How the course is conducted - Revision history

WikiSysop: /* Requirements for taking the course */

2026-01-14T07:48:26Z

Requirements for taking the course

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:48, 14 January 2026
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	Using AI/ChatGPT is a bad idea. From my observations and exam results, the use of AI hinders the acquisition of "programmatic thinking". This skill is what the course is about - the core competence. When asking AI about a problem, you are usually served a solution. Even if you understand the solution, then you have not gone through the process of thinking the solution. It weakens your thinking enormously, you don't "own" the solution and you are not getting used to thinking about programming problems. This becomes a big problem at exam time, because you think you are OK, but you have not acquired the correct thinking and the exam will seem very hard. Yes, there are a number of elements in the exam that we have been going through in the course, but there are also new elements (not python elements, but logic problems) where you have to think your way through.		Using AI/ChatGPT is a bad idea. From my observations and exam results, the use of AI hinders the acquisition of "programmatic thinking". This skill is what the course is about - the core competence. When asking AI about a problem, you are usually served a solution. Even if you understand the solution, then you have not gone through the process of thinking the solution. It weakens your thinking enormously, you don't "own" the solution and you are not getting used to thinking about programming problems. This becomes a big problem at exam time, because you think you are OK, but you have not acquired the correct thinking and the exam will seem very hard. Yes, there are a number of elements in the exam that we have been going through in the course, but there are also new elements (not python elements, but logic problems) where you have to think your way through.

	You can read these American studies showing how the use of AI damages your thinking: [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/lee_2025_ai_critical_thinking_survey.pdf The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported		You can read these American studies showing how the use of AI damages your thinking:
	Reductions in Cognitive Effort and Confidence Effects From a Survey of Knowledge Workers], [https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872 Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task].		[https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/lee_2025_ai_critical_thinking_survey.pdf The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported Reductions in Cognitive Effort and Confidence Effects From a Survey of Knowledge Workers] and [https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872 Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task].

	== Peer evaluation of exercises ==		== Peer evaluation of exercises ==

WikiSysop: /* Requirements for taking the course */

2026-01-14T07:46:35Z

Requirements for taking the course

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:46, 14 January 2026
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	Using AI/ChatGPT is a bad idea. From my observations and exam results, the use of AI hinders the acquisition of "programmatic thinking". This skill is what the course is about - the core competence. When asking AI about a problem, you are usually served a solution. Even if you understand the solution, then you have not gone through the process of thinking the solution. It weakens your thinking enormously, you don't "own" the solution and you are not getting used to thinking about programming problems. This becomes a big problem at exam time, because you think you are OK, but you have not acquired the correct thinking and the exam will seem very hard. Yes, there are a number of elements in the exam that we have been going through in the course, but there are also new elements (not python elements, but logic problems) where you have to think your way through.		Using AI/ChatGPT is a bad idea. From my observations and exam results, the use of AI hinders the acquisition of "programmatic thinking". This skill is what the course is about - the core competence. When asking AI about a problem, you are usually served a solution. Even if you understand the solution, then you have not gone through the process of thinking the solution. It weakens your thinking enormously, you don't "own" the solution and you are not getting used to thinking about programming problems. This becomes a big problem at exam time, because you think you are OK, but you have not acquired the correct thinking and the exam will seem very hard. Yes, there are a number of elements in the exam that we have been going through in the course, but there are also new elements (not python elements, but logic problems) where you have to think your way through.

			You can read these American studies showing how the use of AI damages your thinking: [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/lee_2025_ai_critical_thinking_survey.pdf The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported
			Reductions in Cognitive Effort and Confidence Effects From a Survey of Knowledge Workers], [https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872 Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task].

	== Peer evaluation of exercises ==		== Peer evaluation of exercises ==

WikiSysop: /* Preparation for exam */

2025-12-22T14:53:01Z

Preparation for exam

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:53, 22 December 2025
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	Comments that just explains your intentions, but are not supported by code, are disregarded. You can not "talk" your way to a pass, you must code your way to a pass.		Comments that just explains your intentions, but are not supported by code, are disregarded. You can not "talk" your way to a pass, you must code your way to a pass.

	At the exam there will ~~likely~~ be 2 assignments - '''not''' 6 exercises - that you have to solve.		At the exam there will be 2 assignments - '''not''' 6 exercises - that you have to solve.

