UBC's Point Grey Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəỷəm (Musqueam) people. The land it is situated on has always been a place of learning for the Musqueam people, who for millennia have passed on their culture, history, and traditions from one generation to the next on this site.
Welcome to CPSC 110! Computation, programs and programming play a vital role in the work of scientists, engineers, artists and other professionals: they allow us to organize, store, analyze and visualize information; create animations, music, and online communities; control devices in our environment; develop computational models and simulations; and much much more.
The major goal of this course is to introduce students to a systematic method for solving hard design problems. Going forward in your career you will of course learn additional techniques, but the design method covered in CPSC 110 will serve you well whenever you face a difficult design problem — whether it is program design or a problem from another field entirely. Previous students have said:
Studying computer science inspired me to think about problems differently and take a more systematic approach to them. Program design is applicable not only to computer science, but numerous areas of life. It is essential in the development of problem solving skills.
The course is designed to be interesting, accessible and useful for all UBC students — CS majors and non-majors alike. No prior programming experience is assumed, and very little math and science background is required. The course will also prepare you to learn more Computer Science skills and concepts in the future, either through formal courses or on your own.
The learning goals for CPSC 110 are as listed below:
In CPSC 110, we use a variety of different online platforms and therefore it is important that you are familiar with them. This section provides an overview of the platforms we will be using this term.
Platform | Description |
edX Edge | This course is based on the edX Systematic Program Design series, and therefore much of the material we will use through the term will be hosted on edX. This includes:
Although we will be using edX extensively throughout the term, you should treat the numbered section materials in edX like a textbook. That is: most of the numbered section edX material will pertain to our course, but if there are differences between lecture and edX then what you see in lecture takes precedence. |
Zoom | Synchronous online lecture and lab sessions will be held on Zoom. |
iClicker Cloud | Lecture quizzes will be held using iClicker Cloud. |
Canvas | Your grades for all components of the course (lectures, labs, problem sets, midterms, etc.) will be available through Canvas. You can also find the Zoom links for synchronous online lecture and lab sessions through the Canvas-Zoom interface. NOTE: We do not check or respond to messages sent through Canvas mail. Your first target if you have a question is to ask it on Piazza (see below). But if you have a personal matter that requires you to contact your instructor or the course coordinator, please email them directly. |
Piazza | The course discussion forum is hosted on Piazza, which we will use throughout the course for the following:
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Gradescope | We use Gradescope to facilitate the grading of problem sets and exams, however, as mentioned above your grades will also be available through Canvas. You do not need to sign up for Gradecope and we will provide instructions about how to access your graded exams after the term starts. |
Course Team | While the course team is not an online platform, we are a valuable resource for the course! Instructors
Course Coordinator
Teaching Assistants
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DrRacket | We will be using the programming tool DrRacket this term. You can learn more about DrRacket on the Setup page. We strongly recommend that you do not perform any large updates (or operating system changes) to your computer or to DrRacket during the term, but especially not right before exams. |
Practice Exams | This page contains copies of exams from previous semesters. Do not assume that this term's exams will exactly follow the form of previous exams. Also note that some elements of the course change every term. The most recent exams are the best practice, the old exam topics will be relevant, but some details of the questions will be less relevant. We are in the process of deploying autograders for practice exams! Here are a couple of important caveats:
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The table below outlines the three major components of CPSC 110: lectures, labs, and problem sets. Use this table as a general overview of how these components work. Note that this is not an exhaustive list of what is expected of you in the course you will also be expected to work through weekly modules on edX and complete exams. See the grading section for a grading breakdown and more details about all the required components.
Component | Attribute | Description |
Lectures | Where it is | Lecture section of edX (lecture material), assigned lecture hall (location available on the SSC), and Canvas (Zoom sessions and recordings) |
What is marked | Lecture quizzes completed during class | |
When to complete | During your scheduled lecture section | |
Labs | Where it is | Labs section of edX (lab material), assigned lab room (location available on the SSC), and Canvas (Zoom sessions) |
What is marked | Problems in lab starter files (autograded) and lab check-off question (TA graded) | |
When to complete | During your scheduled lab section | |
Problem Sets | Where it is | Problem Sets section of edX |
What is marked | Problems in problem set starter file (autograded) and TA assessment (TA graded) | |
When to complete | Before the deadline (see the schedule) |
There are many moving parts to CPSC 110 that you will need to be familiar with this term. This section provides an overview of the various schedule components for the course.
