This course has a twofold objective: 1) to introduce to the student to the 'cultural' and technological issues related to computer science 2) teaching the use of a computer programming language as a way to solve real problems

The student must acquire two fundamental types of knowledge: 1) the ability to solve concrete problems through programs implemented using a programming language and executed on a computer 2) the understanding of the quantitative aspects of computer science such as performance, computational power, representation of information, computer architecture These skills will be applied to the solution of practical problems.

No special prerequirements are expected for the course. Some basic notions of Calculus (e.g., the concept of function) and a minimal level of confidence with the interaction with a computer.

PROBLEM SOLVING AND ALGORITHMS [21 HRS] - Flow charts - Pseudo-code - Design algorithm solution for real problems Python LANGUAGE [40 HRS] - Data types - Numeric constants and variables - Strings and their manipulation - Input/Output of numbers and and strings - Arithmetic operators, powers, and mathematical functions - Boolean variables and operators - Control-flow structures (iterative and conditional) - Functions and calls - Lists, Sets, and Dictionaries - Complex data structures (Dictionaries of sets and dictionaries of lists) - Text Files - Exceptions handling

The course includes about 18 hours of lab, in which the topics covered in the classes will be implemented as Python programs.

Each week the student will attend 3 hours of lectures and 1.5 hours of exercise/laboratory. The lessons will be divided into two different types: - Problem solving: analysis of 'complete' problems, classroom discussion, design with flowchart or pseudo code. As we proceed with the weeks, students will implementing gradually increasing of portions of the exercise. - Programming: illustration of the Python language constructs and their demonstration using the PC.

- Handouts of class material. - Python For Everyone (3rd Edition), Cay S. Horstmann, Rance D. Necaise, ISBN: 978-1-119-49853-7, https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Python+For+Everyone%2C+3rd+Edition-p-9781119498537

Modalità di esame: Prova orale facoltativa; Prova scritta in aula tramite PC con l'utilizzo della piattaforma di ateneo;

Exam: Optional oral exam; Computer-based written test in class using POLITO platform;

... The exam will consist of two parts: 1) A set of assignments addressing specific programming tasks to be developed during the course. For each assignment, students will have to develop the program that implements the solution to solve the assigned problem (based on the topics presented during lectures and labs) and submit the code to the instructor for evaluation. 2) A written test that aims at assessing the student's knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the course (through numerical exercises and open-answer questions) and the programming skills (through the writing of a Python program that implements the solution of a practical problem). The main object of the exam is to evaluate the programming skills acquired by the students during the course. The duration of the written test is 1.5 hours and it is a closed book test. The maximum score for the written test is 30 cum laude. During the discussion of the results of the written test, the instructor can request a supplementary oral test that can cover the whole course program and is meant to assess and elaborate the student's skills.

Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.