Course

Introduction to Programming (DAT125)

Facts

Course code DAT125

Credits (ECTS) 5

Semester tuition start Autumn

Language of instruction Norwegian

Number of semesters 1

Exam semester Autumn

Time table View course schedule

Literature The syllabus can be found in Leganto

Introduction

The student learns how to write and run software programs using the Python programming language. The student learns the basic functioning of a computer. The students should learn fundamental ICT security. The students should develop basic awareness of artificial intelligence.

Content

The course teaches programming in the Python programming language. The students should get a basic understanding of structured programming. The students should be able to write and run their own programs. The student should learn how to use pre-defined functions and to write their own functions. The student should learn how their programs can get input from the user. The students should learn how their program can store and retrieve data from files on the computer. The student should learn basic use of the Python data structure list.

The student should also learn the basics of how computers work and the basics of information security.

Large language models are a type of artificial intelligence that can be used for programming as well as generating normal text. Therefore, the students need some knowledge of artificial intelligence and how to use it to become good programmers.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

  • Have a general understanding for how computers work
  • Have a general understanding of structured programming
  • Know basic terms such as variables, data types, control structures, lists and functions
  • Have a basic understanding of information securit
  • Know what a large language model is and what artificial intelligence is

Skills

  • The students should be able to solve programming tasks using the Python programming language
  • The students should be able to write and run their own programs using control structures, functions and lists
  • The students should be able to explain and do quality control of simple Python code that uses concepts from DAT125, also when AI tools have been used as support

General competencies

  • The students should be able to plan and code runnable software programs

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Written exam

Weight 1/1

Duration 2 Hours

Marks Letter grades

Aid Own handwritten or printed notes, Approved calculator

Exam system WISEflow

This course has a digital exam.

Coursework requirements

Compulsory assignments

There will be 6 assignments in this course. The first two are voluntary. The remaining four are mandatory and have to be approved in order to take the exam.

Completion of mandatory exercises are to be made at the times and in the groups that are assigned and published. Absence due to illness or for other reasons must be communicated as soon as possible to the laboratory personnel. One cannot expect that provisions for completion of the exercises at other times are made unless prior arrangements with the laboratory personnel have been agreed upon.

Failure to complete the assigned exercises on time or not having them approved will result in the students being barred from taking the exam of the course.

Method of work

This course will have six lectures per week in the beginning of the semester and four lecture hours per week after that.

All students can get help for the exercises at a room reserved for the purpose between four and eight hours a week.

In this course, students share teaching in parts of the semester with those taking DAT120 Programming fundamentals for 10 credits.

Using AI to support learning and study activities

AI tools may be used in DAT125 as a learning aid, but must never substitute for the programming skills the course builds — writing, understanding and debugging your own Python programs is precisely what you must master yourself. Different exercises will give different instructions in how AI can be used. In some exercises you should learn the basics preferably without AI use while in other exercises you should try out AI as a programming aid. Productive uses include asking AI to explain a concept (e.g., how a loop works, what object orientation involves, or how a data type is used), to explain an error message in code you have written yourself, or to generate practice problems for self-testing before the exam. You remain responsible for critically evaluating whatever the AI produces, and any use of AI in assessed work must follow the course's guidelines.

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
Programming fundamentals (DAT120_1) , Introduction to Programming (DAT125_1) 5
Introduction to Programming (DAT110_1) , Introduction to Programming (DAT125_1) 3
Object-oriented Programming (DAT100_1) , Introduction to Programming (DAT125_1) 2

Open for

Open course for all who meet the requirements for general university admissions certification (GSK).

Admission requirements

General university admissions certification (GSK).

Course assessment

The faculty decides whether early dialogue will be held in all courses or in selected groups of courses. The aim is to collect student feedback for improvements during the semester. In addition, a digital course evaluation must be conducted at least every three years to gather students’ experiences.

Contact

Coordinator laboratory exercises:
Per Jotun
Head of Department:
Tom Ryen
Course coordinator:
Erlend Tøssebro

Offered by

Faculty of Science and Technology

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

The course description is retrieved from FS (Felles studentsystem). Version 1