Textbook (free)

COMSC-122: Prog Concepts & Methods I

Summer 2026 Sam Bowne

This is an online class with
optional weekly class meetings
Mondays at 6 pm on Zoom
Password: student1

Schedule · Projects · Syllabus · Outline

Class Description

This course introduces the discipline of computer science with practical hands-on problem solving using a "high level" computer programming language. The course will include basic syntax and semantics of a "high level: language, variables, types, expressions, assignment, basic computation, simple I/O conditional and iterative control structures, functions, and parameter passing, structured decomposition, program design, programming style, algorithms, and problem solving strategies, overview of programming languages, binding, visibility, scoping, and lifetime management.

Textbook

You will need to work through the textbook chapters and take quizzes to earn points. The textbook is a free online resource, with interactive Google Colab notebooks to use for each chapter, linked below. There are also videos posted below to guide you through each chapter.
Think Python (free, online)

Quizzes

The quizzes are multiple-choice, online, and open-book. However, you may not ask other people to help you during the quizzes. Each quiz has 5 questions, you have ten minutes to take it, and you can make two attempts. If you take the quiz twice, the higher score counts.

Use this Canvas server: LMC Canvas

CodinGame

You will need to solve coding challenges to practice with Python, as explained at: VP 500: CodinGame.

You need to turn in screen images of your profile into Canvas to collect points for challenges.

Contact

For class-related questions, please send messages inside Canvas.

Grading

Grades are determined from your total points, like this:
Points   Grade
630   A
560   B
420   C
350   D
< 350   F

Schedule

DateDue on FridayTopic
Mon 6-8
Week 1		Quizzes Ch 1 and 2 1. Programming as a way of thinking
2. Variables and Statements
Demo: VP 500: CodinGame

Mon 6-15
Week 2		Quizzes Ch 3, 4, and 5 3. Functions
4. Functions and Interfaces
5. Conditionals and Recursion

Mon 6-22
Week 3		Quizzes Ch 6, 7, and 8
VP 500: CodinGame Progress		 6. Return Values
7. Iteration and Search
8. Strings and Regular Expressions

Mon 6-29
Week 4		Quizzes Ch 9 and 10 9. Lists
10. Dictionaries

Mon 7-6Quizzes Ch 11, 12 and 13 11. Tuples
12. Text Analysis and Generation
13. Files and Databases

Mon 7-13
Week 6		Quizzes Ch 14, 15, and 16 14. Classes and Functions
15. Classes and Methods
16. Classes and Objects

Mon 7-20
Week 7		Quiz Ch 17
VP 500: CodinGame Progress		 17. Inheritance

Mon 7-20
through
Thu 7-30		  Final Exam available online.
You can only take it once.

Extra Projects

Enter Flags · Scoreboard

ML 190: Personal AI Infrastructure (PAI) (10 pts)
ML 200: Claude Code Agent on Ubuntu (10 pts)

Curriculum Public View

Last Updated: 6-22-26 7:04 pm