Introduction to computer science

Duration

24h Th, 14h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Bernard Boigelot

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course covers the following material: Concepts of computer, algorithm, program. Basic notions of algorithmics. Introduction to C language programming. Time and space complexity, "big-O" notation. Correctness and termination anaysis of programs. Functions and procedures, recursion. Manipulation of arrays and character strings. Structures, pointers, dynamic memory allocation. Elementary data structures: stacks and queues.
 

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, students will be able to develop algorithms for solving simple problems, as well as to analyze their correctness, termination, and performance. They will master the basics of the C language, and will be able to program their solutions in this language.
 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

There is no prerequisite.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

• Theoretical lectures.
• Exercise sessions aimed at making students understand the theory, and become able to apply it to concrete problems. The tools that make it possible for students to program their solutions on their own computer will be explained in the course of these exercise sessions.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

• Theoretical lectures are given by the professor.
• Exercise sessions are supervised by an assistant, helped by student teaching aids. These sessions are held in groups of about forty students.

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

In 2020-21, exceptionally, the lessons will be given by means of video clips that will be published on the WWW page of the course.
The face-to-face lessons will be replaced by question-and-answer and exercice sessions, welcoming each week half of the students. In order to get the most out of these sessions, it is important to watch the video clips and prepare the corresponding exercices before attending them.
This organization may be adapted during the quadrimester according to the evolution of the sanitary situation.

Recommended or required readings

The slides used for the theoretical lectures are the main support material. A copy of those slides can be downloaded from the course webpage. Students looking for a reference document on the C language can read The C Programming Language (2nd edition), Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis M. Ritchie, or its french translation. (It is not mandatory to buy this book in order to follow the course.)
 

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

- Remote

written exam

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred in-person


Additional information:

A written exam (open questions) in January, June (for first-block students), and September. This exam will be held either at the university or remotely, depending on the sanitary situation.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

• Theoretical lectures are given in the first quadrimester, Tuesday afternoon from 13:30 to 15:30.
• Students are dispatched to several rooms for the exercise sessions, from 15:45 to 17:45. These rooms might change during the year.

Contacts

Professor: Bernard Boigelot, bernard.boigelot@uliege.be Assistant: Jean-François Grailet, jean-francois.grailet@uliege.be