4 ECTS credits
115 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1008044ANR for all students in the 1st semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.
In this course the student learns the basic concepts of programming and algorithms. These concepts are taught by making use of the programming language Python.
The course contains the following chapters:
Chapter 1
Statements
- expression
- assignment
- functions (definition and call)
Types, operators and built-in functions
Chapter 2
Modules
Objects and methodes
Chapter 3
Control flow statements
- choices: if
- iterations
o counted loops: for
o conditional loops: while
Chapter 4
Iterations under control
Recursion
Working with files
Handling errors and debugging
Chapter 5
Algorithms
- search
o linear search
o binary search
- sort
o selection en insertion sort
o merge sort
Chapter 6
Python Wrap Up
Slides and course material can be found on http://www.etro.vub.ac.be/Education/Courses/Python/
Reference book: 'Practical Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science Using
Python', Jennifer Campbell, Paul Gries, Jason Montojo, and Greg Wilson
The educational goals are:
- To provide students with a sufficient background in programming for learning by themselves how to write programs in any programming language, and with sufficient notions in software engineering for asserting the quality of software.
- To give students sufficient knowledge about algorithms for choosing adequate solutions when a new problem needs to be solved.
The competences the student is supposed to have acquired are:
Knowing the essential constructs of high-level programming languages and understanding their implementation on sequential computers.
Knowing and understanding the classical algorithms for searching and sorting, and being able to evaluate the resources needed for their execution.
- Applying knowledge and understanding
Being able to solve simple exercices and answer questions about the above subject matters intended for testing the student's insight
- Making judgements
Being able for all the above subject matters to solve simple exercices implying choices, predict likely evolutions and evaluate advantages and disadvantages of different approaches.
- Communication
Being able to communicate efficiently, both orally and in writing about the above subject matters.
- Learning skills
Starting from the basis acquired in this course, being able to learn on his/her own a classical programming language.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 67% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 33% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:
- theory exam (1/3)
- practical exam (1/3)
- evaluation of project (1/3)
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Architectural Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Architectural Engineering: Verkort traject (only offered in Dutch)