BI1IP12-Introduction to Programming

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Evangelos Delivopoulos
Email: e.delivopoulos@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Programming is a fundamental skill in all forms of engineering including the design and use of medical devices and is increasingly important across modern biology. The aim of this module is to provide students with the needed foundation to analyse, comprehend and produce their own code in C++ or Python. There is a mixture of theoretical lectures and practical sessions each week; the practicals provide an opportunity to work and build upon the material taught during the lectures. There is a test at the end of the autumn term and assessed exercises throughout the year, to provide students with regular feedback on their progress. At week 6 of spring term, students start their final project (worth 50% of the module).

Aims:

This module aims to introduce student to the principals and key concepts in computer programming. The C / C++ and/or Python family of programming languages will be used for examples and practical work. Programming will be undertaken in the Windows environment with a variety of editors. By the end of the module students should be able to write their own programs.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Recognise and describe programming constructs


• Explain and demonstrate how to edit and debug programs


• Explain and demonstrate how to compile and run programs within integrated development environments


• Predict what a segment of code will produce (tracing)


• Distinguish programming approach and constructs best suited to a particular problem


• Analyse a problem and design a programmatic solution

< li>Develop a program

• Critically evaluate programming solutions


• Test programs


• Reflect on approach and solutions

Additional outcomes:

Word processing skills; generic programming skills; use of compilers; use of modern integrated programming environment; problem solving; debugging.

Outline content:

1. Computing Concepts and Introduction to Programming; Structured Program Development


2. Program Control; Types and Operators; Functions; Arrays and Pointers; Characters and Strings; Formatted Input/Output; Structures, Unions, and Enumerations; File Processing; Data Structures.


3. Using Windows operating system; Interpreters , Compilers, Linkers, Debuggers and Integrated Development Environments; typical computer organisation

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures laboratory practicals, and flipped classrooms.