CSC 236: Data Structures Website, Berea College

Dr. Jan Pearce

Berea College Fall 2025 Offering

Announcement: Exam E2 will be held on Monday, December 1, 2025.

We will build the Peerwise review questions on Friday, November 21, 2025.

Day 38: Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Day 38: In class

Possible PI question(s)
Discussion of final project
Any questions on L7: Measure and Analyze Sorting Algorithms?
Complete T23: Exploring Graphs

Day 38: Outside of class

Complete A14: Individual Review and Reflection II. Note that due to the nature of this assignment, it will not be completed late because it is needed for Friday’s class.
Make progress on L7: Measure and Analyze Sorting Algorithms and bring questions to class next time. Do NOT skip this! Keep making progress on this lab a little bit each day.

Day 37: Monday, November 17, 2025

Day 37: In class

Possible PI question
Any questions on L7: Measure and Analyze Sorting Algorithms?
Discussion on Trees and their naturally recursive structure
Complete T21: Exploring Trees

Day 37: Outside of class

Complete A13: How Graphic!. Note that we may have a quiz on this material next time.
Make progress on L7: Measure and Analyze Sorting Algorithms and bring questions to class next time. Do NOT skip this! Keep making progress on this lab a little bit each day.

Day 36: Friday, November 14, 2025

Day 36: In class

Possible PI question
Any questions on L7: Measure and Analyze Sorting Algorithms?
Complete T20: Recursive Sorting

Day 36: Outside of class

Complete A12: Don’t Get Lost in the Trees!. Note that we may have a quiz on this material next time.
Make progress on L7: Measure and Analyze Sorting Algorithms and bring questions to class next time. Do NOT skip this! This lab needs you to work on it a little bit each day.

Day 35: Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Day 35: In class

Possible PI question
More details on L7: Measure and Analyze Sorting Algorithms
Begin T20: Recursive Sorting

Day 35: Outside of class

Consider attending the teaching talk tonight at 5 pm in CMIT 316 as a way to complete A11: Feedback on External Speakers. Note that this is the first of four opportunities to complete this assignment.
- TOPIC: “Can We Trust AI to Answer Our Health Questions?”
- How can AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), help or harm us when they answer our health questions?
- How do LLMs actually work?
- How do we balance making health information accessible through AI while preventing risks & harms?
- A11: PROMPT for Today’s talk
Make progress on L7: Measure and Analyze Sorting Algorithms and bring questions to class next time. Do NOT skip this! This lab needs you to work on it a little bit each day.

Day 34: Monday, November 10, 2025

Day 34: In class

Possible PI question
Introducing L7: Measure and Analyze Sorting Algorithms
Complete T19: On Sorting.

Day 34: Outside of class

Read L7: Measure and Analyze Sorting Algorithms and bring questions. The environment submission is due by next time and may not be changed.

Day 33: Friday, November 7, 2025

Day 33: In class

Likely quiz on the chapter reading.
Questions on the lab L6: Recursive Art?
Begin T19: On Sorting.

Day 33: Outside of class

Achieve the basic algorithm followed by customizations of L6: Recursive Art? Full completion is due Monday.

Day 32: Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Day 32: In class

Likely Peer Instruction question(s)
Discussion on the lab L6: Recursive Art? The second milestone is due Wednesday.
Complete T18: Hash Functions and Collisions.

Day 32: Outside of class

For Friday, read Chapter 7 in the main textbook on sorting in preparation for a potential reading quiz or PI question(s) on Friday.
Debug the basic algorithm or if done with basic algorithm, work on customizations of L6: Recursive Art? Full completeion is due Monday.

Day 31: Monday, November 3, 2025

Day 31: In class

Likely Quiz on readings
Discuss A10: What is Hashing?
Questions on the lab L6: Recursive Art? The second milestone is due Wednesday.
Complete T17: Exploring Hashing in about 15 minutes.
Begin T18: Hash Functions and Collisions.

Day 31: Outside of class

Complete Milestone 2 L6: Recursive Art.
Warning: There is a choice of two different environments for L7, but you must choose environment and stick to it. For the faster environment to be an option, you need the Github Student Developer pack, whose set-up was very carefully described in A00: Getting Started. If you got rejected before and then forgot about it, go back and very, very slowly and carefully follow the directions that I gave there, paying very close attention to each of the details. Rushing through will likely make you miss something important.

