GENE 121Digital Computation
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Last listed
- Spring 2020
No longer offered. It was in Waterloo’s course catalog since at least Winter 2020 (as far back as Open Data goes) to Spring 2020 and last ran in Spring 2020. It isn’t in the 2024–25 or later calendars.
When it ran
- W20
- S20
Ran in 2 terms, Winter 2020 to Spring 2020.
Introduction to electronic digital computers, hardware and software organization, examples of efficient numerical algorithms for basic scientific computations. [Offered: F,W,S]
Requirements, as last listed
Prereq: 1A Mechatronics Engineering or level at least 1B Management Engineering or Mechanical Engineering Antireq: CHE 121, CIVE 121, ECE 150, SYDE 121
In today’s calendar
- MSE 121 lists it as an antirequisite
Reviewed on UW Flow
85% liked it69% easy92% useful
From 143 ratings and 14 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
I already knew Java going in, but this course served as an excellent C++ introduction. Furthermore, it seemed to be an effective introduction to programming concepts on the whole.
May 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Robot c seems kinda useless but it's fun and is a good introduction to mechatronics programming. Other than that its a good intro to c++ course.
Dec 2019 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
The course focused more on event-driven programming than the programming itself. They really should have used Arduino instead of Lego.
Jan 2018 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Super easy if you have programming experience, basically just intro to programming with some lego nxt mixed in
Nov 2016 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Programming needs to click before it's "easy". It clicked (how to problem solve each step into programming) for me as I was studying for midterms. After that this course was fairly easy. Online video lectures = sleep in when needed without missing lectures. Do the assignments. Don't let your partner do all the work. Ask for help if you don't get something.
Jan 2016 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
45 posts and comments in 37 threads mention GENE 121, June 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2021
does class prepare you for eng co-ops? 0 points, 17 comments
“Im attending waterloo this fall in the mechatronics program stream 8. I'm wondering if class teaches you adequate technical skills for first co-op, but is it necessary to learn things on your own?”
u/MacSyde: “Short answer no. But courses like MTE 100 and GENE 121 will give you practice in coding and 3D modeling. These will help but it’s what you do with those skills that matters.”
Winter 2020
what are some ways you’ve connected with the school community or met new people since studying at waterloo? 4 points, 11 comments
“i’m currently writing an essay/investigative piece for my english class on the social aspects of university, this one in particular as i’ll be attending in the fall. …”
u/smoothiechicken: “Most of my friends were met in my engineering class, since we share the same class of 100 students for our entire degree. …”
u/smoothiechicken: “It was GENE121: Digital Computation. Mandatory for 1A mechatronics. It's basically Grade 11 & 12 computer science (introduction all the way to object oriented stuff).”
[Serious] What should I expect from TRON? 36 points, 34 comments
“Hi all, I recently accepted my offer for Mechatronics Engineering at Waterloo (yay). However, as I keep reading about people's experiences with the program on this subreddit, I'm not really sure what …”
u/scinortahcem: “… The Lego stuff is actually in combination with GENE 121, which is an introduction to programming, where some of your time will be working with an EV3 kit to learn how to work with motors and sensors, and eventually develop a mechatronics system of your choice as the final …”
Internal Transfer 7 points, 10 comments
u/Known-Paint: “… However, I realized that I really enjoyed or am enjoying the programming courses that were offered so far (GENE121, and MTE140). …”
Fall 2019
Tron 1B Advice 3 points, 16 comments
“What is 1B tron like? I hear circuits is hard and the prof for structural properties of materials isn’t great... But are there specific things to look forward to/watch out for?”
u/crono760: “… If you go into it thinking it'll be like GENE121 you will be very, very sorely mistaken.”
