Week 1 (August 26 – September 1)

Wednesday, August 28 (6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M., Zoom) Class Session 1
Topics	Course Startup
In-Class Activities	Q&A Regarding Syllabus and Course Expectations Introduce Yourself
Required Readings	Course Syllabus Course Roadmap
Required Recordings	Tutorial Video: Tips on Playing My Videos Lecture Video: IS430 Course Introduction - Fall 2024 Lecture Video: Understanding the Participation Grading Scheme and Its Impacts
Other Resources	University of Illinois Library (2023). Finding and using e-books. Leidel, J. (2023). 12 Reasons to Choose Conda.
Prep For In‑Class Activities	Introduce Yourself I plan to go through the class in the order that students appear in the Zoom list of attendees. I will ask each of you to speak in turn. I am expecting each of you to speak for 1 - 2 minutes. Here are the things that I would like you to share with us: Your name; The iSchool program in which you are enrolled (if applicable); Your employment (this includes, full-time, part-time, university, and home care activities); Your previous experience with tools used in this course (Python, Anaconda, PyCharm Professional); Most Important: What you would like to get out of this course. I look forward to meeting each of you during your introductions.

Sunday, September 1 (10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M., Zoom) Optional Session
Lab Session	On Sunday mornings from 10:00 AM till 11:00 AM, we will be holding an optional Lab Session using Zoom. Please drop by to ask a question, to discuss solutions to previous assignments, to get help with the current assignment, to discuss the final project, or just to say hello. Please use a headset while participating.

Sunday, September 1, @ 11:55 P.M. Weekly Assignments Deadline
Computing Setup	Choose Your Computer Description: I recommend that you use a computer that runs Windows (either Windows 10 or Windows 11) or a recent release of macOS. While the software that we will be using for this course does run on Linux, there will be substantially less technical support available for Linux. If you are considering using a Linux computer, please consult with me beforehand. Install Anaconda Description: Anaconda is an open data science platform that provides access to a coordinated set of Python tools. We will be using Anaconda to build Python virtual environments. These virtual environments provide the correct version of Python and related packages for the work that we will be doing in the course. Please read the Instructions document below. Then, play the tutorial video for your operating system to Install Anaconda. Instructions: Which Version Should I Install For This Semester? Anaconda Download Download Anaconda Cheat Sheet Tutorial Video: Tips on Playing My Videos Tutorial: Install Anaconda on Windows Tutorial: Install Anaconda on macOS Update Anaconda Description: In order to be sure that we have the most up-to-date versions of Python packages, we need to update Anacconda. This step needs to be done even if you just installed Anaconda for the first time in the previous step. Please read the Instructions document below. Then, play the tutorial video for your operating system to Update Anaconda. Instructions: Which Version Should I Install For This Semester? Tutorial: Update Anaconda on Windows Tutorial: Update Anaconda on macOS Create an Anaconda Virtual Environment Description: In this step, we create our first Anaconda virtual environment. Please read the Instructions document below. Then, play the tutorial video for your operating system to Create an Anaconda Virtual Environment. Instructions: Which Version Should I Install For This Semester? Tutorial: Create Anaconda Virtual Environment on Windows Tutorial: Create Anaconda Virtual Environment on macOS Install PyCharm Professional Description: PyCharm Professional is a leading Python Integrated Development Environment (IDE). I will be using PyCharm Profession in my tutorial videos and I will expect you to use PyCharm Professional when completing your assignments. JetBrains, the makers of PyCharm Professional, offer free licenses to this and a number of other products to university students and faculty. Please read the Instructions document below. Then, play the tutorial video for your operating system to Install PyCharm Professional. Instructions: Which Version Should I Install For This Semester? JetBrains free individual licenses for students and faculty members Tutorial: Install PyCharm Professional on Windows Tutorial: Install PyCharm Professional on macOS Adjust Settings on PyCharm Professional Description: PyCharm Professional does not come with the settings that we need as it is configured out-of-the-box. So, we will be changing 2 important settings that will improve our programming experience and assure program quality. Tutorial: Adjust Settings on PyCharm Professional (Windows and macOS)

Sunday, September 1, @ 11:55 P.M.
Weekly Assignments Deadline

Computing Setup

Choose Your Computer
Description: I recommend that you use a computer that runs Windows (either Windows 10 or Windows 11) or a recent release of macOS. While the software that we will be using for this course does run on Linux, there will be substantially less technical support available for Linux. If you are considering using a Linux computer, please consult with me beforehand.
Install Anaconda
Description: Anaconda is an open data science platform that provides access to a coordinated set of Python tools. We will be using Anaconda to build Python virtual environments. These virtual environments provide the correct version of Python and related packages for the work that we will be doing in the course. Please read the Instructions document below. Then, play the tutorial video for your operating system to Install Anaconda.
Update Anaconda
Description: In order to be sure that we have the most up-to-date versions of Python packages, we need to update Anacconda. This step needs to be done even if you just installed Anaconda for the first time in the previous step. Please read the Instructions document below. Then, play the tutorial video for your operating system to Update Anaconda.
Create an Anaconda Virtual Environment
Description: In this step, we create our first Anaconda virtual environment. Please read the Instructions document below. Then, play the tutorial video for your operating system to Create an Anaconda Virtual Environment.
Install PyCharm Professional
Description: PyCharm Professional is a leading Python Integrated Development Environment (IDE). I will be using PyCharm Profession in my tutorial videos and I will expect you to use PyCharm Professional when completing your assignments. JetBrains, the makers of PyCharm Professional, offer free licenses to this and a number of other products to university students and faculty. Please read the Instructions document below. Then, play the tutorial video for your operating system to Install PyCharm Professional.
Adjust Settings on PyCharm Professional
Description: PyCharm Professional does not come with the settings that we need as it is configured out-of-the-box. So, we will be changing 2 important settings that will improve our programming experience and assure program quality.
- Tutorial: Adjust Settings on PyCharm Professional (Windows and macOS)

Weekly Course Schedule – Fall 2024

IS430 A-Section - Foundations of Information Processing

Meets Wednesday Evenings Online

Week 1 (August 26 – September 1)