Getting Started
Welcome to CS 124! We are so excited that you are here.
Here’s how to get your introduction to computer science off to a great start.
1. Explore the Course Forum1. Explore the Course Forum
Your account on the course forum should be ready and waiting. Join us! Most important course discussions take place on the forum, particularly in the announcements category. This first day announcement is a good place to start.
2. Complete Your Profile2. Complete Your Profile
We’d like to get to know you a bit better, so please complete your profile. There is 1% extra credit available if you upload a YouTube introduction video and a Gravatar image by Monday 1/30/2023.
3. Browse the Course Calendar3. Browse the Course Calendar
CS 124 moves steadily. However, we have lots of ways for you to get help.
Note that your weekly Tuesday quiz sections are the only synchronous meetings this semester. During that time you will take a 50-minute quiz. All other course activities are conducted asynchronously. This format has proven extremely successful over the past two years.
Note also that we will begin quizzes online for the first several weeks. Online quizzes will be proctored over Zoom. You should not report to the room for your assigned quiz section until instructed, although you should take your quiz during your assigned quiz time. Starting the quizzes online will help us all become comfortable with that format.
4. Review the Syllabus4. Review the Syllabus
The syllabus is packed with useful information. Don’t try and read it all at once. But do skim it now and then refer to it later when needed.
5. Choose Your Language5. Choose Your Language
CS 124 is offered in two programming languages—Kotlin and Java. Before you start the lessons, choose your primary language.
6. Test the Quiz Zoom6. Test the Quiz Zoom
You will need to be able to log on to Zoom using a mobile device to take quizzes for CS 124. Here’s the link if you want to try that now. If you have trouble, these instructions may help:
7. Get Started on the Daily Lessons7. Get Started on the Daily Lessons
The daily lessons begin here. Each has a small homework problem to complete. So get started and catch up as soon as you can. All homework from the first two weeks of lessons are due Monday January 30th.
8. Try the Practice Quiz8. Try the Practice Quiz
We’ve posted a practice quiz on the quizzes page. Give it a try get comfortable with the online quiz tool that we’ll be using this semester!
9. Take Today’s Quiz9. Take Today’s Quiz
You have a quiz today! Find more instructions here.
10. Ensure You’re Receiving Course Email10. Ensure You’re Receiving Course Email
While we use the course forum for broadcast communication, we do send important individual messages via email.
Please check to make sure you’re receiving course-related email.
You may need to add challen@illinois.edu to your safe senders list, to make sure that important CS 124 messages aren’t ending up in your junk folder.
11. If You’re Joining Late11. If You’re Joining Late
First, you probably need to create a temporary account, as described above. It can take a day or two for your registration to show up in our systems. But the temporary account will let you get started with everything you need to do.
Second, we gave our first proctored quiz of the semester on the first day. If you missed that quiz—no worries! You’ll have the opportunity to make it up during any of the next few quiz sessions. Just ask your proctor to open Quiz 0 for you after you take Quiz 1 or Quiz 2. Quiz 0 is short and easy, and 100 free points. So you don’t want to miss it!
Finally: CS 124 moves swiftly. If you joined late, you’re already behind! Please catch up as soon as possible. Note that you have until 1/30/2023 to complete all of the initial set of homework.