Lecture 1

We did a general introduction to the class and walked through basic administrative matters.

Critical things to do now

• Enroll in Piazza to get announcements. You can enroll using any email address you like; you don't have to use your U. Illinois email. But you'll need the access code given out in lecture.
• Make sure you can access moodle. If you aren't yet officially registered for CS 173, use the same access code to register yourself into moodle.
• Do the readings for Thursday and the associated moodle quiz. See the lectures page for instructions.
• If you aren't yet registered, come to the podium at the end of lecture to put your name on the list of folks trying to get in.

More things of immediate interest

• Brief discussion sections this week.
• Normal schedule of homeworks and quizzes (all submitted on moodle)
  • easy reading quizzes due 1am Tuesday, Thursday
  • mini-homework due 3pm Monday
  • long-form homework due 3pm Wednesday
• Exception: this coming week, partly because of the Monday holiday, the mini-homework and long-form homework will be replaced by one mini-homework due 3pm Tuesday
• The proficiency exam will be offered this coming Saturday afternoon. The conflict time is this Thursday evening and the conflict conflict time is this Wednesday evening. Consider taking if you have experience writing proofs, especially including proofs by induction. Sign up no later than 8am Thursday (Wednesday at 8am for the conflict conflict). See the proficiency exam page for details.
• If you have a strong background in theory/math, consider taking the honors add-on
• The prerequisites are Calculus I (Math 220 or 221 or 234) and CS 125 or ECE 190 or CS 101 or a high grade in INFO 103. If you aren't sure whether you have the right background, speak to your instructor.

Administrative announcements

• Improvements to the class this term brought to you by the SIIP program from our very own Engineering College. (They'll be hanging around and occasionally talking to you folks about how everything is going.)
• Office hours will be posted on the web page soon. You can go to anyone's office hour (not just that of your section leader).
• The Rosen textbook is a good reference but is optional. If you want one, used copies, 5th and 6th editions, international editions are all ok. Copies are also on reserve in the engineering library.
• Read the cheating and homework collaboration policies. We have had very little cheating in this class and we hope to keep it that way.
• Students with disabilities or other special circumstances should contact me, so we can make appropriate arrangements.
• Similarly, tell use promptly about temporary issues (e.g. too sick to take an exam) so we can sort out a good plan.