Day 30: Friday, October 31, 2025, Happy Halloween!

Day 30: In class

Possible quiz or Peer Instruction question(s)
Questions on the lab L6: Recursive Art? The second milestone is due Wednesday.
Try to complete T17: Exploring Hashing. I will give you about 10 minutes on Monday to finish it if you don’t complete it today.

Day 30: Outside of class

Complete A10: What is Hashing? which is due on Monday.
WARNING: I may give a quiz on Monday on the chapter reading and A10.
Keep working on lab L6: Recursive Art? The second milestone is due Wednesday.

Day 29: Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Day 29: In class

Possible PI questions
Questions on the lab L6: Recursive Art? The second milestone is due next week.
Complete T16: Searching

Day 29: Outside of class

Read Chapter 6 in the main textbook on sorting in preparation for a potential reading quiz next time.

Day 28: Monday, October 27, 2025

Day 28: In class

Possible Peer Instruction question
Debrief on L5: Binary Addition.
Questions on L6: Recursive Art. The first milestone is due Wednesday.
Complete T15: Understanding Recursion

Day 28: Outside of class

Complete Milestone 1 of L6: Recursive Art.

Day 27: Friday October 24, 2025

Day 27: In class

Possible Peer Instruction question
Questions on L5: Binary Addition which is due Monday.
Discussion of L6: Recursive Art.
Begin T15: Understanding Recursion

Day 27: Outside of class

Complete and submit L5: Binary Addition.
Read and submit questions to Slack on L6: Recursive Art.

Day 26: Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Day 26: In class

Discuss homework
Possible peer instruction question
Discuss L5: Binary Addition. The second milestone is due Friday.
Complete T13: Circling Back to Circular Linked Lists.

Day 26: Outside of class

Complete milestone 2 of L5: Binary Addition.

Day 25: Monday, October 20, 2025

Day 25: In class

Possible peer instruction question
Discuss L5: Binary Addition. The second milestone is due Friday.
You have 20 minutes to complete T14: Exploring Recursion. I reset the deadline to NOON.
Begin T13: Circling Back to Circular Linked Lists, which we could not do earlier due to PythonTutor being down.

Day 25: Outside of class

Complete A08: Thinking Recursively.
Complete A09: Peer Instruction Consent Form also for Wednesday. This is basically a free 5 points on your homework because it will not take very long.

Day 24: Friday, October 17, 2025

Day 24: In class

Possible peer instruction question or quiz
Discuss L5: Binary Addition.
Try to complete T14: Exploring Recursion. We will still have 20 more minutes to finish this next time, so I reset the deadline to NOON on Monday, October 20, 2025.

Day 24: Outside of class

Complete the first milestone in L5: Binary Addition for ~~Friday~~ Monday.
Complete A08: Thinking Recursively for Wednesday.

Day 23: Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Day 23: In class

Possible peer instruction question
How did L4: The Game of War go?
Discuss L5: Binary Addition.
My plan was to begin T13: Circling Back to Circular Linked Lists, but it won’t work if PythonTutor is down, so we have to do something else.
Since PythonTutor is still down, let’s jump to thinking about recursion.
- Watch the first part of Algorithms: Recursion by HackerRank
- Begin T14: Exploring Recursion

Day 23: Outside of class

Read Chapter 5 in the main textbook to learn about recursion for Friday.
Complete the first milestone in L5: Binary Addition for ~~Friday~~ Monday.

Day 22: Monday, October 13, 2025

Day 22: In class

Possible quiz or Peer Instruction question
Complete T12: Exploring Linked Lists.

Day 22: Outside of class

The completion of L4: The Game of War is due on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. Be aware that tomorrow is Tuesday, October 14, Mountain Day, so the evening lab will be cancelled. You might want to seek help tonight if you need it.
You will complete the first milestone of L5: Binary Addition for Friday.

Day 21: Friday, October 10, 2025

Day 21: In class

Questions on L4: The Game of War which is due Wednesday
Complete T11: Introduction to Circular Linked Lists

Day 21: Outside of class

For Monday: Read Chapter 4 in our Data Structures textbook plus do questions by 8 am.
The completion of L4: The Game of War is due on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. Be aware that Tuesday, October 14 is Mountain Day, so the evening lab will be cancelled. You might want to try to finish it before then.

