Week 2:

Upcoming deadlines

  • Assignment 1 is due by the end of the day (by 11:59PM) Monday. Submit your completed document to elearn.
  • Next week - Assignment #2

Learning objectives:

Upon finishing this learning module, you should be able to:
  • Describe the difference between analog and binary, bits and bytes
  • Do conversions between binary and decimal number systems.
  • Explain how the PageRank algorithm works
  • Write functions to simplify code via abstraction and reuse

Suggested Pacing

  • Monday: Start the programming. Try to get through 3-5 and 6.
  • Tuesday: Tackle the bits and binary sections.
  • Wednesday: Finish the programming.
  • Thursday: Algorithm of the Week.

Reading/Tutorials:

Programming

I highly recommend that online students start the programming early in the week. You can work on it in parallel with the other material, but saving it for the last minute is a recipe for trouble.
  • Complete Code.org Unit 3, Lesson 5, Parts 1-12. Don't worry about the last part of 3.5.6 titled Abstraction and AP Computer Science Principles.
    Closed Captioned Video from 3.5.2
  • Complete Code.org Unit 3, Lesson 6, Parts 1-3 & 6. In part 1 of this lesson, there is a link to a PDF document that describes top down design. Do read the first page of the document, but do not worry about doing the second page with a partner (especially if online).
  • Complete Code.org Unit 3, Lesson 7, Parts 1-10 and 12-13 (skip 11).

Binary & Bits:

Number Systems and Binary

  • Read CS160 Reader - Data Representation from 4.1 to 4.3
  • Check in the Files link towards the bottom of the page - find the BinaryPractice.docx worksheet file and give it a try. The key is also available in that same location.

Algorithm of the Week: PageRank

  • Read Chapter 3 of Nine Algorithms that Changed the Future
  • Try out a PageRank simulator (you will need to use this for your assignment).
    You can find instructions in the CS160 Reader - Page Rank Supplement
    You can find some sample problems and a key for them in the Files link below. (Look for files called PageRankSimulations and PageRankSimulationsKey)
  • The CS160 Reader - Page Rank Supplement Has an optional section on how PageRank's random surfer model can be done as a series of matrix multiplications.

Assignment

Questions - these are the questions, do not submit this document.
Answer Document template - you should use this to write up your answers to the questions. This is what you submit.

Optional Extras:

Program or be Programmed - What does it mean not to know how programming works in the modern world?

Closed Captioned Version
Google Search - other tricks google uses to rank pages: