CSCI N100

1
CSCI N100

• Principles of Computing
• Basic Problem-Solving
• CSCI-N100
• Dept. Computer Information Science

2
Course Goals

• Overcome fear of computers and computing
• Learn wide range applications
• Develop strong programming skills

3
Good computer users

• Have little fear of computers
• Learn basic concepts
• Gain solid background knowledge
• Practice problem-solving strategy

4
Learning about computing

• Computers do many different things
• Same thing happens in many different ways
• Programs changing all the time

5
Definition of computer

• Universal
• Information
• Manipulator

6
Universal

• Works with all kinds of information
• Does all kinds of stuff to it
• Very few limitations

7
Information

• Seems to be able to work with anything
• Actually very limited
• Tiny pieces of data combined into complex
  information

8
Manipulator

• Seem able to do anything with data
• Actually very limited
• Simple commands combined into complex instructions

9
Problem-Solving

• Use when youre stuck
• Plan for complicated problems
• Backup when things go wrong

10
STAIR

• S - State the problem
• T- Tools
• A - Algorithm
• I - Implementation
• R - Refinement

11
State the Problem

• Use English
• No technical words!
• Make it clean and precise
• Be complete
• Usually the hardest step

12
Tools

• Identify some tools
• Could be programs, commands, things, ideas
• Be imaginative!
• List all potential tools

13
Algorithm

• Computer word for plan/strategy
• Re-state problem in terms of tools
• Step-by-step directions
• You should know how to do each step

14
Implementation

• Just do it!
• Translate algorithm into action
• Should be easiest step

15
Refinement

• It never goes right the first time
• Look back over previous steps
• Fix problems and try again