	Exam aids: You can bring your computer with all the material from the course; powerpoints, exercises, solutions, etc. There is NO INTERNET and NO AI allowed. In the end, it is the programming skill you acquired during the course, that will make you pass - not any aid you bring. That is why we are doing so many difficult exercises.		Exam aids: You can bring your computer with all the material from the course; powerpoints, exercises, solutions, etc. There is NO INTERNET and NO AI allowed. In the end, it is the programming skill you acquired during the course, that will make you pass - not any aid you bring. That is why we are doing so many difficult exercises.

WikiSysop: /* Requirements for taking the course */

2025-12-22T14:50:23Z

Requirements for taking the course

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:50, 22 December 2025
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	This course requires that you have previously taken 5 ECTS in a beginner course in programming. DTU students have taken [https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/02002 02002 Computer Programming (Polytechnical Foundation)], however foreign Master students are more of a mixed group. This course can NOT be treated as your first real programming course - it is your second, and the difficulty of the course and exam reflects that. I have tried to make the course accessible to people with a moderate background in programming, but it is not a free ride. I have an obsolete beginner course [https://teaching.healthtech.dtu.dk/22101/ 22101 Introduction to programming in Life Science using Python] which you can learn from on your own, if your background is insufficient and you want to take this course anyway.		This course requires that you have previously taken 5 ECTS in a beginner course in programming. DTU students have taken [https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/02002 02002 Computer Programming (Polytechnical Foundation)], however foreign Master students are more of a mixed group. This course can NOT be treated as your first real programming course - it is your second, and the difficulty of the course and exam reflects that. I have tried to make the course accessible to people with a moderate background in programming, but it is not a free ride. I have an obsolete beginner course [https://teaching.healthtech.dtu.dk/22101/ 22101 Introduction to programming in Life Science using Python] which you can learn from on your own, if your background is insufficient and you want to take this course anyway.

	Using AI/ChatGPT is a bad idea. From my observations and exam results, the use of AI hinders the acquisition of "programmatic thinking". This skill is what the course is about - the core competence. When asking AI about a problem, you are usually served a solution. Even if you understand the solution, then you have not gone through the process of thinking the solution. It weakens your thinking enormously, you don't "own" the solution and you are not getting used to thinking about programming problems. This becomes a big problem at exam time, because you think you are OK, but you have not acquired the correct thinking and the exam will seem very hard. Yes, there are a number of elements in the exam that we have been going through in the course, but there are also new elements (not python elements, but logic problems) where you think your way through.		Using AI/ChatGPT is a bad idea. From my observations and exam results, the use of AI hinders the acquisition of "programmatic thinking". This skill is what the course is about - the core competence. When asking AI about a problem, you are usually served a solution. Even if you understand the solution, then you have not gone through the process of thinking the solution. It weakens your thinking enormously, you don't "own" the solution and you are not getting used to thinking about programming problems. This becomes a big problem at exam time, because you think you are OK, but you have not acquired the correct thinking and the exam will seem very hard. Yes, there are a number of elements in the exam that we have been going through in the course, but there are also new elements (not python elements, but logic problems) where you have to think your way through.

	== Peer evaluation of exercises ==		== Peer evaluation of exercises ==

WikiSysop: /* Requirements for taking the course */

2025-12-22T14:49:32Z

Requirements for taking the course

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:49, 22 December 2025
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	'''You most take this seriously. Half of the students failed the course first year it ran.'''<br>		'''You most take this seriously. Half of the students failed the course first year it ran.'''<br>
	This course requires that you have previously taken 5 ECTS in a beginner course in programming. DTU students have taken [https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/02002 02002 Computer Programming (Polytechnical Foundation)], however foreign Master students are more of a mixed group. This course can NOT be treated as your first real programming course - it is your second, and the difficulty of the course and exam reflects that. I have tried to make the course accessible to people with a moderate background in programming, but it is not a free ride. I have an obsolete beginner course [https://teaching.healthtech.dtu.dk/22101/ 22101 Introduction to programming in Life Science using Python] which you can learn from on your own, if your background is insufficient and you want to take this course anyway.		This course requires that you have previously taken 5 ECTS in a beginner course in programming. DTU students have taken [https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/02002 02002 Computer Programming (Polytechnical Foundation)], however foreign Master students are more of a mixed group. This course can NOT be treated as your first real programming course - it is your second, and the difficulty of the course and exam reflects that. I have tried to make the course accessible to people with a moderate background in programming, but it is not a free ride. I have an obsolete beginner course [https://teaching.healthtech.dtu.dk/22101/ 22101 Introduction to programming in Life Science using Python] which you can learn from on your own, if your background is insufficient and you want to take this course anyway.

