Computer Science Portfolio
Kelly Mirarchi
Loyola University Maryland
Python: Grade Calculator Assignment
Initial Project Idea:
I attempted to create a grade calculator for instructors to calculate the grades for multiple students, comprising of quiz and assessment grades. I wanted to test my knowledge of for loops, while loops, and calculations in Python.
Tools I Used:
I utilized https://www.onlinegdb.com/ to practice and apply my Python 3 skills.
Challenges I faced:
I modified my original code from a simple grade calculator to make this more complex version for instructors. In this process, I faced difficulty when making the for loop in this code to repeat for however many students are desired. Because I began receiving errors as the loops disrupted each other, I could not effectively complete the error checks for the input. I corrected this by putting the majority of my code into a for loop, but creating the variables outside of this loop. I also changed the input to float format. As displayed in the image above, I corrected the loop to calculate the weight factors and complete the error check.
Resources I Used:
I applied my prior knowledge of Python from high school, combined with the help of my professor Mr. John Nweke. I also utilized online resources like https://www.python.org/ to learn new functions in Python.
Result:
The grade calculator is functional and effective for instructors or students who wish to calculate their grades. The user is able to input information for how many students they would like to calculate grades for, the students' names, the weight of quiz grades and assessment grades, and then the individual grades each student received on each assignment. The code then calculates the average quiz score and assessment score for each student, as well as their course grade, weighted and unweighted. After running the code for each student, it will also result in calculations of the class average weighted course grade. I originally created this for my computer science class, but have since found it effective in understanding my own grades.
SPSS: Application Assignment
Initial Project Idea:
I sought a way to test my SPSS skills from previous courses, like Research Methods I and II. Here I attempted to perform a Pearson correlation test with sample data. I set out to convert data, like temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius.
Tools Used:
I used IMB SPSS to create this project.
Challenges Faced:
While navigating SPSS, I was unsure about how to label certain types of data I was unfamiliar with categorizing, like temperature. I learned how to sort and label this data in SPSS throughout this project.
Resources for Help:
I reviewed my notes from Research Methods II to freshen up my SPSS skills and reached out to my professor Mr. John Nweke to confirm my work was correct.
Final Result:
I calculated descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and graphed the data to visually review the normality and find a line of best fit. I found that there is a strong correlation. The results are statistically significant; we are confident this did not happen by chance.
Using this data, I can make predictions. For example, I would predict 36.3 chirps at 72.5 degrees according to the formula (from the line of best fit), with y representing chirps and x representing temperature: y=-42+1.08*x