Component | Description |
Course Schedule | Please check your course schedule in the Student Service Centre to see which lecture and labs sections you are registered in, and when they meet. All schedule times are listed in Vancouver’s time zone (PST or PDT depending on the time of year). |
CPSC 110 Schedule | This schedule allows you to determine when your specific lecture and lab section covers which material. Problem set deadlines and midterms are also included on this schedule. We recommend you bookmark this schedule and refer to it often, as you are responsible for all the material from all the modules that are listed. Individual instructors will post notes in the Lecture section of edX to tell you what you need to watch before lecture to prepare and after lecture for review. For each week there are 3 rows:
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Recipe Elements Schedule | This schedule shows which design recipe elements are required in each module of the course. It is difficult to understand what this table means during module 1a and 1b of the course, so do not worry about it then. But come back to it in module 2 and every module afterwards to know exactly which design recipe elements you must include in problem sets and exams. |
Office Hours | Office hours are a great place to get help with the course material, work on practice problems, and make friends. We encourage you to attend office hours whenever you like, not just when you need extra help. You are welcome to attend any office hours session regardless of your lecture or lab section. Zoom links for instructor and TA office hours will be available on Piazza and in the Zoom tab on Canvas. |
Exams | Midterm 1: Monday, February 7 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM PST
Midterm 2: Tuesday, March 15 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM PDT
Final Exam: Sunday, April 24 from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM PDT
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The intended grading scheme for the course is below, followed by a more detailed description of each component. The instructors reserve the right to change the grading scheme at any time.
Component | Non-Vantage Weight | Vantage Weight |
edX Questions | 0% *See note below | |
Lectures | 15% | 10% |
Labs | 10% *See note below | |
Tutorials | N/A | 5% |
Problem Sets | 15% | |
Midterm 1 | 15% | |
Midterm 2 | 20% *See note below | |
Final Exam | 25% *See note below |
Notes:
Component | Description |
Lectures | Lecture topics are shown on the schedule and each lecture has a corresponding page in the Lectures section of edX. You should check these pages regularly as they contain information to prepare for the lecture, information needed during the lecture, and information needed after the lecture. Lecture will be a mix of instructor lecturing and you working on short programming exercises. You will not always be able to completethe programming exercises during lecture - in which case you should complete them and use autograder feedback to perfect them after class. Prior to lecture you will be expected to work through one or more edX numbered videos. Most lectures will begin with a short lecture quiz on the pre-work. These quizzes will be graded for correctness. On some occasions there will be lecture quizzes in the midst of lecture, based on the work we are doing at that time; these quizzes will be based on participation and correctness. We will provide recordings of all the lecture sections while lectures take place online. Please note that lecture recordings are a supplement, not an alternative to live lectures. Our lectures are based on live activities which research shows improves learning. You must complete the lecture quiz for your lecture section during your scheduled lecture time to receive credit. You should use the recordings for review or to catch up if you must, on occasion, miss a lecture. |
Labs | Lab topics are shown on the schedule and each lab has a corresponding page in the Labs section of edX. You must go to the specific lab section that you are registered in and you must arrive at your lab on time. If you do not attend your lab on time and participate actively throughout the entire 2 hours and 50 minutes, you will lose all or part of your lab grade that week. Each lab will involve the design of one or more programs graded by the autograder, as well as a check-off question asked by your TA that you must answer before leaving the lab. Check-off questions are intended to test your understanding of the programs you were asked to design during the lab. Your grade in each lab is calculated using your autograder score and the score that your TA gives you out of three for attendance, behaviour, and check-off. The grading scheme is as follows:
Do not work on the lab problems prior to your scheduled lab time. Working on the lab problems during lab is a necessary and valuable opportunity to master the material. If you come to your lab with some or all of the lab problems completed ahead of time, your TA will ask you to start over. |
Problem Sets | Problem set deadlines are shown on the schedule, and each problem set has a corresponding page in the Problem Sets section of edX. You should check these pages regularly for problem set starter files, solutions, and feedback. We do not provide extensions and late problem sets will not be accepted. Each problem set will involve the design of one or more programs graded by the autograder, as well as an assessment with your TA that will take place during the next week’s lab. Problem set assessment questions are intended to test your understanding of the programs you were asked to design. Some weeks you will have a short TA assessment and some weeks you will have a longer TA assessment, however, you will not know which assessment you will have ahead of your scheduled lab time. Your grade for each problem set is calculated using your autograder score and your TA assessment score. Over the course of the term, your TA assessment score will contribute to 1/3 of your overall problem set grade. The grading scheme is as follows:
You can work on each problem set alone or with one other student in the course. If you work with another student, you must submit a single shared assignment for both students that includes both of your CWLs. Make sure you review the Academic Honesty Policy before starting your first problem set. You and your partner should work together on the problem set rather than just comparing notes at the end. You can change partners through the term, but each problem set must be done either alone or with a single partner. Please note that if you choose to work with a partner on your problem set, you may receive different problem set grades if you and your partner perform differently on your TA assessment, even though your autograder score is the same. The Piazza discussion forum is the only approved forum for questions about problem sets. An instructor will answer questions that appear to identify mistakes in the problem sets, but to the greatest degree possible you are expected to do the problem sets yourselves. Getting too much help on problem sets often leads to doing very poorly on exams where that help is not available. |
Exams | Midterms are shown on the schedule, and we will post more detailed information on Piazza as we get closer to the midterm dates. The final exam is scheduled during the final exam period by the university, and we will post more detailed information on Piazza as we get closer to the final exam date. |
