Introduction to Programming
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There are 5 modules in this course
Designed for the not-yet-experienced programmer, this course will provide you with a structured foundation for developing complex programs in the fields of computer science or data science. If you are a self-taught programmer with scattered bits of understanding, or a complete novice, this is the course for you.
Here, you will gain a thorough understanding of how to write programs to solve problems, through structured, scaffolded, hands-on exercises with many examples and opportunities to practice. You will learn the foundational concepts of computer science by developing programs in the python programming language (one of the most commonly used languages). We will also use many of the most common python packages -- why reinvent the wheel when you can use well-tested, flexible, pre-built solutions? While these packages can save significant time, it is also important to understand how they do their magic, and if your particular problem is the right fit to be solved by these potential tools. You will encounter the following python packages: numpy, scipy, matplotlib, pandas, seaborn, re (for regular expressions), textblob, nltk, and others. In the process of learning how to program, we will explore different topics at the introductory level, including natural language processing and data analytics. By the end of this course, you will be confident in your ability to solve a problem using the python programming language -- and how to verify that your solution is accurate.
Welcome to the course! In this module, we will explore what makes the python programming language so excellent to learn and begin to write our first python programs. We will learn about variables, how to use them, how a program makes decisions using if statements, and how to interact with the user through input() and print() functions.
What's included
13 videos7 readings2 assignments1 programming assignment1 discussion prompt
13 videos•Total 79 minutes
- Welcome to the Course•2 minutes
- Module 1 Overview•1 minute
- Meet your Instructor•2 minutes
- Why python?•4 minutes
- Writing Code in Jupyter Notebook•3 minutes
- Variables and Assignment Statements•8 minutes
- Arithmetic•7 minutes
- Live Coding: Variable Assignment and Arithmetic•8 minutes
- Using print() for Output and Strings•8 minutes
- Getting Input from the User with input()•8 minutes
- Decision Making: the if Statement•8 minutes
- Live Coding: comments and if Statement Example•8 minutes
- Built-in Functions: min() and max()•12 minutes
7 readings•Total 57 minutes
- About This Course•5 minutes
- Read the Course Syllabus•10 minutes
- Meet Your Course Staff•5 minutes
- About Lectures and "Live Coding" Videos in this Course•2 minutes
- Supplemental Material•30 minutes
- About Reflective Practice Assignments•4 minutes
- Module 1 Conclusion•1 minute
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Programming Assignment 1a •30 minutes
- Programming Assignment 1b•30 minutes
1 programming assignment•Total 45 minutes
- Module 1 Reflection Activity•45 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 30 minutes
- Introduce Yourself•30 minutes
In this module, we will learn how to make our programs more flexible, and able to solve more complex problems. We'll see how we can make more complex decisions using the if statement by including elif and else. We'll also see how we can have the program repeat actions using for and while, and be introduced to other useful functions such as range(), mean(), median(), and mode().
What's included
22 videos2 readings2 assignments1 programming assignment
22 videos•Total 172 minutes
- Module 2 Overview•1 minute
- Introduction, algorithms, and pseudocode•11 minutes
- Control statements and python keywords•4 minutes
- if statements and if..else statements•10 minutes
- if..elif..else statements•9 minutes
- General form for an if statement•4 minutes
- Live Coding: if...elif...else statement•10 minutes
- while statements: example 1•14 minutes
- While Statements: Example 2•9 minutes
- Live Coding: while statement•13 minutes
- for statements•5 minutes
- for statements: example 1 - loop through letters in a word•10 minutes
- for statements: example 2 - loop through numbers using range()•5 minutes
- General form for a for loop, augmented assignment, and example 3 - use a for loop to add up numbers•8 minutes
- Live Coding: for statement (and nested statements)•10 minutes
- Examples using formatted strings•8 minutes
- Control statements: break and continue•7 minutes
- Boolean Operators: And•6 minutes
- Boolean Operators: Or, Not•6 minutes
- Live Coding: Using a For Statement to Count Upwards•5 minutes
- Intro to Data Science: mean(), median(), and mode(), and Importing a Package•6 minutes
- Common Mistakes: If, For, and While•11 minutes
2 readings•Total 31 minutes
- Supplemental Material•30 minutes
- Module 2 Conclusion•1 minute
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Programming Assignment 2a•30 minutes
- Programming Assignment 2b•30 minutes
1 programming assignment•Total 45 minutes
- Module 2 Reflection Activity •45 minutes
In this module, we will learn how to create our own custom functions, which allow us to reuse our code, divide programs into meaningful chunks, and also reduce the number of errors and bugs in our code. This content will be split over 2 modules, with the first few sections being covered in this first module, with the remainder being covered in the next module.
