An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 1)
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An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 1)
This course is part of Fundamentals of Computing Specialization
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There are 5 modules in 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".
Understand the structure of this class, explore Python as a calculator
What's included
6 videos4 readings1 assignment1 peer review
6 videos•Total 71 minutes
- Introduction•15 minutes
- CodeSkulptor•11 minutes
- Arithmetic Expressions•13 minutes
- Variables•11 minutes
- Saving in CodeSkulptor•10 minutes
- Mini-project Video•11 minutes
4 readings•Total 40 minutes
- Practice Exercises for Expressions (optional)•10 minutes
- Practice Exercises for Variables and Assignments (optional)•10 minutes
- Mini-project Description•10 minutes
- Code Clinic Tips•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Quiz 0•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
- "We want... a shrubbery!"•60 minutes
Learn the basic constructs of Python programming, create a program that plays a variant of Rock-Paper-Scissors
What's included
7 videos5 readings1 assignment1 peer review
7 videos•Total 98 minutes
- Functions•16 minutes
- Visualizing Functions•12 minutes
- More Operations•17 minutes
- Logic and Comparisons•10 minutes
- Conditionals•11 minutes
- Programming Tips - 1•16 minutes
- Mini-project Video•16 minutes
5 readings•Total 50 minutes
- Practice Exercises for Functions (optional)•10 minutes
- Practice Exercises for Logic and Conditionals (optional)•10 minutes
- Mini-project Description•10 minutes
- Practice Mini-project: Mystical Octosphere (optional)•10 minutes
- Code Clinic Tips•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Quiz 1•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
- Rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock•60 minutes
Learn the basics of event-driven programming, understand difference between local and global variables, create an interactive program that plays a simple guessing game
What's included
8 videos5 readings2 assignments1 peer review
8 videos•Total 83 minutes
- Event-Driven Programming•13 minutes
- Local vs. Global Variables•11 minutes
- SimpleGUI•11 minutes
- Buttons•11 minutes
- Input Fields•10 minutes
- Visualizing Events•6 minutes
- Programming Tips - 2•14 minutes
- Mini-project Video•7 minutes
5 readings•Total 50 minutes
- Practice Exercises for Interactive Applications (optional)•10 minutes
- Practice Exercises for Button and Input Fields (optional)•10 minutes
- Mini-project Description•10 minutes
- Practice Mini-project: Magical Octosphere Reloaded (optional)•10 minutes
- Code Clinic Tips•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Quiz 2a•30 minutes
- Quiz 2b•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
- "Guess the Number!"•60 minutes
Create a canvas in Python, learn how to draw on the canvas, create a digital stopwatch
What's included
7 videos4 readings2 assignments1 peer review
7 videos•Total 71 minutes
- Canvas and Drawing•13 minutes
- String Processing•12 minutes
- Interactive Drawing•13 minutes
- Timers•10 minutes
- Visualizing Drawing and Timers•6 minutes
- Programming Tips - 3•7 minutes
- Mini-project Video•10 minutes
4 readings•Total 40 minutes
- Practice Exercises for Drawing (optional)•10 minutes
- Practice Exercises for Timers (optional)•10 minutes
- Mini-project Description•10 minutes
- Code Clinic Tips•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Quiz 3a•30 minutes
- Quiz 3b•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
- Stopwatch: The Game•60 minutes
Learn the basics of lists in Python, model moving objects in Python, recreate the classic arcade game "Pong"
What's included
8 videos4 readings2 assignments1 peer review
8 videos•Total 77 minutes
- Lists•11 minutes
- Keyboard Input•9 minutes
- Motion•14 minutes
- Collisions and Reflections•12 minutes
- Velocity Control•9 minutes
- Visualizing Lists and Mutation•6 minutes
- Programming Tips - 4•4 minutes
- Mini-project Video•12 minutes
4 readings•Total 40 minutes
- Practice Exercises for Lists (optional)•10 minutes
- Practice Exercises for Keyboard (optional)•10 minutes
- Mini-project Description•10 minutes
- Code Clinic Tips•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Quiz 4a•30 minutes
- Quiz 4b•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
- Pong•60 minutes
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Reviewed on Mar 2, 2021
The course is really practical and you learn Python playing the games you develop, It is such a great course for those who already know how to code and want to know more about Python syntax.
Reviewed on Apr 24, 2020
it is really a good, and interesting course offered by coursers. the teaching staff and the proffers exp land in a detailed and understandable way and made the course essay to understand and workout.
Reviewed on Oct 3, 2017
This was a fun and convenient course, and it was a great start to learning programming for me. There must have been lots of thought and talent put into it to make it that way.Thank you!
Frequently asked questions
You'll learn how to think through basic Python programs and turn them into simple interactive applications. It starts with core coding ideas, then builds into event-driven programs that respond to user input and draw on screen. Along the way, you'll create small projects such as a digital stopwatch and a basic version of Pong.
No, you don't need prior Python or computing experience for this course. It begins with expressions, variables, and simple syntax in a browser-based coding environment before moving into functions and interactive behavior. If you're completely new, the main thing to expect is that you'll start writing code early rather than spending a long time on setup.
Yes, it's beginner-friendly if you want a true introduction and are comfortable learning by coding as you go. The course starts with very basic Python ideas and builds them into small graphical programs and games step by step. It may feel less suitable if you want a no-code overview, because you'll be writing and testing your own programs throughout.
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