A112 - Introduction to Programming Concepts.

Instructor: Jeff Whitmer

• Office: Luddy Hall 2050 (IF2050).
  
• Phone: 855-3974.
  
• E-mail: jwhitmer@indiana.edu.

Meeting Times:

Spring 2024: TR: 1:15pm - 2:05pm in Ballantine Hall 221 (BH 221) (section 34260)

Lab Times:

• Friday: 10:20 - 11:10am in Luddy Hall 0006 (IF0006) (section 34261)

Spring 2024 Students: Please note the following:
[Updated: 4/29/24]

• ACTIVE Course Engagement scores, Final Averages and Final Grades: are now posted on Canvas. Final Grades have been submitted to the Registrar and should be visible to you tomorrow, 4/30/2024.
  
  
• I have modified the Canvas grading scale so it matches the original course grading scale explained below. This means your final average and Final Grade as displayed on Canvas are official and confirmed accurate and correct.



• A note on the ACTIVE Course Engagement Score: The A112 ACTIVE Course Engagement score represents my evaluation of your preparation and participation in the class meetings, as well as your overall engagement in the course. As noted at the beginning, just being the one making the most inquiries doesn't mean you will get the highest rating. Similarly, making no inquiries doesn't mean you'll get a low score. ALSO NOTE that you cannot expect a high participation score if you missed a substantial number of the class meetings, even if your absence was excused. I did my best to advise everyone of the possible consequences of these issues at the beginning of the course. You can not be engaged if you are not present. If you were not present at all, then you were not engaged at all. Most ACTIVE Course engagement scores were in the 90s, but a few were lower and/or much, much lower.
  
  Here are a few additional details on Final Grades. Grading Scale Adjustment: Because the performance by the class as a whole was very very good, I could not justify making even a modest adjustment in the grading scale. The overall average fro the class was 86.75, with 7 averages in the 90s, 2 in the 80s, 1 in the 70s, and 1 below 60. The original scale was used, 90-80-70-60 with the top and bottom 2.5% being the +/- grade. The class average shows everyone worked hard and I think that is reflected in the final grades each of you. Again, I think a majority of you were actively involved and this is reflected in the scores.
  
  Remember, your final average was based on the following "weights" for each course component as published on the website the first day of class:
  
  Attendance: 5% (.05)
  Homework Assignments/Programs: 50% (.50)
  MINI/CAT/JIT/Quiz: 15% (.15)
  Lab Assignments: 20% (.20)
  ACTIVE Course Engagement: 10% (.10)
  
  Together, these add up to 100% and if you multiply your averages by these percentages, you will get your final average. NOTE: While final averages are published to 2 decimal places, they are stored and calculated to 6 decimal places.
  
  A NOTE ON "BORDERLINE" GRADES: After the grading scale was set and initial final grades were determined, some students may have been on the "borderline" for a higher grade. PLEASE be careful to note that "borderline" in this course means within .1 -.2% (tenths of a percent), NOT within 1-2% (full percent). For any such student, I looked carefully at every aspect of the course, from MINIs to CATs to Lab Assignments to Homework Assignments at least once, if not twice. If the work was of consistent quality in all areas, the higher grade was probably given. HOWEVER, if there were one or more areas where the scores/averages were consistently lower, or if there was any missed work, then the higher grade was not given. Just so you are clear, since I have taken the time to review all this information already, unless you find a mathematical error in your averages, I will not be open to a request for a grade change.
  
  Thanks to everyone for their hard work. I hope you found the course interesting and useful. Best of luck in the future to each of you.
  
  
• Homework ASSIGNMENT 2 Scores Posted and emails on the way. Homework Assignment Averages on Canvas confirmed accurate. Sample solutions also posted. Scores for Assignment 2 are posted and everyone should receive an email with the details of their Assignment 2 scores by the end of the day. Overall, an very good set of submissions, as good as I think it was fair for me to expect. The average was 94.00%, with 2 scores of 100, 7 scores in the 90s, 0 in the 80s, and 2 in the 70s.
  
  I have also posted a set of different solutions to Assignment 2 on the homework page, after the Assignment 2 description. They are from different student submissions and may give you an idea of the different ways to address these problems.
  
  I have also confirmed the Homework Assignment Averages on Canvas are accurate. This was a good performance by the class overall. There were 8 averages in the 90s, 2 in the 80s, and 1 in the 70s. Well done.
  
  I always give myself at least 24 hours to consider any adjustments to the Final Grading Scale and such, so you can expect Final Averages and Final Grades to be posted first thing Monday morning, 4/29/24.
  
  
• CAT 4 and Attendance scores posted. MINI/JIT/CAT and Attendance Averages confirmed correct: Just a quick note to let everyone know I have posted the CAT 4 scores and confirmed the MINI/JIT/CAT averages on Canvas match my records. Overall, the class average for MINI/JIT/CAT was 81.54% with 0 averages of 100, 3 in the 90s, 6 in the 80s, 1 in the 70s, 0 in the 60s, and 1 below 50. As noted at the beginning of the course, missing one or two of these small point value assignments would have minimal impact on your final average, but as some of these very low averages reveal, some students missed a very substantial number of these assignments which will impact final averages.
  
  The Attendance data on Canvas is also confirmed accurate, keeping in mind that values are rounded up or down to display only whole numbers. A 71.43 would display as a 71 and an 85.71 would display as 86. The precise, accurate values are still maintained in my records for the Final Average calculations.
  
  As per Course Guidelines, every student was entitled to 1 "undocumented" excused absence and I went through and applied this policy for everyone who was eligible. Keep in mind this reduces your total possible Attendance points, so each remaining meeting was worth a little more. The Attendance average for the class was 89.00 with 4 100s, 4 in the 90s, 0 in the 80s, 1 in the 70s, 0 in the 60s and 2 below 50.
  
  

Undergraduate Instructor, Spring 2024:

Zeshawn Zahid

Email: zzahid@iu.edu

• Office Hours/Appointments: No formal office hours. Preferred appointment times available and appointments strongly encouraged.
  PREFERRED Appointment times:


• Mondays/Wednesdays: 3:00pm - 5:00pm