			Using AI/ChatGPT is a bad idea. From my observations and exam results, the use of AI hinders the acquisition of "programmatic thinking". This skill is what the course is about - the core competence. When asking AI about a problem, you are usually served a solution. Even if you understand the solution, then you have not gone through the process of thinking the solution. It weakens your thinking enormously, you don't "own" the solution and you are not getting used to thinking about programming problems. This becomes a big problem at exam time, because you think you are OK, but you have not acquired the correct thinking and the exam will seem very hard. Yes, there are a number of elements in the exam that we have been going through in the course, but there are also new elements (not python elements, but logic problems) where you think your way through.

	== Peer evaluation of exercises ==		== Peer evaluation of exercises ==

WikiSysop: /* Peer evaluation of exercises */

2025-12-22T14:32:16Z

Peer evaluation of exercises

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:32, 22 December 2025
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	<!-- You can find a link to a Discord server in the announcement on DTU Learn (first page). The intention is that you can group together here and get/give help outside normal class hours. -->		<!-- You can find a link to a Discord server in the announcement on DTU Learn (first page). The intention is that you can group together here and get/give help outside normal class hours. -->


			== Requirements for taking the course ==
			'''You most take this seriously. Half of the students failed the course first year it ran.'''<br>
			This course requires that you have previously taken 5 ECTS in a beginner course in programming. DTU students have taken [https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/02002 02002 Computer Programming (Polytechnical Foundation)], however foreign Master students are more of a mixed group. This course can NOT be treated as your first real programming course - it is your second, and the difficulty of the course and exam reflects that. I have tried to make the course accessible to people with a moderate background in programming, but it is not a free ride. I have an obsolete beginner course [https://teaching.healthtech.dtu.dk/22101/ 22101 Introduction to programming in Life Science using Python] which you can learn from on your own, if your background is insufficient and you want to take this course anyway.

	== Peer evaluation of exercises ==		== Peer evaluation of exercises ==

WikiSysop: /* Preparation for exam */

2025-12-22T12:32:46Z

Preparation for exam

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:32, 22 December 2025
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	== Preparation for exam ==		== Preparation for exam ==
	The exam is a 4 hour written exam. You will get the assignments, the input files that you have to use/read/parse, and the output files that you have to create. Most importantly, you will also get a '''.py''' file that you will have to fill out. That is basically a text file with python code, that mostly contains empty functions. You have to fill out the functions with python code that solves the assignments.<br>YOU CAN NOT HAND IN A JUPYTER NOTEBOOK FILE. Your exam hand-in is only the filled out .py file.		The exam is a 4 hour written exam. You will get the assignments, the input files that you have to use/read/parse, and the output files that you have to create. Most importantly, you will also get a '''.py''' file that you will have to fill out. That is basically a text file with python code, that mostly contains empty functions. You have to fill out the functions with python code that solves the assignments.<br>YOU CAN NOT HAND IN A JUPYTER NOTEBOOK FILE. Your exam hand-in is only the filled out '''.py''' file.

	The last lesson [[Python object model]]'s exercises is an example of the exam format - not the exam content. All the exercises has to be handed in in one single .py file. Every exercise is one individual python function, which calls some specified other functions which together solves the exercise. You can add your own functions, if you feel some functionality is missing, but you must fill and use those given by the exam .py file. Follow the naming scheme for your own functions - it should be obvious.		The last lesson [[Python object model]]'s exercises is an example of the exam format - not the exam content. All the exercises has to be handed in in one single .py file. Every exercise is one individual python function, which calls some specified other functions which together solves the exercise. You can add your own functions, if you feel some functionality is missing, but you must fill and use those given by the exam '''.py''' file. Follow the naming scheme for your own functions - it should be obvious.

	You are expected to solve the assignments using the course curriculum. In particular, it means "pure" python, maybe using standard libraries like os, sys, re, math and others, but not 3rd party libraries like pandas or numpy. It also means use of comments to explain what you are doing, and employ code modularization.		You are expected to solve the assignments using the course curriculum. In particular, it means "pure" python, maybe using standard libraries like os, sys, re, math and others, but not 3rd party libraries like pandas or numpy. It also means use of comments to explain what you are doing, and employ code modularization.

WikiSysop: /* How much is required to pass? */

2025-12-22T12:31:55Z

How much is required to pass?

