Course Schedule

Overview of the field and the class.

• Lab: Setup (Discord, GitHub, VS Code, Python)

Python Foundations I: variables, types, file systems. First touch of the terminal and Python.

• Activity 1: The Hunt for the Maltese Python: released Wednesday, September 2, due Friday, September 4, 4:00pm. Add to calendar.
• Lab 1: The Doomsday Algorithm: released Friday, September 4, due Friday, September 11, 2:30pm. Add to calendar.

Python Foundations II: strings, types, and operations. Comments and markdown alongside your code.

⚠ Labor Day Mon Sep 7, no class

• Lab 1: The Doomsday Algorithm: due Friday, September 11, 2:30pm.
• Activity 2: The Calculation Report: released Friday, September 11, due Monday, September 14, 9:00am. Add to calendar.

Control Flow I: conditionals, blocks, and indentation. First hardware: meet the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W, blink the built-in LED.

⚠ Alumni Panel (mandatory), Fri Sep 18, 2:30–3:30pm. It replaces this week’s lab session

• Activity 2: The Calculation Report: due Monday, September 14, 9:00am.
• Lab 2: Beacon on Pig Hill: released Friday, September 18, due Friday, September 25, 2:30pm. Add to calendar.

Control Flow II: combining conditions with and, or, not. Loops and iteration patterns.

• Concept Checkpoint 1 (Wed)
• Lab 2: Beacon on Pig Hill: due Friday, September 25, 2:30pm.
• Lab 3: Fireflies at Bousson: released Friday, September 25, due Friday, October 2, 2:30pm. Add to calendar.

Data Structures I: Lists + Hardware Foundations lecture.

• Activity 3: Hailstone Numbers: released Monday, September 28, due Wednesday, September 30, 9:50am. Add to calendar.
• Friday class: optional Concept Checkpoint 1 make-up (the higher of your two scores is used) and catch up with any other work
• Lab 3: Fireflies at Bousson: due Friday, October 2, 2:30pm.
• Lab 4: LED Light Show: released Friday, October 2, due Friday, October 16, 2:30pm. Add to calendar.

Lists wrap-up; debugging strategies.

⚠ Fall Break Oct 8–11, no class

• Activity: Finding Bugs (syntax, runtime, and logic errors in broken code)

Data Structures I cont.: Lists + button input.

• Concept Checkpoint 2 (Wed)
• Activity: Button-Constrained Sorting
• Lab 4: LED Light Show: due Friday, October 16, 2:30pm.
• Lab 5: Simon Memory Game released

Functions & Modular Design: parameters, return values, scope, reusable code.

• Activity: Refactor with Functions
• Lab 5: Simon Memory Game, due Oct 23, 2:30pm

Data Structures II: Dictionaries, key/value mappings.

• Activity: Fruit-Stand Inventory
• Lab 6: Morse Code released

Dictionaries catch-up week: extra time to finish Lab 6 and reinforce dictionaries.

• Lab 6: Morse Code, due Nov 6, 2:30pm
• Lab 7: Stoplight released

Object-Oriented Programming I: classes, objects, attributes, abstraction.

• Concept Checkpoint 3 (Wed)
• Activity: Intro OOP (Book/Library)
• Lab 7: Stoplight, due Nov 13, 2:30pm
• Lab 8: Thermometer released

Object-Oriented Programming II: methods, encapsulation. Generating & Testing Code with LLMs: a deliberate, guided introduction to AI coding tools.

• Lab 8: Thermometer, due Nov 20, 2:30pm
• Project Pitch: pitch your final project idea to a small group at your table and gather structured feedback

Final Project I: proposal & design (short week).

⚠ Thanksgiving Break Nov 25–29, no class

• Activity: Project UML Diagram
• Activity: Whiteboarding Practice for Code Review

Final Project II: development wrap-up. Computing Ethics Debate (Mon).

⚠ Last day of class: Dec 4

• Class Activity: Computing Ethics Debate
• Concept Checkpoint 4 (Wed)
• Final comprehensive project code review (whiteboard), Dec 4

Final Exam Week.

⚠ Demo Fair: Monday, December 7, 9:00 am (Exam Code A)

• Final Project Demo Fair: present your project at a station while classmates circulate, in two shifts
• Portfolio due