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URL: https://www.coursera.org/learn/introduction-to-computer-programming

⇱ Introduction to Computer Programming | Coursera

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.1

934 reviews

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
2 weeks at 10 hours a week
Learn at your own pace
90%
Most learners liked this course
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.1

934 reviews

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
2 weeks at 10 hours a week
Learn at your own pace
90%
Most learners liked this course

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 3 modules in this course

This MOOC provides you with the foundational skill set required to write computer programs. If you are interested in learning how to write interactive, graphical programs from an introductory level in a real programming language, this is the course for you. You will begin by learning the basics of editing and running programs. Then you will learn how to create 2D graphics using shapes and coordinates. Finally, you will learn how to create interactive graphics that you can control with the mouse. You will even solve a set of interactive puzzles using your coding skills in the Sleuth game which has been created especially for this course. The course uses the Javascript language and the p5.js library.

In this topic, you will be introduced to three key concepts: the toolkit used for developing programs, how to draw using simple shapes and 2D coordinates, and the process of writing and experiencing code. These foundational skills will support your learning as you begin creating your own programs.

What's included

9 videos7 readings2 assignments1 programming assignment4 discussion prompts

9 videos•Total 52 minutes
  • Course introduction•2 minutes
  • About you: Growth mindset•3 minutes
  • What is programming? What is p5.js?•4 minutes
  • Running your first program with Brackets•7 minutes
  • Running your first program with Visual Studio Code•10 minutes
  • Learn by hacking•4 minutes
  • 2D coordinate system•8 minutes
  • Code philosophy: what it feels like to code•3 minutes
  • Introduction to Sleuth•12 minutes
7 readings•Total 160 minutes
  • Course structure and navigation•5 minutes
  • Some information before you begin…•10 minutes
  • Code editor - Important information•5 minutes
  • P5.js resources•10 minutes
  • Programming exercise 1: Hack the robot•30 minutes
  • Programming exercise 2: Code it from scratch: De Stijl•90 minutes
  • Introduction to Sleuth•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
  • Getting started with P5.js•30 minutes
  • 2D coordinate system•30 minutes
1 programming assignment•Total 180 minutes
  • Sleuth assessment•180 minutes
4 discussion prompts•Total 80 minutes
  • Running your first program•20 minutes
  • Hacked robot discussion•20 minutes
  • De Stijl: share your modern masterpiece•20 minutes
  • Code philosophy•20 minutes

In this week’s topic, you will explore three essential concepts that will expand your creative and technical skills in programming with p5.js. You’ll learn how to use a set of 2D drawing functions to create shapes and visual elements, how colours are represented and styled within your programs, and how to effectively debug your code using the console. These skills will help you bring your sketches to life while developing greater confidence in identifying and solving coding issues.

What's included

9 videos5 readings4 assignments3 discussion prompts

9 videos•Total 53 minutes
  • RGB (red, green and blue) colours•9 minutes
  • Fill, stroke, noFill•8 minutes
  • Setup, draw and programme flow•3 minutes
  • Ellipse, rect, line, triangle and point•6 minutes
  • How to access and use the console to view errors•3 minutes
  • Debugging syntax errors•8 minutes
  • Code philosophy: asking for help•5 minutes
  • Sleuth case by case: 201•5 minutes
  • Sleuth case by case: 202•6 minutes
5 readings•Total 160 minutes
  • Programming exercise 3. Hack it: Robot parade•30 minutes
  • Programming exercise 4. Code it from scratch: Kandinsky•60 minutes
  • Teach it to yourself•10 minutes
  • Programing exercise 5: Debug challenge•30 minutes
  • Programming exercise 5: Debug challenge•30 minutes
4 assignments•Total 93 minutes
  • RGB colours•3 minutes
  • Setup, draw and programme flow•30 minutes
  • Ellipse, rect, line, triangle and point•30 minutes
  • Using the console and debugging syntax errors •30 minutes
3 discussion prompts•Total 60 minutes
  • Hack it: Robot parade•20 minutes
  • Kandinsky: Share your abstract master•20 minutes
  • Post examples of good and bad questions•20 minutes

This week, you'll be introduced to three fundamental programming concepts. You'll learn how to use variables to store and manage data, explore simple forms of user interaction to make your programs more dynamic, and discover techniques for organising your code to make it clearer and easier to maintain. These skills are key to building more interactive and well-structured programs.

What's included

13 videos4 readings5 assignments3 discussion prompts

13 videos•Total 76 minutes
  • Built-in variables: mouseX, mouseY•5 minutes
  • Built-in events: mousePressed, keyPressed•4 minutes
  • Create your own variables: var, initialising and assigning•11 minutes
  • 12 top tips for naming variables•2 minutes
  • Objects•8 minutes
  • Working with operators•11 minutes
  • Mathematical functions: random, min, max•12 minutes
  • Inspecting variables in the console•4 minutes
  • Code philosophy: the elegant coder•3 minutes
  • Sleuth case by case: 301•7 minutes
  • Sleuth: case by case 302•5 minutes
  • Sleuth case by case: 303•5 minutes
  • MOOC summary•1 minute
4 readings•Total 140 minutes
  • Programming exercise 6. Code it from scratch: Drawing app•60 minutes
  • Programming exercise 7. Hack it: Sunrise•30 minutes
  • Teach it to yourself•20 minutes
  • Programming exercise 8: Debug challenge•30 minutes
5 assignments•Total 115 minutes
  • Built-in variables: mouseX, mouseY and events•30 minutes
  • Create your own variables: var, initialising and assigning•15 minutes
  • Working with operators•25 minutes
  • Inspecting variables in the console•15 minutes
  • Summative quiz•30 minutes
3 discussion prompts•Total 60 minutes
  • Code it from scratch: Drawing app•20 minutes
  • Hack it: Sunrise•20 minutes
  • Code philosophy: the elegant coder•20 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Prepare for a degree

Taking this course by University of London may provide you with a preview of the topics, materials and instructors in a related degree program which can help you decide if the topic or university is right for you.

Instructors

Instructor ratings
4.3 (231 ratings)
University of London
2 Courses•100,085 learners

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Learner reviews

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Showing 3 of 934

RP
·

Reviewed on Mar 14, 2019

All is fine. But i dont understand, why the vital section of information - "Reading Teach it to yourself" of 3 week, opens only after _optional_ submisson "Hack it: Sunrise. What did you learn"

DD
·

Reviewed on Feb 4, 2025

After finishing "Week 1" of the course material it told me that I had completed the course, even though there were two additional weeks of material that had not been completed. Is this intentional?

KK
·

Reviewed on Oct 24, 2022

T​hanks a lot for the short and elegant course! Now I understand better development of internet applications, which I can launch in my browser :)

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Financial aid available,