Course Syllabus

NOTE: Some links in this syllabus page may only be accessible to currently enrolled students.

Course Description

This is a fast paced course which covers a variety of fundamental topics in python programming which would be relevant to anyone who needs to write or work with computer code in their work or studies. The course will teach basic programming skills which allow students to solve a variety of real world problems. Additionally some basic algorithms for tasks like sorting will be introduced and analyzed.

Instructor Introduction, Justin Wolford

I am an in instructor in the Online CS program at OSU. I have been working in the online program at OSU for around 8 years now. During my time teaching I have done some contract database work for NASA and some other side programming projects. Prior to teaching I worked on avionics software at Garmin. Other hobbies include flying, playing computer games and wishing 2020 would go away.

My favorite language to program in is Python. But my work at NASA was in C# and my work at Garmin was in C. I also have some C++ and JavaScript experience as well from personal projects and my graduate work which was in Human Computer Interaction where I studied ways to make watching TV more interactive.

I look forward to working with all of you this term.

CS511 Course Syllabus.pdf

Please post all course-related questions in the Piazza page so that the whole class may benefit from your conversation. Not all posts require a reply from the instructor/TA and often it is better for students to hash out an answer to a question.

To contact the TAs, please use their email which will be listed below when it becomes avalible.

The instructor or a TA will reply to most course-related questions within 24-48 hours.

Contact Information for Justin Wolford, Instructor

• Email: wolfordj@oregonstate.edu
• Office hours: Thur 2 - 4pm Pacific
  • Justin's Zoom Link
  • Password: 582525

Contact Information for Luc Bouchard, TA: 

eCampus Resources These resources will be useful for all of your classes throughout the term... Library Information, Helpdesk Contact Info, Canvas Tech Support, etc.

Slack Channel (See 'Tools' tab for usage instructions): CS511 Slack Channel

Piazza Discussion Board

Slack

Slack on our OSU enterprise Workspaces is a FERPA-approved, online chat and videoconferencing tool. We will use Slack to be more connected and accessible to you.  Think of it as a much-more-interactive chat client.  A Slack Workspace is essentially a membership subset specific to some THING (like a course section, for instance).

There are multiple methods to connect to Slack.  We recommend using the desktop application and mobile app. You can find links to download these at our Departmental Slack Info Site Alternately, entering the slack Workspace URL in your web browser will allow you to log on without downloading an application, but notifications don't work as well using this method.

NOTE: You can also view a Demo Slack has put out which shows many of its capabilities in use, and our Departmental Slack Info Site has some useful information as well.

Connecting to our class Workspace

After you've downloaded Slack, when you boot it up you should arrive at a login similar to the following. 

Please connect to the Workspace oregonstate.enterprise.slack.com - this is the central connection point for all OSU-oriented slack workspaces. You should then select the "Sign in with ONID" and be able to connect. Now you're in!

Here's how we'll use the Class Slack Workspace:

• #announcements
  The landing channel when you first join. We will use this for announcements specific to Slack.
• #random
  Random chat among course members (students and teachers)
• #general (You will have to join this channel manually to really get anything out of Slack)
  Class-specific discussions, office hours, etc.

Tips for getting the most out of your Slack

Slack will only be as helpful as you let it be.  We use Piazza as a fantastic Q&A board, but it is by nature asynchronous.  For greater continuity of conversations, Slack is it!

• Create your own channels
  For group-work or study-groups you can create your own (private or public) channels!
• Create ad-hoc teleconference sessions
  Click the "phone" icon next to the channel title and invite people to join you!
• Engage with the TAs and Instructors
  We're involved the channels, so you can ask us questions directly! Refer to Instructor Communication Preferences on the Syllabus page for best-practices.
• Engage with each other
  OSU's primary motivation in providing this Slack experience is to give you, the student, a built-in mechanism for building relationships and collaborations among yourselves.  We hope you'll be able to use this amazing tool to do so!