Day 20: Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Day 20: In class

Exam E1

Day 20: Outside of class

Complete Milestone 2 of L4: The Game of War for Friday

Day 19: Monday, October 6, 2025

Day 19: In class

Discuss the midterm exam format and content
Peer-instruction question(s)
Discuss L4: The Game of War.
Begin T11: Introduction to Circular Linked Lists

Day 19: Outside of class

Study for the first exam which will be held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Announcement: The first exam will be on Wednesday, October 8, 2025

No class on Friday, October 3, 2025 during Reading Period

Day 18: Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Day 18: In class

Peer-instruction question(s)
Questions on L4: The Game of War
Complete structured review TR1: E1 Review
- Submit your pdf to Moodle
- Submit your questions to Peerwise asap but for certain by 8 am tomorrow (Thursday, October 2, 2025.) Note that if this is not done by then, you will not get full credit for the teamwork.
- Note that due to the nature of this teamwork, it cannot be completed late or alone.

Day 18: Outside of class

Complete A07: A Simple Introduction To Linked Lists.
Complete Milestone 1 including the design document submission for L4: The Game of War. Note that in past years students have found debugging this lab to be challenging, but completing the design document and meeting the first milestone is not difficult. The second and final milestones are due after the first exam.

Day 17: Monday, September 29, 2025

Day 17: In class

Debrief on L3: Virtual Pets.
Introduction to L4: The Game of War
Complete and submit T10: Stacks, Queues, and Deques
Announce homework

Day 17: Outside of class

Read the lab and complete some work on the first Milestone 1 in the design document submission for L4: The Game of War. Note that in past years students have found debugging this lab to be challenging, but completing the design document and meeting the first milestone is not difficult. Nevertheless, it has a softdeadline, which is during the Reading Period.

Day 16: Friday, September 26, 2025

Day 16: In class

Possible PI question or quiz on textbook readings
Final questions on L3: Virtual Pets?
Begin T10: Stacks, Queues, and Deques

Day 16: Outside of class

Final completion of L3: Virtual Pets is due Monday by 8 am

Day 15: Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Day 15: In class

Possible quiz or peer-instruction question(s)
Questions on L3: Virtual Pets
Complete T09: Planets, Big O, and Θ

Day 15: Outside of class

Read Sections 3.10-3.22 in our Data Structures textbook plus do questions by 8 am Friday.
The final completion of L3: Virtual Pets has been extended to Monday, so keep working on it!

Day 14: Monday, September 22, 2025

Day 14: In class

PI Question
Questions on L3: Virtual Pets
Begin T09: Planets, Big O, and Θ

Day 14: Outside of class

Read Sections 3.1-3.9 in our Data Structures textbook and do the extra questions in preparation for a possible reading quiz.

Day 13: Friday, September 19, 2025

Day 13: In class

Possible peer-instruction question(s)
Questions on L3: Virtual Pets? The second milestone is due Monday.
Discuss T07: Measuring Algorithmic Efficiency.
Complete T08: How Long will this Take?.

Day 13: Outside of class

Complete the second milestone of L3: Virtual Pets.

Day 12: Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Day 12: In class

Possible peer-instruction question(s)
Discussion of A05: Considering Diversity in Tech
Questions on L3: Virtual Pets. The first milestone is due Friday.
Complete and discuss T07: Measuring Algorithmic Efficiency.

Day 12: Outside of class

Complete the first milestone of L3: Virtual Pets. Note that this requires a Google Doc submission into Moodle, so that is different from the other labs. The second milestone is due Monday.

Day 11: Monday, September 15, 2025

Day 11: In class

Possible quiz on reading.
Explanation of Exponentials and Logarithms
Introduction of L3: Virtual Pets, possibly with a partner. The first milestone is due Friday.
Begin T07: Measuring Algorithmic Efficiency.

Day 11: Outside of class

Complete A06: Considering Diversity in Tech for Wednesday.
Read L3: Virtual Pets, possibly find a partner and bring questions to class on Wednesday. The first milestone is due Friday.

Day 10: Friday, September 12, 2025

Day 10: In class

Discuss A04: Videos and Blogs on Big O.
Discuss L2: Bytes which is due Monday.
Complete T06: Understanding OOP and ADTs.

