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Learn to Program

The Fundamentals

Jennifer Campbell and Paul Gries

Behind every mouse click and touch-screen tap, there is a computer program that makes things happen. This course introduces the fundamental building blocks of programming and teaches you how to write fun and useful programs using the Python language.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Python, Variables, and Functions

This module gives an overview of the course, the editor we will use to write programs, and an introduction to fundamental concepts in Python including variables, mathematical expressions, and functions.

Strings and Designing Functions

This module introduces strings (a Python data type used to represent text), and a process to follow when creating a function.

Booleans, Import, Namespaces, and if Statements

This module introduces Booleans (logical values True and False), how to convert between types, how to use Boolean expressions in if statements to selectively run code, and the concept of a Python module.

For Loops and Fancy String Manipulation

This module introduces one way to repeat code (using a for loop), how to manipulate strings, and how to use a debugger to watch a program execute step by step.

While Loops, Lists, and Mutability

This module introduces another way to repeat code (using a while loop), how to properly document your code to help other programmers understand it, Python's list data type, and the concept of mutation.

For Loops Over Indices, Parallel and Nested Lists and Strings, and Files

This module introduces how to use a for loop over the indexes of a list, how to nest lists, and how to read a write files.

Tuples and Dictionaries

This module introduces tuples (an immutable version of lists), and Python's dictionary type.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops Python skills, which are core for beginners

Taught by instructors who are recognized for their work in this field

Covers Python for personal growth and development

Introduces concepts in Python, which are highly relevant to industry

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Reviews summary

Excellent python introduction for beginners

According to students, Learn to Program: The Fundamentals is a well-received course that provides engaging assignments, easy-to-digest lectures, and thorough explanations for beginners interested in learning Python programming. The course builds a solid foundation in programming concepts and emphasizes best practices. Students appreciate the clear explanations and helpful instructors who create a positive learning environment. While some students with prior programming experience found the pace a bit slow, overall, learners say this course is a great starting point for those with little to no programming background.

Exercises and quizzes reinforce learning.

"Lectures were well reinforced with quizzes, assignments an in-video questions with immediate feedback."

"This course gives you a good foundation to build on for moving into other programming courses."

"I'm using what I learned to work my way through the problems on Project Euler (www.projecteuler.org) and I'm amazed with some of the problems I've been able to solve by applying the course material."

Video lectures were understandable, efficient, and relevant.

"The instructors had some great explanations and examples of concepts."

"The main take away for me from this class was the structured nature in which it was presented."

"The course material is really well presented and delivered."

Instructors are passionate and active in the forums.

"Jennifer and Paul are both World Class professors who hit a home run with their course."

"The instructors were very active on the forum and would answer questions, provide clarifications and respond to feedback."

"The instructors done an excellent job with their selection of material and pacing."

Excellent introductory course, particularly for those with no programming experience.

"The course is an excellent choice for beginners."

"Everything was explained so patiently and in lots of detail."

"This is a truly excellent introduction to programming in Python, particularly for anyone that has little or no programming experience."

Pace may be slow for experienced learners.

"This class was good: it focused on very basic things and focused on good code writing style. It's useful if you are just starting out."

"Both instructors are very good at explaining the content."

"I found out that 6-10 minutes lectures are easier to stomach than those gargantuan 2h lectures."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Learn to Program: The Fundamentals with these activities:

Review your notes and assignments from a previous programming course

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Refresh your memory on programming fundamentals by reviewing previously covered concepts, strengthening your foundation for this course.

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Gather your notes and assignments from the previous course
Review the materials, focusing on key concepts and techniques

Write a Python program to calculate the area of a circle

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Review the fundamentals of programming and practice writing simple programs to solidify your understanding of Python.

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Set the radius of the circle to a variable
Write the formula for the area of a circle using the radius variable
Print the calculated area to the console

Watch a tutorial on how to use Python's built-in functions

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Supplement your understanding of Python by following a tutorial on how to utilize its built-in functions effectively.

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Find a tutorial on built-in Python functions
Follow the tutorial and try out the examples

Four other activities

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Join a study group with other students taking the course

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Collaborate with peers, exchange ideas, and reinforce your understanding of the course material through discussions and shared problem-solving.

Browse courses on Python

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Find or create a study group with other students taking the course
Meet regularly to discuss the course material
Work together on assignments and projects

Create a flowchart or diagram that illustrates the process of writing a Python program

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Develop your problem-solving skills and reinforce your understanding of Python by visually representing the steps involved in writing a program.

