Tkc0100: preface  (Page 7/7)

Multiple lessons

The course is divided into ten lessons plus some additional material. The first couple of lessons could be very useful to beginning programmers becausethey present some important fundamental programming concepts using the Python programming language.

The first lesson also contains some fairly abstract Backus-Naur material that seems to be out of place in an introductory lesson. Don't be too concerned if you don't fully understand that material.While critical for "computer science" students, you can go a long way in programming without fully understanding this material. (It is probably more important for people who design programming languages than for people who useprogramming languages.)

Beyond the first couple of lessons, the course gets into some fairly advanced material. However, if you understand the material in the first couple oflessons, don't hesitate to continue with the additional lessons.

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) with Java

This website is included in the last three items in my recommended path . The material on this website ranges from fundamental programming concepts for beginners to moreadvanced programming concepts for those with programming experience. This material includes the primary learning resources for several courses that Iteach at Austin Community College.

Other options

Information about other options listed above will be added later.

Miscellaneous

This section contains a variety of miscellaneous information.

Appendix A: Programming knowledge requirements in Texas

Several years ago, I extracted information from various Texas State documents in an attempt to get a handle on the minimum level of programming knowledge thatis required for students to graduate from a Texas high school with one or more courses in computer science.

A list of requirements

By organizing that material, I came up with the following as the minimum list of items thatmust be understood by the graduating student:

1. General knowledge of computer programming such as the ability to differentiate among the levels of programming languages including machine,assembly, high-level compiled and interpreted languages.
2. Problem-solving strategies such as design specifications, modular top-down design, step-wise refinement, and algorithm development.
3. Visual organizers to design solutions such as flowcharts or schematic drawings.
4. Variables
5. Expressions and Operators
6. Sequence, Selection, and Loop Structures
7. Relational and Logical Operators
8. Data types
9. Pretest and post-test loops.
10. One-Dimensional Arrays
11. Text files and structures of records.
12. Sequential search algorithms.
13. Use of simple data structures such as stacks and queues.
14. Use of the Java class library.
15. Command-line user input based on simple menus.
16. Coding proficiency in Java.
17. General Programming Syntax, Code Blocks, Comments
18. Writing and Calling Functions
19. Passing Function Parameters
20. Types of Errors (syntax versus logic)

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