re going to cover a lot of material

and move quickly.

The assigned work will take a lot of your time, so practice good time
management.
How to Succeed in this Class
Read the reading assignments, review the lecture notes, and try out
example code
◦ Practice is the only way to become proficient at coding
◦ Very often your first, second, or third attempt at solving a problem
will not be successful. It is essential that you give yourself enough
time to try different ideas, taking breaks along the way!
◦ Those who write extra code for problems not assigned (“for fun”)
generally do best in this class

Ask questions right away if confused. Ask in class, ask a TA, come to my
office hours or send an email. Don’t stay confused and don’t get behind!
Introductions
We will take turns introducing ourselves
Everyone turn on their video
When I call upon you:
◦ Unmute yourself
◦ Say your name, major, and year
Next Steps
Review the course webpage:
http://www3.cs.stonybrook.edu/~alexkuhn/cse101-spring2021

Your first task:

◦ Please fill out the posted survey before next class (on course schedule)

Welcome and I hope you enjoy the class!