Resources
The following are some of the resources available to students of this course. If you feel at any point that you need additional assistance, please let us know!
Textbook
We have two free textbooks for this course:
- A Transition Guide from Python 2.x to C++ by Goldwasser and Letscher
- Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis by Schaffer
If you prefer a physical textbook, you may consider Data Structures and Algorithms in C++ by Michael T. Goodrich. This reading is not required for the course but may be helpful to students who find digital textbooks to be cumbersome.
Instructors and Ninjas
Lila Fontes and Zachary Palmer are the professors instructing lecture sessions for this course. Charlie Kazer is instructing some of the course lab sessions. All three instructors have weekly office hours which you can attend without an appointment; you may also reach out to any of us to schedule an appointment outside of these hours as necessary. We additionally have CS department student mentors known as ninjas (organized by Lauri Courtenay) who will hold weekly evening sessions to provide help. A combined schedule for these resources appears below.
| Day | Time | Instructor | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 10:00am to 12:00pm | Lila | SCI 258 |
| Monday | 2:00pm to 3:30pm | Zach | SCI 270 |
| Monday | 7:00pm to 9:00pm | Ninjas | SCI 256 |
| Tuesday | 3:00pm to 4:30pm | Lila | SCI 258 |
| Tuesday | 7:00pm to 10:00pm | Ninjas | SCI 256 |
| Wednesday | 4:00pm to 5:30pm | Zach | SCI 270 |
| Friday | 1:00pm to 2:30pm | Zach | SCI 270 |
| Friday | 3:00pm to 5:00pm | Charlie | SCI 262A |
Courselore
Our course also has a Courselore forum where you can ask questions and discuss the course material. When posting public questions, please make sure to follow the Academic Integrity Policy: don’t give answers to homework in your public posts, for instance.
Computer Lab
You can use your student ID card to gain access to the computer labs during the nights (before midnight) and on weekends. Just wave your ID over the microprox reader next to the lab doors. When the green light turns on, just push the door to get in (the knob will not turn). If you have problems getting in, either visit the Computer Science department office or send an e-mail to local-staff --at-- cs.swarthmore.edu to have your ID added to the system. If the building is locked, you can use your ID to enter the door between Martin Hall and Cornell Library. For this class, you will have access to SCI 238, SCI 240, and SCI 256. You may also access the Computer Science lab in the basement of Clothier.
Academic Accommodations
If you believe you need accommodations for a disability or a chronic medical condition, please contact Student Disability Services (Parrish 113W, 123W) via e-mail at studentdisabilityservices at swarthmore.edu to arrange an appointment to discuss your needs. As appropriate, the office will issue students with documented disabilities or medical conditions a formal Accommodations Letter. Since accommodations require early planning and are not retroactive, please contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. For details about the accommodations process, visit the Student Disability Services website. You are also welcome to contact your instructors privately to discuss your academic needs. However, all disability-related accommodations must be arranged, in advance, through Student Disability Services.