Week of January 2 - 3, 2020

Thursday:
Welcome back!
Intro to computer algorithms.

• "Algorithm: a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer."
• "In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is a self-contained step-by-step set of operations to be performed."

In other words, an algorithm is a very specific recipe.

• Video: The Secret Rules of Modern Living: Algorithms
• Video: What is an Algorithm and Why Should You Care?
• Video: The Smartest Elevators

Demonstrate Conway's Game of Life:

• Any live cell with fewer than two live neighbours dies
• Any live cell with more than three live neighbours dies
• Any dead cell with exactly three live neighbours becomes a live cell 

Demonstrate selection sort vs merge sort

Friday:
Creative Coding video from PBS
Introduce Python programming with Processing.py
You can download processing here. To add the Python mode: Start up processing. Click on Java in the upper right-hand corner, and click "Add mode..." Select Python, and click install.
Introduce first Processing drawing project.

Remember, your AI/Robotics paper is due next Tuesday, January 7th, at the beginning of class, on paper and via turnitin.