Day 10: Outside of class

Complete L2: Bytes. Don’t forget to submit the link to your repository in Moodle!
Read Chapter 2 Reading on Big O and do all activities in preparation for a potential reading quiz. This is one of the most important topics in the entire course; you might try to find time to read it twice!

Day 9: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Day 9: In class

Change partners
Discuss A03: AI and Learning
Questions on L2: Bytes. The second milestone is due Friday, and the full lab is due Monday.
Begin T06: Understanding OOP and ADTs, which we will finish on Friday.

Day 9: Outside of class

Complete milestone 2 of L2: Bytes by Friday, but the lab itself is not due until Monday.
Complete A04: Videos and Blogs on Big O. Note that this is an introduction to the most and most conceptually difficult concept in the course. It is also due Friday.

Day 8: Monday, September 7, 2025

Day 8: In class

Meme viewing! Followed by a discusion of A01: Interview with a CSC 236 TA
Questions on L2: Bytes. The second milestone is due Friday, and the full lab is due Monday.
Complete and submit T05: Dice Rolls

Day 8: Outside of class

Complete A03: AI and Learning. This is due Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 8 am.
Try to complete a few of the methods in L2: Bytes by next time.
If you have time, begin A04: Videos and Blogs on Big O. Note that this is an introduction to the most and most conceptually difficult concept in the course. It is due Friday, but so is the second lab milestone.

Day 7: Friday, September 5, 2025

Day 7: In class

Art Show! Share your loopy graphics with the class.
Introduction to L2: Bytes.
Begin T05: Dice Rolls, which we will likely need to complete next time.

Day 7: Outside of class

Begin L2: Bytes. This is an individual lab that has Milestone 1 due this coming Monday, the second milestone due Friday, and the full lab due on Monday, September 15.
Complete A01: Interview with a CSC 236 TA if you have not already done so. It is due Monday, September 8 at 8 am.

Day 6: Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Day 6: In class

Possible peer instruction or quiz on OOP
Discuss A02: OOP Principles.
Discuss any questions on L1: Loopy Graphics with C-Turtle
Complete T04: Fraction Class Understanding and Enhancement..

Day 6: Outside of class

Complete L1: Loopy Graphics with C-Turtle by Friday at 8 AM, being sure to submit a link to your repository in Moodle.
Complete T04: Fraction Class Understanding and Enhancement if you did not complete it in class today.
At your very earliest convenience this week, complete A01: Interview with a CSC 236 TA if you have not already done so. It has been posted a long time now. It is due ~~Friday, September 5~~ Monday, September 8 at 8 am. PLEASE do NOT wait until the night before it is due because the assignment requires individual time with the TA, and there are only two TAs in the lab each night. They may not be able to accommodate everyone who waits until the last minute, and they have been instructed to give each student their full attention, so they will not be able to be rushed.

Day 5: Friday, August 29, 2025

Day 5: In class

Discuss all questions posted on Slack in advance about Chapter 1 on OOP
Possible quiz or peer instruction questions
Discussion of reading on OOP principles and C-Turtle
Art show! Share your ASCII art with the class.
Introduction of L1: Loopy Graphics with C-Turtle
Complete Teamwork T03: Debugging Techniques.

Day 5: Outside of class (There is no class on Monday, so these are due before class on Wednesday, September 5, 2025)

Read L1: Loopy Graphics with C-Turtle and do the first milestone (due Wednesday). The final submission is due Friday.
Read, complete, and submit A02: OOP Principles for Wednesday.
At your earliest convenience, do A01: Interview with a CSC 236 TA sooner rather than later. It is due Friday, September 5 at 8 am. Do not wait until the night before.

Day 4: Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Day 4: In class

Possible quiz or peer instruction question
In Runestone change courses to BC_cppds2_F25. We have a reading out of this book for Friday.
Questions on L0: ASCII-Art which is due Friday. (Reminders about escaping backslashes and quotes.)
Demo of debugging in Visual Studio
Begin Teamwork T03: Debugging Techniques. We will complete this on Friday.
Work on L0: ASCII-Art.