Spring 2019
What is mechatronics engineering like? 10 points, 37 comments
“I am in grade 12 and have recently received an offer for tron. I'd love to know what the program is like from the perspective of a student. …”
u/Antichi: “… GENE 121, your 1st coding class while basic can be lots of fun because you program Lego robots, 241 is a later class that's software focused but you play with Keil boards. Absolute gem of a course especially with Prof Morton. …”
u/-MrGoose-: “Courses mentioned in this thread: GENE121”
Winter 2019
GENE 121 Practice Problems 3 points, 2 comments
u/TheRealLordAinz: “Hi I'm looking for those C++ practice problems that they had available online back on LEARN when the course was online. I had downloaded them before but I accidentally deleted some when I was transferring to a new computer. Any assistance would be great, thank you!”
Spring 2018
If uw had a general first year for engineers what courses would be in it 2 points, 5 comments
u/mywaterlooaccount: “Math 116(117)/118(119), Phys 115, CHE 102, GENE 121, GENE 123, ECE 190 equivalent.”
Winter 2018
Transfer from 1B ENG --> 2A CS 0 points, 6 comments
“Hey everyone, I was just wondering if it was in any way possible to go from 1B eng -> 2A CS? I will be taking MTE 140 and I believe that along with Gene 121 count as CS 136/146. …”
u/tiltboi1: “… Even though you have GENE 121 and MTE 140 they're only antireqs, none of the courses that have 136 or 240 as prereqs list either class as an alternative. …”
Switch from Eng to CS after 1st year? 1 point, 6 comments
“Is it possible to switch from Tron to CS for second year? Will I need to take more courses to catch up? …”
u/TaIent: “You will certainly have to take courses to catch up, but it's more forgiving than doing it the other way around. …”
u/activegamedev: “It does list GENE 121 though for CS135 which I took in 1A. Who should I contact to talk about this with?”
Admissions Megathread (Fall 2018 Incoming Students) 57 points, 466 comments
“Hello UW applicants, This thread is specifically for those who are applying/applied to UW to discuss different admission issues and ask current UW students for help and advice. …”
u/JustWannaBeHappy27: “I'm gonna work on side-projects right now in hopes of landing a solid first co-op. As a future tron student what should these side-projects be? …”
u/HopefulStudent1: “I agree with what the other person said. I am in 1B Tron right now and having programming knowledge coming is definitely beneficial in regards with courses (GENE 121/MTE 140) and just in general for getting coops. Congrats on the offer and PM if you have any questions.”
Advice for MECH 1B midterms? 3 points, 9 comments
“Looking at fellow mechs or anyone who took the following courses: ME115, MATH118, GENE123 and ME101. I'm a bit worried because I am quite behind in all my classes and it at this point, I'm fine with …”
u/Pamela-Handerson: “Just be happy that you have ME101 and only 5 courses in the term now. When I did 1B we had physics (PHYS 125) and programming (GENE 121) courses instead of 101 for a total of 6.”
Check it elsewhere
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2019–20Its last calendar entry, on ucalendar
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them
In the scanned calendars
How it read in each calendar from 1971–72 to 1994–95, newest first. The text is OCR of the scanned pages; years whose wording matches are shown once, from the clearest scan. Each year links to its page on uwloo and to that page of the scanned PDF.
1971–72 to 1994–95 22 calendars
Introduction to electronic digital computers, hardware and software organization; basic features of FORTRAN and/or PASCAL, examples of efficient numerical algorithms for basic scientific computations.
Offered Winter, Spring · 3 class, 2 tutorial hours a week · 0.5 credit
- 1971–72 PDF p. 289
- 1972–73 PDF p. 367
- 1973–74 PDF p. 386
- 1974–75 PDF p. 459
- 1975–76 PDF p. 309
- 1976–77 PDF p. 270
- 1977–78 PDF p. 305
- 1978–79 PDF p. 299
- 1979–80 PDF p. 311
- 1980–81 PDF p. 324
- 1981–82 PDF p. 337
- 1984–85 PDF p. 333
- 1985–86 PDF p. 343
- 1986–87 PDF p. 348
- 1987–88 PDF p. 362
- 1988–89 PDF p. 360
- 1989–90 PDF p. 378
- 1990–91 PDF p. 383
- 1991–92 PDF p. 375
- 1992–93 PDF p. 386
- 1993–94 PDF p. 389
- 1994–95 PDF p. 390