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Insegnamento a.a. 2020-2021

30424 - COMPUTER SCIENCE / COMPUTER SCIENCE

IT Education Center

Per la lingua del corso verificare le informazioni sulle classi/
For the instruction language of the course see class group/s below

Vai alle classi / Go to class group/s: 23

BIG (6 cfu - II sem. - OB)
Docente responsabile dell'insegnamento / Course Director:
MASSIMO BALLERINI

Classes: 23 (II sem.)
Instructors:
Class 23: MARIA CHIARA DEBERNARDI

Class group/s taught in English

Lezioni della classe erogate in presenza

Suggested background knowledge

Basic knowledge of the Windows environment and Office applications is appropriate to be able to attend the course profitably. To be able to register for the exam it is necessary to achieve one of the recognized basic IT certifications (eg ECDL)


Mission & Content Summary
MISSION

The objective is to provide students with new skills they can immediately use in their studies and that are fundamental to enter the job market: to structure, process, analyze data and effectively communicate information in order to solve managerial problems and support decision-making processes.

CONTENT SUMMARY

The course is divided into two sections that highlight two areas of expertise, integrated one to the other to reach the final objective of the course:

  1. Process and analyze data: deepen the application of the spreadsheet (Excel) to import, structure, process and analyze data, understanding the logic and functions in the solution of business problems, in order to produce meaningful and consistent information according to defined goals.
  2. Learn computer programming: learn the basics of computer programming, learn to make use of a programming language (Python), use Python to solve business problems.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Recognize the main logics and tools of the spreadsheet for importing, analyzing, processing and presenting data.
  • Identify the features of a set of data that are functional to the analysis and subsequent elaborations.
  • Recognize the logic and paradigms of software programming.
  • Recognize the main constructs of a program (functions, loops, conditional constructs, etc.).
  • Read a program to understand its structure and features.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Use the spreadsheet to import, analyze, process data and communicate information useful for decision making.
  • Use complex formulas and functions to solve business and management problems with the spreadsheet.
  • Apply software programming logics in Python or other languages.
  • Examine a program to understand its structure and functioning, modify it or reuse it.
  • Develop simple programs in Python to perform calculations and automate even complex operations.

Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Online lectures
  • Exercises (exercises, database, software etc.)
  • Individual assignments
  • Interactive class activities (role playing, business game, simulation, online forum, instant polls)
DETAILS

The course alternates lessons in traditional classrooms and practice sessions in computer rooms, focusing especially on the use of Microsoft Excel at an advanced level and on programming with Python.
Practical activities on the main topics covered during the lesson will also be carried out in class.
Furthermore, ongoing self-assessment activities on the skills acquired, will be carried out both during the face-to-face activity and as individual assignments.


Assessment methods
  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
  • x x x
    ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

    The exam can be taken in two ways: as two partial exams or as a single general exam.

     

    • Partial exams are intended only for students who regularly attend the lessons and specifically refer to the chapters mentioned in the course syllabus. Only first-year students can take partial exams. It is not possible to take or repeat partial exams in the following years. Students who fail the first partial exam (grade <18) are not allowed to take the second partial exam. To pass the partial exam it is necessary to earn a positive grade (>=18) on both of them. The final grade comes from the average of the two partials. Partial exams include a part of multiple choice questions and a part of computer exercises.
      • The part of multiple choice questions aims to verify: the ability to read a program understanding its structure and functionalities; the knowledge and learning of the logics and main tools of the spreadsheet and of the logics and paradigms of software programming; the knowledge of the main constructs of a program and the ability to understand its structure and functioning.
      • The part of computer exercises aims to verify the ability to use the spreadsheet to solve business problems and to develop or modify simple Python programs to perform calculations and automate operations.

     

    • General exams are intended for students who have not taken or have not passed the partial exams and refer to the general exam bibliography. General exams include a part of multiple choice questions and a part of computer exercises.
      • The part of multiple choice questions aims to verify: the ability to read a program understanding its structure and functionalities; the knowledge and learning of the logics and main tools of the spreadsheet and of the logics and paradigms of software programming; the knowledge of the main constructs of a program and the ability to understand its structure and functioning.
      • The part of computer exercises aims to verify the ability to use the spreadsheet to solve business problems and to develop or modify simple Python programs to perform calculations and automate operations.

     

    There are also optional ongoing assessments that can allow to achieve a bonus valid only for those who will take the partial exams.


    Teaching materials
    ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

    Course bibliography:

    • M. Ballerini, A. Clerici, M. De Pra, Excel for students in economics and finance, Egea, 2020

    • A. Clerici (edit by), Excel workbook, Egea, 2021, 3rd ed.
    • A. Clerici, M. De Pra, M.C. Debernardi, D. Tosi, Learning Python, Egea, 2020
    • Slides and additional exercises (provided during the course).
    Last change 02/01/2021 12:11