SCHOOL

Engineering

ACADEMIC UNIT

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

LEVEL OF STUDIES

Undergraduate

COURSE CODE

ECE_Y106

SEMESTER

1

COURSE TITLE

Introduction to Computing

INDEPENDENT TEACHING ACTIVITIES
if credits are awarded for separate components of the course, e.g. lectures, laboratory exercises, etc. If the credits are awarded for the whole of the course, give the weekly teaching hours and the total credits

WEEKLY TEACHING HOURS

CREDITS

Lectures

3 x 13 weeks

4

Lab work

2 x 12 weeks

1

Project works

1 x 6 weeks

1

Add rows if necessary. The organisation of teaching and the teaching methods used are described in detail at (d).

6

COURSE TYPE

general background,
special background, specialised general knowledge, skills development

Special background

PREREQUISITE COURSES:

none

LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION and EXAMINATIONS:

Greek

IS THE COURSE OFFERED TO ERASMUS STUDENTS

No

COURSE WEBSITE (URL)

https://eclass.upatras.gr/modules/auth/opencourses.php?fc=65

Learning outcomes

The course learning outcomes, specific knowledge, skills and competences of an appropriate level, which the students will acquire with the successful completion of the course are described.

Consult Appendix A

·    Description of the level of learning outcomes for each qualifications cycle, according to the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area

·    Descriptors for Levels 6, 7 & 8 of the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning and Appendix B

·    Guidelines for writing Learning Outcomes

After completion of this course the students are expected to be familiar with the fundamental concepts of computer science through a programming language. They will also be able to formulate ways to solve simple algorithmic problems and implement their solution using a high-level programming language (Python). Another goal is to involve students in collaborative solving of more complex problems during the project work.

Skills: Upon completion of the course, the students are expected to have the ability to design the algorithmic solution of simple problems and to code, test and demonstrate the operation of programs that implement these algorithms in high-level language (Python).

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of computer organization and principles of operation and programming at high school level.

General Competences

Taking into consideration the general competences that the degree-holder must acquire (as these appear in the Diploma Supplement and appear below), at which of the following does the course aim?

Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology

Adapting to new situations

Decision-making

Working independently

Team work

Working in an international environment

Working in an interdisciplinary environment

Production of new research ideas

Project planning and management

Respect for difference and multiculturalism

Respect for the natural environment

Showing social, professional and ethical responsibility and sensitivity to gender issues

Criticism and self-criticism

Production of free, creative and inductive thinking

……

Others…

…….

Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology, Decision-making, Project planning and management, Working independently

1. Introduction to Python, variables, expressions, representations of numbers, digital arithmetic. Information digitization and encoding.

2. Procedural programming with Python:  input/output and decision making.

3. Python: Loops, functions defined by the user, library functions (modules),

4. Python: Sequences, strings, lists, dictionaries and tuples.

5. Python: Files, interface to the operating system

6. Object Oriented Programming in Python, Definition of classes, objects, methods, inheritance.

7. Graphical user interfaces, programming with tkinter.

8-9. Computer architecture, Memory, Memory hierarchy, Central Processing Unit.

10. Introduction to computer networks and the Internet. network programming

11. Operating systems: process management, scheduling, virtual memory.

12.  Social aspects of computing, free and open source software.

Lab.: The course includes laboratory exercises involving problem solving and programming. The course also involves group work project.

DELIVERY
Face-to-face, Distance learning, etc.

Face to face

USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Use of ICT in teaching, laboratory education, communication with students

Learning management system used: eclass

Lab practical management system : virtualclass.ece.upatras.gr

Automatic Python code grading: astraia.ece.upatras.gr

TEACHING METHODS

The manner and methods of teaching are described in detail.

Lectures, seminars, laboratory practice, fieldwork, study and analysis of bibliography, tutorials, placements, clinical practice, art workshop, interactive teaching, educational visits, project, essay writing, artistic creativity, etc.

The student's study hours for each learning activity are given as well as the hours of non-directed study according to the principles of the ECTS

STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Description of the evaluation procedure

Language of evaluation, methods of evaluation, summative or conclusive, multiple choice questionnaires, short-answer questions, open-ended questions, problem solving, written work, essay/report, oral examination, public presentation, laboratory work, clinical examination of patient, art interpretation, other

Specifically-defined evaluation criteria are given, and if and where they are accessible to students.

Final Written Examination. The students who are eligible for the final examination have to participate in a 2-hour test. In the event of failure, students are allowed to take part in the resit exam of September.

In the final examination participate students who successfully have completed the lab practical. No more than three failures are allowed in lab practical work. A failure is considered 

1.no submission of work.

2. plagiarism in submitted work.

3. failure to attend the practical.

Students who fail the lab work need to re-enrol in the course during the following year and repeat lab practical from the beginning. Successful completion of the lab is also valid for the subsequent years in case of failure of just the final examination.

The final grade of the course is calculated by the following grades:

• The final theoretical examination (TH)

• Laboratory (LAB) grade, lab exam.

• The grade of teamwork-project (PR).

• The grade of tutorial exercises (TU).

Final course grade = TH * 0,5 + LAB * 0,2 + PR * 0,2 + TU * 0,1

This formula applies only if the grade of final theoretical examination is greater than 4 and only in the first year. If the student fails exam or resit exam, and is re-enrolled in subsequent year, the final grade is only the grade of the final examination.

- Suggested bibliography: textbook: N. Avouris, M. Koukias, V. Paliouras, K. Sgarbas, Python, Introduction to Computing, Crete University Press, 2016, 3^rd edition. (in Greek)