MEK1300 Introduction to Python Programming Course description

This course is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in Python, a versatile and widely used programming language known for its simplicity and readability. In this course, students will embark on an exciting journey of learning the basics of Python programming. By the end of this course, students will have a strong grasp of Python's core concepts and will be well-prepared to explore more advanced topics and applications in Python.

No requirements over and above the admission requirements.

After completing the course, students are expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence needed to engage in basic Python programming. The students will be well-prepared for more advanced Python courses and capable of applying their skills to solve real-world problems.

Knowledge:

The students can

• demonstrate a solid understanding of the fundamental concepts of Python programming, including variables, data types, and basic syntax.
• apply Python to manipulate numbers and strings, including performing arithmetic operations and working with text data.
• comprehend and employ conditional statements for decision-making in code execution.
• describe and utilize loops (for and while) to create iterative solutions to problems.
• understand the concept of functions, create custom functions, and demonstrate the ability to call and pass arguments to functions.
• differentiate between lists, tuples, sets, and dictionaries and use them effectively for data storage and manipulation.

Skills:

The students can

• develop and apply algorithmic thinking skills to solve simple programming problems using Python.
• write Python code that follows best practices, including proper indentation, naming conventions, and code documentation.
• implement error handling techniques (try- and except blocks) to manage exceptions and troubleshoot issues in code.
• employ Python for file input and output, including reading from and writing to files.

General Competence:

The students can

• apply Python to address real-world problems, demonstrating the ability to break down complex tasks into manageable subtasks.
• Collaborate with peers on programming assignments, engaging in code reviews and providing constructive feedback.

Lectures and exercises.

The following work requirements are mandatory and must be approved in order to qualify for the examination:

Submission of two programming projects.

Individual written exam under supervision, 3 hours

The exam result can be appealed.

In the event of a resit or rescheduled exam, an oral examination may be used instead. In case an oral exam is used, the examination result cannot be appealed.

After completing the course, students are expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence.

Knowledge

The students:

• will have a good overview of the Python programming language and can use it to solve real-life problems of moderate size.
• can understand the principles of object-oriented programming features (e.g., class, object, methods, inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, etc.) and can use these to write object-oriented codes.
• can understand the difference between functional and object-oriented features of Python and know when it is appropriate to use each.
• can develop robust and reliable programs with good object-oriented design, find alternative solutions for a given problem, and evaluate the pros and cons of the different solutions.

Skills

The students:

• can write clear and efficient programs in Python.
• can identify and correct errors in their own programs.
• can understand and familiarize themselves with other people's programs in order to troubleshoot, and modify them.

General competence

The students:

• can create effective programs in Python and solve relevant issues.
• can do a code review, document errors, and suggest improvements.
• can critically assess different programming approaches for a given problem.

Lectures and exercises.

The following work requirement is mandatory and must be approved to sit for the exam:

• Submission of one programming assignment.

An Individual written exam of three hours under supervision.

Exam results can be appealed.

In the event of a resit or rescheduled exam, an oral examination may be used instead. In case an oral exam is used, the examination result cannot be appealed.

No aids are allowed.