Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student knows the basics of C programming language and can write short programs using the C language.

Credits: 5

Schedule: 15.01.2021 - 18.05.2021

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Jukka Manner, Pasi Sarolahti

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Jukka Manner, Pasi Sarolahti

Contact information for the course (valid 08.12.2020-21.12.2112):

The course personnel can be reached by email at elec-a7100@aalto.fi.

We will use Teams as the main communication channel during the course. You can use the Teams area here. If you have problems joining (may be possible if you are not a regular Aalto student), please send email to above-mentioned address. Closer to the beginning of the course we will also automatically add those people to Teams who have registered to the course in Oodi.

We will also use MyCourses for course announcements.

The official course language is English, but most course personnel can speak Finnish. Course material is available in English and Finnish.


CEFR level (applies in this implementation):

Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):

Teaching language: English

Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Basic concepts of systems-level programming. Basics of the C programming language. Dynamic memory management and its application in common data structures. Basic use of programming and debugging tools for C. Small programming exercises in C.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Course is divided into 10 modules that will take place in periods III and IV. There will be weekly deadlines. In addition, there will be a small programming project and programming test (i.e., a modern version of exam) in the end of the course.

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Exercises and programming test.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    The course grade will be a weighed average from the following:

    • Exercises (40%): max. 1000 points out of the ten modules (max. 100 points each), min. 500 points, at least seven modules must have 50 points or more
    • Programming project (30%): Graded on a scale from 0 to 10. At least 5 points required.
    • Programming test (30%): point limits will be elaborated later

    All three of the above components need to be passed at acceptable level. When computing the grade, a normalised sub grade between 0 and 5.5 will be calculated from each of the above three categories. The final grade will be weighed average of the three sub grades, rounded to nearest integer. The exact equation for calculating the grade is

    ((PointsE - 500) / 500 * 5 + 0,5) * 0,4 + ((PointsP - 5) / 5 * 5 + 0.5) * 0,3 + ((PointsT - 10) / 10 * 5 + 0,5) * 0,3

    where PointsE is exercise score, PointsP is the project score and PointsT is the result from programming test. The final grade is the above result rounded to nearest integer.


Workload
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    4 h lectures

    assisted programming exercises with voluntary participation. There will be about 10 h of weekly exercise hours that can be taken as needed.

    120 h individual study

  • Applies in this implementation:

    There will be two 2-hour information sessions.

    Each exercise round is estimated to require about 10 hours of work, based on online material and exercises.

    Programming project is estimated to require about 10 - 15 hours of work.

    Programming test takes 3 hours + preparation. If you have done exercises actively, not much additional preparation is needed.

    There will be no on-site activity, but all contact sessions take place in Teams.

DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Study materials and exercises are available in the web. Study materials and exercises are available also in Finnish.

Substitutes for Courses
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    ELEC-A1100, AS-0.101/AS-0.1101/AS-0.1103

Prerequisites
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Basics in proramming (for example CS-A1111).

FURTHER INFORMATION

Details on the schedule
  • Applies in this implementation:

    Modules and deadlines

    1. Basics, deadline 22.1.2021
    2. Input and Output, deadline 29.1.2021
    3. Pointers and Arrays, deadline 5.2.2021
    4. Strings, deadline 12.2.2021
    5. Dynamic memory, 19.2.2021
    6. Structured data types, 5.3.2021
    7. Multidimensional arrays, 12.3.2021
    8. Binary operations, 19.3.2021
    9. I/O streams, 26.3.2021
    10. Advanced features, 6.4.2021

    There will be no activity during exam weeks (after modules 5 and 10). Deadlines are on Fridays at 17:59

    Deadline for programming project: 23.4.2021

    Programming tests are planned at the end of April (dates to be confirmed later)