What's included
15 videos2 readings2 programming assignments1 peer review1 ungraded lab
15 videos•Total 129 minutes
- Module 3 Overview•1 minute
- Introduction to Functions•5 minutes
- Defining a Function•7 minutes
- Calling a Function•4 minutes
- Creating a Program that Uses Functions•2 minutes
- Variable Scope: Local vs. Global•6 minutes
- Functions With Multiple Parameters•16 minutes
- Live Coding: A Function With No Arguments•7 minutes
- Live Coding: A Function With One Argument•13 minutes
- Live Coding: A Function With Two Arguments•18 minutes
- Live Coding: Two Functions in One Program•15 minutes
- Random Number Generation•7 minutes
- Example: Random Number Generation•8 minutes
- The Python Standard Library and the Math Module•11 minutes
- Live Coding: Using the Math Module (and Writing a Function)•9 minutes
2 readings•Total 31 minutes
- Supplemental Material•30 minutes
- Module 3 Conclusion•1 minute
2 programming assignments•Total 120 minutes
- Programming Assignment 3a •60 minutes
- Programming Assignment 3b •60 minutes
1 peer review•Total 45 minutes
- Module 3 Reflection Activity, Part 2 (Peer Review in two steps)•45 minutes
1 ungraded lab•Total 45 minutes
- Module 3 Reflection Activity, Part 1•45 minutes
In this module, we will learn review functions, and continue practicing creating our own functions. There are a few lecture segments that touch on a few finer points from this chapter, and then more live programming examples. At this point in the semester, we have enough "tools" that we can write a larger program! You should experiment in the Reflective Practice and see what you can accomplish! In the full version of this course, this module also includes the beginning of a larger, 2 week long, project. Therefore, the content in this Module is somewhat shorter than normal.
What's included
9 videos2 readings2 programming assignments
9 videos•Total 87 minutes
- Module 4 Overview•2 minutes
- Review of Functions•8 minutes
- Methods•10 minutes
- Scope Rules: Local vs. Global•7 minutes
- A Deeper Look at Import•7 minutes
- Intro to Data Science: Measures of Dispersion•9 minutes
- Live Coding of Another Function, With Discussion of Local vs. Global Scope•30 minutes
- Live Coding of the Different Uses of Import, With the Math Module•8 minutes
- Live Coding of the Use of the Statistics Module: pvariance() and pstdev() •6 minutes
2 readings•Total 32 minutes
- Supplemental Material•30 minutes
- Module 4 Conclusion•2 minutes
2 programming assignments•Total 105 minutes
- Programming Assignment 4 •60 minutes
- Module 4 Reflection Activity •45 minutes
What's included
2 readings
2 readings•Total 15 minutes
- You did it!•5 minutes
- What is next?•10 minutes
Build toward a degree
This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by Ball State University. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹
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Reviewed on Dec 25, 2024
Very gentle, but gives a firm grounding in the absolute essentials of Python programming.
Reviewed on Sep 29, 2024
I'm a web designer with some comfort with JavaScript, but not a full fledged programmer. I got a lot out of this intro course!
Reviewed on Dec 24, 2023
Well run course. A professor who really wants you to succeed.
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