Policy | Description |
Wait List | CPSC 110 follows the CS Department's wait list policy. Until classes start, all wait lists are managed according to the priorities described in the CS Department's wait list policy and there isn't anything that an instructor or course coordinator can do to get you into a lecture section that is full. Please do not contact instructors or course coordinators to ask about your wait list position or to request the ability to jump the queue. Each term a number of students drop the course and some space opens up in the course for students from the wait list. So if you would like to get into the course, you must:
The wait list quiz will take place shortly after the beginning of the term, before the add/drop deadline. We will provide more information about the quiz to wait-listed students once the term begins. The wait list quiz is mandatory to be enrolled in the course after the term starts, however, writing the wait list quiz does not guarantee that you will get in to the course. Students on the wait list are not allowed to attend labs due to room/TA capacity, but they must complete the lab work for practice to keep up with the course material. Students on the waitlist are welcome to attend TA office hours to get help and/or feedback on their lab work. Movement from the wait list into the course is dependent on both your wait list position and your ability to demonstrate that you have been doing work in the course from the first day of term. Please note that even if you are high up on the wait list, there is no guarantee that you will get in to the course. Wait list students who are moved into the course should email cpsc110-admin@cs.ubc.ca ASAP to receive exemptions for the lab(s) they have missed while on the wait list. Exemptions will not be provided for problem sets. |
Academic Honesty | The Department of Computer Science has a detailed policy regarding collaboration on academic work in addition to UBC's policy on academic honesty and definition of academic misconduct. As a UBC student, it is your responsibility to read, understand, and follow these policies. In CPSC 110, our specific rules about aacademic honesty and collaboration are as follows:
Any violations of these policies will be reported, in writing, to the Dean of Science's office. |
Attendance | Attendance at lectures, labs, and exams is mandatory. All material from the following are examinable:
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Absences | As stated in the grading section, your lowest lab grade and your lowest problem set grade will be dropped at the end of term, in addition to any exemptions. In the event of illness or another valid reason for missed work, you may be able to get an exemption, which will appear as a -1 for that particular lab or problem set in Canvas. Note that this does not excuse you from needing to know the material covered in any missed lectures, labs, or problem sets — it is your responsibility to cover the material you miss. If your missed work is not marked exempt by the course coordinator, you will get a 0. When completing an academic concession form or emailing the course coordinator about illness, there is no need to provide specific details about your illness - please just let us know that you are not feeling well. We do not need or want to know about the specific details of your symptoms. If you miss a lecture:
If you miss a lab:
If you miss a problem set:
If you miss a midterm:
If you miss the final exam:
If you have an exam clash or hardship:
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COVID-19 |
Please see the CPSC 110 COVID-19 Info page for information about COVID-19 Safety in CPSC 110 and what to do in the case of extended illness. |
Regrade Requests | Regrade requests for exams must be submitted through Gradescope. For issues with any assignments that were not marked through Gradescope (lecture activities, labs, problem sets, etc.), please email cpsc110-admin@cs.ubc.ca with your name, student number, the item you are requesting a regrade for, and the reason you are requesting a regrade. You must specify which parts of your solution you believe were graded incorrectly, explaining why your answer should be marked correctly with reference to the grading key and the posted solution. Note that explanations in regrade requests that either question the rubric or do not explain why the answer should be considered correct will not be considered. Note that we will only consider regrades if they are submitted within 48 hours (excluding weekends) of grades for that assignment being released. Also note that we reserve the right to regrade the entirety of any assignment submitted. When requesting a regrade, your old grade will be scrapped and your new grade could be higher or lower. Examples of unacceptable explanations are:
Examples of good explanations are:
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Accessibility | If you are registered with the Centre for Accessibility, please send your accommodation letters to the course coordinator at cpsc110-admin@cs.ubc.ca at the beginning of the term. Please note that in order to receive accommodations for exams, such as extended time or a private space, you must book your exams through the CFA exam portal according to their specified deadline. |
UBC Policies and Resources to Support Student Success | UBC provides resources to support student learning and to maintain healthy lifestyles but recognizes that sometimes crises arise and so there are additional resources to access including those for survivors of sexual violence. UBC values respect for the person and ideas of all members of the academic community. Harassment and discrimination are not tolerated nor is suppression of academic freedom. UBC provides appropriate accommodation for students with disabilities and for religious and cultural observances. UBC values academic honesty and students are expected to acknowledge the ideas generated by others and to uphold the highest academic standards in all of their actions. Details of the policies and how to access support are available here. |
Here are some tips for doing well in this course. We suggest you read this every week or so for the first few weeks of the course, that will help incorporate these ideas into your work.
In the words of a former student:
It's funny how repetition in actually doing the work leads to it all of a sudden making sense to me. I can't explain it. I don't have a sense of growing understanding. I have confusion, repetition, and suddenly a sense of understanding. It's not coming through watching or reading, though. It comes from replicating what I've watched several times. This has happened repeatedly for me in this class. I start the week with a sense of accomplishment, well being, peace of mind, and confidence from the victory over last week's homework. I am then submerged in doubt, confusion, and erm, terror. (Why not be melodramatic?) Suddenly there is a working epiphany and I have victory again.
The Setup page provides instructions on how to set up your computer and online accounts so that you are ready to work in CPSC 110. These instructions can be followed either before your first lab or during your first lab. These instructions assume that you already have a Campus-Wide Login (CWL) account.