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:31, 22 December 2025
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	=== How much is required to pass? ===		=== How much is required to pass? ===
	The .py file is mostly structure and does not give much advice in how to solve the assignments. It is for you to show that you have learned to analyze a programming problem and come up with a solution. As you will be given both the input files and the output files, you can check how well you have succeeded. A correct solution to both assignments is an automatic pass. A correct solution to only one assignment, without any constructive work (in my evaluation) on the other assignment is not enough for a pass. No correct solutions, but writing good sensible code (again in my evaluation) can pass, as it shows you have learned essential things in the course. Comments are part the the essential things.<br>		The '''.py''' file is mostly structure and does not give much advice in how to solve the assignments. It is for you to show that you have learned to analyze a programming problem and come up with a solution. As you will be given both the input files and the output files, you can check how well you have succeeded. A correct solution to both assignments is an automatic pass. A correct solution to only one assignment, without any constructive work (in my evaluation) on the other assignment is not enough for a pass. No correct solutions, but writing good sensible code (again in my evaluation) can pass, as it shows you have learned essential things in the course. Comments are part the the essential things.<br>
	In the end, unless you passed automatically, it comes down to a overall evaluation of your hand-in.		In the end, unless you passed automatically, it comes down to a overall evaluation of your hand-in.

WikiSysop: /* Peer evaluation of exercises */

2025-12-22T12:30:53Z

Peer evaluation of exercises

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:30, 22 December 2025
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	== Peer evaluation of exercises ==		== Peer evaluation of exercises ==
	You must upload the solutions for the exercise set at given lesson to DTU Learn. The following week you must evaluate another students solutions - to be handed in on the Friday. You are getting some help with that as I have published my solutions at that time. ~~You can only evaluate if you have uploaded solutions yourself and <font style="color:red">you must have done at least 11 evaluations to participate in the exam.</font>~~<br>		You must upload the solutions for the exercise set at given lesson to DTU Learn. The following week you must evaluate another students solutions - to be handed in on the Friday. You are getting some help with that as I have published my solutions at that time.<br>
	~~<!--~~
	<font style="color:red">'''Warning:'''</font> Once you have handed in your solution, then it CAN NOT be changed/improved/replaced with a new version, if you have been evaluated. The system is to blame - nothing I can do. -->

	The peer evaluation is a central part of the learning process. As you will discover, I will be ~~asking~~ many questions about various aspects of the code you will have to evaluate. Initially, it can seem overwhelming, and you might not have been taught about all yet, but it is the same questions week after week, and you mostly have to check boxes, so it will get easier during the course. You learn both by doing the evaluation and by receiving (reading) it.		The peer evaluation is a central part of the learning process. As you will discover, you will be asked many questions about various aspects of the code you will have to evaluate. Initially, it can seem overwhelming, and you might not have been taught about all yet, but it is the same questions week after week, and you mostly have to check boxes, so it will get easier during the course. You learn both by doing the evaluation and by receiving (reading) it.

	You can/should use the criteria in [[Good code]] in your own programs and the evaluation. The questions in the evaluation are more in depth than [[Good code]]. The evaluation is anonymous, but known to the teacher.		You can/should use the criteria in [[Good code]] in your own programs and the evaluation. The questions in the evaluation are more in depth than [[Good code]]. The evaluation is anonymous, but known to the teacher.

WikiSysop at 12:27, 22 December 2025

2025-12-22T12:27:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:27, 22 December 2025
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	Exercises have to be uploaded to "DTU Learn" latest Sunday in the week after the exercises were given, i.e you have 7 days to complete a set.<br>		Exercises have to be uploaded to "DTU Learn" latest Sunday in the week after the exercises were given, i.e you have 7 days to complete a set.<br>
	Peer evaluation of exercises are done in the following week to be handed in Friday.<br>		Peer evaluation of exercises are done in the following week to be handed in Friday.<br>
	<font style="color:red">There will be some irregularity at the end of the semester, due to exams. Pay attention.</font><br>		<font style="color:red">There will be some hand-in time irregularity at the end of the semester, due to exams. Pay attention.</font><br>
	The evaluations are mandatory. At least 11 of 13 evaluations must be handed in - in time - for you to be allowed to take the exam. You can only evaluate if you have handed in exercises, so the hand-in is required.<br>		The evaluations are mandatory. At least 11 of 13 evaluations must be handed in - in time - for you to be allowed to take the exam. You can only evaluate if you have handed in exercises, so the hand-in is required.<br>
	You are required to make a Jupyter Notebook for every exercise set, i.e. every week. The .ipynb file is what you hand in to Peer Evaluation. Many people use VScode for this, but it is up to you. In the last part of the course, this is changed to a '''.py''' file, to get you used to how the exam will be.<br>		You are required to make a Jupyter Notebook for every exercise set, i.e. every week. The .ipynb file is what you hand in to Peer Evaluation. Many people use VScode for this, but it is up to you. In the last part of the course, this is changed to a '''.py''' file, to get you used to how the exam will be.<br>