Information on the mini-course

1. Learning outcomes

Starting from a specification of a problem, students should be able to design and write (parts of) a Python program that solve the problem, by choosing the most appropriate algorithmic techniques reviewed in the mini-course and the most appropriate data structures available in Python.

Problem solving abilities include the ability to ask questions to resolve ambiguities in the description of the problem, to analyze the tradeoffs among possible solutions, and to choose a solution based on some reasonable criteria.

2. Teaching methods

Teaching consists of classroom lectures and optional home assignments related to the topics covered so far in the course. It is assumed that students have a laptop with anaconda3 installed. Assistance to install anaconda3 and to use Jupyter Notebook can be provided at the start of the course.

3. Syllabus

• Review of a (subset of) Python: expressions, functions, recursion, iteration, comprehension and conditional expressions, assert; sequences, dictionaries and sets.

• Divide-and-conquer using sequences and recursion.

• Memoization of (recursive) functions using dictionaries.

• Staging of computation using functions returning functions.

• Complexity analysis using profiling.

4. Teaching material

• Slides used in lectures will be made available in the folder SLIDES.
• Material available online is referenced through links or copied in the folder TEACHING MATERIAL.

5. Exam

The exam is a lab test consisting of programming exercises done individually in DIBRIS SW labs and submitted on aulaweb. There are 5 exam sessions in each academic year, usually in Jun, Jul, Sep, Jan, Feb.

1. The exam consists in programming exercises to be done in a limited time (at most 3 hours) and to be submitted on AulaWeb by a strict deadline
2. To take part in an exam session you have to book on servizionline 7 days before.
3. 5 days before the exam it will be published on AulaWeb the list of students that have booked for the exam and precise information on the time and place for the exam.
4. During the exam you will have to use computer in SW1/SW2 with limited access to internet, you can consult written material that you bring with you, but you cannot use your own devices (such as cell phone or PC).

Students with disability and specific learning disorder (DSL in English/DSA in Italian) should check the information (in Italian) on the University web site and use the following request form https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti.

For students that have the right for X% of extra time, it will be granted instead an X% increase of the mark (for home assignments no compensatory measures will be granted).