Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science

Course Information

This subject is aimed at students with little or no programming experience. It aims to provide students with an understanding of the role computation can play in solving problems. It also aims to help students, regardless of their major, to feel justifiably confident of their ability to write small programs that allow them to accomplish useful goals. The class will use the Python programming language.

Goals

• Provide an understanding of the role computation can play in solving problems.
• Help students, including those who do not necessarily plan to major in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, feel confident of their ability to write small programs that allow them to accomplish useful goals.
• Position students so that they can compete for research projects and excel in subjects with programming components.

Textbook

The textbook is   Guttag, John. Introduction to Computation and Programming Using Python: With Application to Understanding Data. 2nd ed. MIT Press, 2016. ISBN: 9780262529624. [Preview with Google Books] The book and the course lectures parallel each other, though there is more detail in the book about some topics. It is available both in hard copy and as an e-book.

Lecture and Recitation Attendance

A significant portion of the material for this course will be presented only in lecture, so students are expected to regularly attend lectures. Recitations give students a chance to ask questions about the lecture material or the problem set for the given week. Sometimes, new material may be covered in recitation. Recitation attendance is encouraged but not required. This course requires the Python programming language, specifically Python 3.5.

Installation Files

• Python Installation Files (ZIP) (This ZIP file contains: 1 .pdf file and 1 .py file)

Style Guide

• Style Guide (PDF)

Additional Python Resources

• Additional Python Resources (PDF)