COSC 235 Programming & Problem Solving

• To be able to develop algorithms to solve problems and express those algorithms in pseudocode.
• To be able to read Python code and figure out what it computes.
• To be able to translate an algorithm expressed in pseudocode to Python code.
• To understand fundamental programming language constructs: variables, expressions, functions, control structures, and data types.
• To build a foundation for more advanced programming techniques, including object-oriented design and the use of standard data structures (as covered in COSC 350).

We are fortunate to be meeting in a classroom that can accommodate all of us even with appropriate social distancing. Consequently, all of us can attend class meetings in person starting with the second week of classes. The first week classes will meet remotely using Zoom.

Evaluate your own health regularly. Do not attend class or other on-campus events if you are not feeling well. Seek appropriate medical attention for treatment of illness. A doctor's note concerning absences is not required.

You are expected to attend class meetings in person if you are well. You must wear a mask covering nose and mouth in the classroom and sit at least six feet from others.

If you are not well, you are expected to attend class meetings remotely via Zoom if you can. The General Policy Regarding Attendance in the Wofford College Student Handbook makes you responsible for catching up on any missed classes.

If necessary, we will move to a synchronous, blended or a synchronous, remote model. Under those models, class meetings will be held in person and/or using Zoom. You will be expected to be in each of those Zoom meetings.

Bring a charged laptop to each class meeting if you can. We will often work in-class exercises using a laptop. However, I will expect your laptop to be closed unless I direct you to use it. Take notes on paper. Your open laptop is usually a distraction not only for you, but for other students near you.

If you are remote and using your laptop for a Zoom connection, try to get access to a second monitor. That will facilitate your being able to see what is being done via screen sharing and what you will do as part of an in-class exercise.

I will make every effort to keep the office hours listed at the top of this syllabus. If I must cancel or move office hours, I will announce the change in Piazza.

You do not need to make an appointment to meet with me during office hours. Just drop in via Zoom. The same meeting ID and password will be used for each instance of office hours. (They are different from the ones used for class meetings.) I am usually on campus during office hours and you can meet with me in my office as long as we observe social distancing. I will look at your computer screen by either connecting your computer to my external monitor or by having you share your screen using Zoom.

I appreciate your meeting me during my office hours since it is time I have set aside and cannot easily use for another purpose. However, I realize that you might have conflicts. You are welcome to contact me to set up an appointment. If you do, list some times that you are available. Please do not ask me when I am available. Or you are welcome to drop by my office if you think I might be there.

You must meet homework and project deadlines. You may be able to submit a project late if both of these conditions are met:

1. You contact me at least a day before the deadline to request an extension. In the request, include:
   1. a description of the problems you are facing
   2. how much more time you need
2. You submit by the deadline the work you have completed so far even if you receive an extension.

Post questions and comments about this course on the Q&A page at Piazza. You are encouraged to respond to a question or to edit a response to a question. We are all learning together. If you send me a question via email or via private Piazza post that should be posted publicly at Piazza, my reply will direct you to post your question publicly.

Do not post working code at Piazza. Do not include in a response either “fixed” code or a detailed description of how to change code to get it to work. It is okay to post non-working code.

I usually respond to email messages sent Sunday through Thursday within 24 hours. I will usually respond within 48 hours to messages sent on a Friday or a Saturday. I usually respond much sooner to Piazza posts since I have the Piazza app on my phone and receive notifications. However, keep in mind that teaching is my job and not my whole life.

You can send me email messages for private matters, such as letting me know you will be absent or that you'd like to schedule a meeting. However, I prefer that you post a private message via Piazza.

The Honor Code requires faculty, staff, and students to maintain a high standard of individual honor and integrity. Work represented as your own must be your own.

I encourage you to collaborate with others in the class—that is, help or get help from others. However, you may not write code for another student or provide code to copy. Doing any of these things is a violation Honor Code.

What is the distinction between collaboration and cheating?

Collaboration

• You may discuss a project with another person.
• You may work together to figure out how to attack a problem or develop an algorithm.
• You may describe an issue you are having, such as a bug in your code, and get suggestions for resolving it.

Ultimately, you must implement a solution to the problem yourself.

• You are cheating when you copy code from someone else or when you allow someone to copy from you.
• You are cheating if you let someone else edit your code—or if you edit their code.
• You are cheating if you are working along with another and decide together what code to write.

For some projects, you might be allowed to work with other students in the class as a part of a team. In this case, you are allowed to share all your work with your teammates. However, you are expected to do all of the work together. One student should not work without the others present and contributing.

Don’t cheat because you are up against a deadline. Start each assignment as soon as it is given. If you run into a glitch:

• Seek help from me, either by posting at Piazza or consulting with me.
• Submit on time the work you have done, even if it is not fully completed. You will likely get partial credit for your work and/or an opportunity to fix any problems and raise the score.

If you need accommodations, go to the Student tab in myWofford and investigate the Request Accommodations channel. I’ll make every effort to work with you. Take care of this during the first week of classes and before the first quiz.