Woodcrest University’s CS101, Introduction to Programming, taught by Professor Lazlo Hunter, takes place every Saturday at 12:30 PM. This course offers an engaging exploration of the logic, precision, and creativity involved in programming. The main objective is to understand programming, grasp the foundational concepts behind it, and, ideally, write a few programs.
In the first session on October 26, titled “The Basics of Programming: Building Blocks for Digital Creation,” Professor Hunter started the discussion by asking, “What do we mean when we talk about programming?” Student responses varied from “telling the computer to do things” to “coding instructions for specific functions.” Hunter explained that programming is similar to crafting a recipe, with each instruction representing a distinct step.
To illustrate the importance of specificity in programming, Professor Hunter encouraged the class to think like computers. When given the broad instruction to “move to the door,” students were asked to break it down into clear, specific steps, like “turn 90 degrees” and “move forward 5 feet.” He emphasized that ambiguity in instructions could lead to unexpected results from the computer.
To explain inputs and outputs, he used the classic “Hello, World!” examples across various coding languages. Hunter introduced the concept of Pseudocode, which involves writing instructions in plain language before converting them into actual code. He likened it to mapping out directions before embarking on a trip: “If it is sunny outside, go to the beach; otherwise, wrap up warm.” Pseudocode helps students focus on the logic behind programming without getting bogged down by syntax. To understand more complex concepts, the class will apply Pseudocode throughout the course.
On November 9, the “Foundations of Information: Understanding Data Types” class introduced four essential data types. Each data type serves a specific purpose, much like a builder selecting materials for a project. For example, integers represent whole numbers, while floats handle decimal values, which is critical for tasks requiring precision, such as financial calculations. Professor Hunter explained that strings consist of text in quotes, distinguishing between numbers treated as text and numerical data. He briefly introduced substrings. Lastly, he presented booleans as the decision-making backbone of programming.
Professor Hunter’s approachable teaching style and relatable analogies make programming accessible and enjoyable. Attend CS101 next Saturday to discover what coding is all about!