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Learn to Program

The Fundamentals

Jennifer Campbell and Paul Gries

4.7

Based on 6,599 ratings

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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.

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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

Introductory python programming fundamentals

According to learners, "Learn to Program: The Fundamentals" provides a very solid and clear introduction to programming using Python, making it ideal for absolute beginners. Many students found the course content well-structured and the instructor's explanations easy to follow, breaking down complex ideas effectively. The assignments and exercises were often highlighted as helpful for practical application, though some reviewers noted they could be challenging at times, requiring significant effort. While building a strong foundation, a few learners felt it might require supplementary resources for deeper dives. Overall, it's seen as a great starting point in the programming journey.

Assignments reinforce learning effectively.

"The exercises were really well-designed and helped me practice what I learned in the lectures."

"I found the programming assignments challenging but very useful for solidifying understanding."

"Hands-on coding assignments were the highlight; they made the concepts stick."

Excellent starting point for beginners.

"This course gave me the fundamental knowledge I needed to start learning more advanced programming."

"I feel much more confident approaching other programming topics after taking this course."

"It's a perfect starting point if you're completely new to coding."

Instructor breaks down complex topics well.

"The instructor explains concepts very clearly and concisely, making it easy to follow along."

"Everything was explained step-by-step which was great for someone with no prior programming experience."

"I really appreciated how the complex topics were broken down into simple, understandable parts."

May need additional resources for depth.

"While great for basics, I needed other resources to understand practical applications better."

"This course is a good start but not enough if you want to become proficient; supplemental learning is needed."

"Felt like I needed to look up extra examples and explanations outside the course materials."

Assignments can be difficult for beginners.

"Some assignments were quite difficult and required a lot of time and problem-solving."

"I struggled with some of the exercises, especially later in the course, needed extra help."

"The jump in difficulty between lectures and some assignments felt a bit steep."

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Introductory python programming fundamentals

Activities

Career center

Featured in The Course Notes

Reading list

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