Browse courses on Python

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Identify the problem you want to solve
Design the logic flow of the program
Create a flowchart or diagram to represent the logic flow

Attend a workshop on Python programming

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Enhance your Python skills by attending a workshop led by experts, gaining practical experience and expanding your knowledge in a structured setting.

Browse courses on Python

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Find a Python programming workshop that aligns with your interests
Register and attend the workshop
Actively participate in the hands-on activities and discussions

Develop a simple Python program to solve a real-world problem

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Apply your Python skills to solve a practical problem, fostering a deeper understanding of the language while developing your problem-solving abilities.

Browse courses on Python

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Identify a real-world problem that can be solved using Python
Design the solution and implement it as a Python program
Test and refine the program to ensure it meets the requirements

Career center

Learners who complete Learn to Program: The Fundamentals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Developer

Software Developers write and maintain the code that powers websites, applications, and other software systems. They may work on a variety of projects, from small personal projects to large enterprise systems. This course helps build a foundation for a career in software development by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for software developers to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Web Developer

Web Developers design and develop websites and web applications. They may work on the front-end of a website, which is what users see and interact with, or on the back-end, which handles the logic and data processing. This course helps build a foundation for a career in web development by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for web development. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for web developers to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, clean, and analyze data to help businesses make better decisions. They may work in a variety of industries, such as finance, healthcare, and retail. This course helps build a foundation for a career in data analysis by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for data analysis. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for data analysts to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to build models and make predictions. They may work in a variety of industries, such as finance, healthcare, and retail. This course helps build a foundation for a career in data science by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for data science. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for data scientists to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers design and build machine learning models. They may work in a variety of industries, such as finance, healthcare, and retail. This course helps build a foundation for a career in machine learning engineering by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for machine learning. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for machine learning engineers to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Quantitative Analyst

Quantitative Analysts use mathematical and statistical models to analyze financial data. They may work in a variety of financial institutions, such as investment banks and hedge funds. This course helps build a foundation for a career in quantitative analysis by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for quantitative analysis. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for quantitative analysts to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Actuary

Actuaries use mathematical and statistical models to assess risk. They may work in a variety of industries, such as insurance and finance. This course helps build a foundation for a career in actuarial science by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for actuarial science. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for actuaries to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Operations Research Analyst

Operations Research Analysts use mathematical and statistical models to improve the efficiency of operations. They may work in a variety of industries, such as manufacturing and logistics. This course helps build a foundation for a career in operations research by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for operations research. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for operations research analysts to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts use financial data to make investment recommendations. They may work in a variety of financial institutions, such as investment banks and hedge funds. This course helps build a foundation for a career in financial analysis by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for financial analysis. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for financial analysts to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts use data to improve the efficiency of businesses. They may work in a variety of industries, such as consulting and technology. This course helps build a foundation for a career in business analysis by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for business analysis. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for business analysts to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts design and implement computer systems. They may work in a variety of industries, such as consulting and technology. This course helps build a foundation for a career in systems analysis by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for systems analysis. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for systems analysts to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Database Administrator

Database Administrators manage and maintain databases. They may work in a variety of industries, such as consulting and technology. This course helps build a foundation for a career in database administration by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for database administration. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for database administrators to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Network Administrator

Network Administrators manage and maintain computer networks. They may work in a variety of industries, such as consulting and technology. This course helps build a foundation for a career in network administration by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for network administration. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for network administrators to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Computer Support Specialist

Computer Support Specialists provide technical support to computer users. They may work in a variety of industries, such as consulting and technology. This course helps build a foundation for a career in computer support by teaching the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for computer support. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for computer support specialists to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Support Specialist

Help Desk Technician

Help Desk Technicians provide technical support to computer users. They may work in a variety of industries, such as consulting and technology. This course may be useful for those who wish to enter this career field, as it provides a foundation in the fundamentals of programming in Python, a popular and widely-used programming language for computer support. The course covers topics such as variables, functions, strings, loops, and data structures, which are all essential concepts for help desk technicians to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Help Desk Technician

Featured in The Course Notes

This course is mentioned in our blog, The Course Notes. Read one article that features Learn to Program: The Fundamentals:

25 Free Online Programming Courses for Beginners - 2017

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Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Learn to Program: The Fundamentals.

Python Crash Course, 2nd Edition

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Provides a comprehensive introduction to Python programming, with a focus on hands-on projects and practical examples. It covers the core concepts of Python, from variables and data types to functions and object-oriented programming.

Learn to Program

The Fundamentals

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Reviews summary

Excellent python introduction for beginners

Activities

Career center

Featured in The Course Notes

Reading list

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