Day 4: Outside of class

Complete L0: ASCII-Art. The final submission is due on Friday.
The next textbook reading is on object-oriented programming in C++ in the main textbook for the course. It is a bit longer than the readings in the transition book, and you may find it more conceptually challenging. Again, you will need to be logged in to Moodle to get credit for the reading. The reading is on the latter part of Chapter 1 in the Runestone book BC_cppds2_F25 and is due Friday, August 29 2025. See R04: Read 1.5, 1.6, and 1.12-1.15 plus questions. Note that the reading is only six sections of the first chapter plus questions.
At your convenience, do A01: Interview with a CSC 236 TA, which is due Friday, September 5 at 8 am. The TAs are eager to meet you.

Day 3: Monday, August 25, 2025

Day 3: In class

Possible quiz or peer instruction question
Discuss Teamwork T01: Visual Studio, Github, and ASCII Art
Discuss L0: ASCII-Art which is due Friday, but the first milestone is due Wednesday. (Read the hints in the lab on escaping backslashes and quotes!)
show primer on branches in Github
Complete Teamwork T02: Collaboration via Branches with a partner in class.

Day 3: Outside of class

Read Chapters 6, 7, and 8 in C++ for Python Programmers for a possible reading quiz next class. Be sure you are logged in and do all activities to get credit!
Complete the first milestone for L0: ASCII-Art. The final submission is due on Friday.
Fix any challenges you have had with the first two readings by going through Moodle. See your grades in Moodle and make them perfect by doing everything!
At your convenience, do A01: Interview with a CSC 236 TA, which is due Friday, September 5 at 8 am. The TAs are eager to meet you.

Day 2: Friday, August 22, 2025

Day 2: In class

Debrief on data structures game
Possible quiz or peer instruction question
Debrief on installations, C++, the syllabus, and the AI policy in particular
Watch Github Copilot in Visual Studio Community
Discuss the implications for you as a student and as a future professional
How did the sign-up for Github Student Developer Pack go? Note that it might take more time to get this, so don’t fret since we do not need Github Copilot and you are likely better off not using it for the first lab. You will need it for Lab L7, but there is plenty of time to get it before then.
Discuss the first lab, L0: ASCII-Art
Try to complete, then download, and submit Teamwork T01: Visual Studio, Github, and ASCII Art

Day 2: Outside of class (all due 8 am)

Finish up and submit Teamwork T01: Visual Studio, Github, and ASCII Art which is due by 8 am on Monday, August 25, 2025.
Read Chapters 3, 4,and 5 in C++ for Python Programmers for a potential reading quiz on Monday, August 25, 2025. Be sure you are logged in and do all activities to get credit!
Begin L0: ASCII-Art. This is an individual Lab. The first milestone is due Wednesday, August 27, 2025. The final completion milestone of the lab is due Friday, August 29, 2025.
At your convenience, do A01: Interview with a CSC 236 TA, which is due Friday, September 5 at 8 am. The TAs are eager to meet you.

Day 1: Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Day 1: In class

Welcome!
List all of the data structures you used in Python
What is data structures about? And what is it NOT about?
Read the first part of The Impact of AI on Computer Science Education
Discussion of course: content, texts, syllabus, flow, other ideas
Sign up for our first text: C++ for Python Programmers. Be sure to use (or make) the login from your Berea email and Berea username and then sign-up for the book BC_cpp4py_F25. (Note that the account you used in CSC 226 should be fine as long as the email address is your Berea College one.)
Data structures game

Day 1: Outside of class:

Complete A00:Getting Started and submit to Moodle by 8 am on Friday. Note that there are 6 tasks, some of which will take some time:
1. Help us get to know you better
2. Connect Data Structures to your career
3. Set-up your Required IDE (this will take some time!)
4. Read the syllabus to understand the course structure
5. Read both Chapters 1 and 2 of C++ for Python Programmers and the course syllabus in preparation for a potential reading quiz.
6. Introduce yourself to the class and the TAs on Slack
An additional assignment has been posted with a much longer deadline. See A01: Interview with a CSC 236 TA, which is due Friday, September 5 at 8 am. You can do this at any time before then. The TAs are eager to meet you. art of becoming a professional is learning to manage your time both effectively and efficiently. Assignments with longer deadlines like this are best to do at your earliest convenience, and part of becoming a professional is to learn to manage your own calendar. Mark your calendar for your best evening to go that is well before the deadline, so you are not held up by any procrastinators who have not yet learned to manage their calendars, so do everything at the very last minute.