About this course: This two-part course is designed to help students with very little or no computing background learn the basics of building simple interactive applications. Our language of choice, Python, is an easy-to learn, high-level computer language that is used in many of the computational courses offered on Coursera. To make learning Python easy, we have developed a new browser-based programming environment that makes developing interactive applications in Python simple. These applications will involve windows whose contents are graphical and respond to buttons, the keyboard and the mouse. In part 1 of this course, we will introduce the basic elements of programming (such as expressions, conditionals, and functions) and then use these elements to create simple interactive applications such as a digital stopwatch. Part 1 of this class will culminate in building a version of the classic arcade game "Pong".
Who is this class for: Recommended Background - A knowledge of high school mathematics is required. The class is designed for students with no prior programming experience.
Taught by: John Greiner, Lecturer
Department of Computer Science
Taught by: Stephen Wong, Lecturer
Computer Science
Taught by: Scott Rixner, Professor
Computer Science
Taught by: Joe Warren, Professor
Computer Science
| Basic Info | Course 1 of 7 in the Fundamentals of Computing Specialization |
| Commitment | 5 weeks of study, 7-10 hours/week |
| Language | English, Subtitles: Italian, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified) |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
- Video: Introduction
- Video: CodeSkulptor
- Video: Arithmetic Expressions
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Expressions (optional)
- Video: Variables
- Video: Saving in CodeSkulptor
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Variables and Assignments (optional)
- Video: Mini-project Video
- Reading: Mini-project Description
- Reading: Code Clinic Tips
- Peer Review: "We want... a shrubbery!"
- Video: Functions
- Video: Visualizing Functions
- Video: More Operations
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Functions (optional)
- Video: Logic and Comparisons
- Video: Conditionals
- Video: Programming Tips - 1
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Logic and Conditionals (optional)
- Video: Mini-project Video
- Reading: Mini-project Description
- Reading: Practice Mini-project: Mystical Octosphere (optional)
- Reading: Code Clinic Tips
- Video: Event-Driven Programming
- Video: Local vs. Global Variables
- Video: SimpleGUI
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Interactive Applications (optional)
- Video: Buttons
- Video: Input Fields
- Video: Visualizing Events
- Video: Programming Tips - 2
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Button and Input Fields (optional)
- Video: Mini-project Video
- Reading: Mini-project Description
- Reading: Practice Mini-project: Magical Octosphere Reloaded (optional)
- Reading: Code Clinic Tips
- Video: Canvas and Drawing
- Video: String Processing
- Video: Interactive Drawing
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Drawing (optional)
- Video: Timers
- Video: Visualizing Drawing and Timers
- Video: Programming Tips - 3
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Timers (optional)
- Video: Mini-project Video
- Reading: Mini-project Description
- Reading: Code Clinic Tips
- Video: Lists
- Video: Keyboard Input
- Video: Motion
- Video: Collisions and Reflections
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Lists (optional)
- Video: Velocity Control
- Video: Visualizing Lists and Mutation
- Video: Programming Tips - 4
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Keyboard (optional)
- Video: Mini-project Video
- Reading: Mini-project Description
- Reading: Code Clinic Tips
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.
| Audit | Purchase Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Not available | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Not available | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Not available | Available |
Great course, but not for absolute absolute beginners.
The course is well structured but goes very (too?) fast... I spent so much more hours than indicated to do the practice exercises and the mini projects. Difficult to manage if you have a full time job
This course is excellent. It was appropriately paced and just challenging enough to push my abilities
with the mini-projects. The professors and lectures are excellent but be prepared to do some legwork after viewing the videos. as the quizzes and mini-projects require a bit more studying to prepare.
All in all, I'm really enjoying this course and will be taking part 2 as soon as I'm done.
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MT
Rice university is lucky to have Warren and Rixner. I highly recommend this course for anyone looking to pick up python.