Grades are in Synergy for the first assignment. The results: A: 8 and E: 4. We'll start class with a discussion of how to interpret these results within the context of our learning environment.

Check out the first item under Resources on our class homepage to see a link to the Terminus game that Chris told us about in class on Tuesday. This seems to be a great way to begin learning the Unix CLI. I highly encourage you to use it!

Next we will finish the setup of our git repos that we began last class. For the remainder of class I will summarize the important ideas from Chapter 1: Why program? in our text.

By the end of class you should understand:

• the four things computers do
• how information is represented in a computer
• what a computer program is
• why Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language
• the difference between shell mode and script mode in running Python code

Read Chapter 1: Why program? and complete the exercises at the end of the chapter.

As an NVCC college student, the expectation is that you will use your VCCS email address to communicate with me, and that is what I want you to do. I know that you will often want to use other channels to communicate with each other for pair and group work. That's fine.

But if you want to communicate with me about anything, scheduling an office hour meeting to get help, expressing concerns about your grades or anything related to our class, email me from your VCSS email address to my VCCS email address. I will commit to check VCSS email at the start of each day, and unless unexpected circumstances arise (which I'm sure they occassionally will) to respond to you within 24 hours.

Your first homework assignment will require you to send me an email from your VCSS email answering a set of questions about your previous programming background and the goals and expectations you have for taking this course.

We are going to be moving fast is in this course to get you ready to pass the PCEP certification exam by the end of the first quarter. Almost your entire grade this first quarter (excluding the credit you earn for the first homework assignment) will come from the test scores from the frequent practice tests you will take throughout the quarter.

It is assumed that you already have the prerequisit skills which you should have aquired in the previous course, including comfort using a Unix command-line interface (CLI), a console based text editor (Vim in particular), and using git and a git host as both a software development and commuications tool. I will be using these tools during presentations in class. If you do not know how to use them, I can make time to work with you outside of class during my frequent office hours to help you learn them, but we will not have time to learn them in class.

During the second half of class, I will walk you through instructions for creating an account on Codeberg. You will email me a link to your repo for this class as part of your homework assignment.

Using your VCCS email account, send me an email to my VCCS email address: jde232@email.vccs.edu introducing yourself to me by answering the following questions:

1. What is your past experience with with the Unix CLI, console based text editors like Vim, and revision control using git?
2. What is your previous programming experience? Which programming languages, if any, do you know? How well do you feel you know them? With which programming environments do you have experience?
3. What motivated you to sign up for this course, and what are you hoping to get out of it? Please be as specific as you can.
4. Understanding that this will be a rigerous, challenging course, do you feel you are interested in and dedicated to it enough to put in the time you will need to be successful?
5. Is there anything you would like to see in a Classroom Charter containing the rules and norms we all agree together to abide in our learning community?
6. What is the url of the git repo you created for this class?

Due: Email this assignment to me by 4 pm on Wednesday so that I have time to reply before our class on Thursday.

Evaluation: This first assignment will be worth half the normal test grade that will make up your grade during first quarter. An A will be earned for specific, detailed, and thoughful answers to my questions. B will be earned if all questions are answered, but specific details are lacking. C will be earned for answering most questions, and D will be earned for sending me an email.

Not everyone will be here today, so for those of you who are, I'll let you get started on the homework that will be assigned in class tomorrow.