Learn to Program: The Fundamentals
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6,737 reviews
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There are 7 modules in this course
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.
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.
What's included
8 videos10 readings1 assignment
8 videosβ’Total 39 minutes
- Welcome to LTPβ’1 minute
- Installing Pythonβ’3 minutes
- Python as a Calculatorβ’11 minutes
- Python and Computer Memoryβ’3 minutes
- Variablesβ’8 minutes
- Visualizing Assignment Statementsβ’3 minutes
- Built-in Functionsβ’5 minutes
- Defining Functionsβ’7 minutes
10 readingsβ’Total 100 minutes
- Syllabusβ’10 minutes
- Course Logisticsβ’10 minutes
- Resourcesβ’10 minutes
- Installing Pythonβ’10 minutes
- Python as a Calculatorβ’10 minutes
- Python and Computer Memoryβ’10 minutes
- Variablesβ’10 minutes
- Visualizing Assignment Statementsβ’10 minutes
- Built-in Functionsβ’10 minutes
- Defining Functionsβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Python, Variables, and Functionsβ’30 minutes
This module introduces strings (a Python data type used to represent text), and a process to follow when creating a function.
What's included
6 videos6 readings1 assignment1 programming assignment
6 videosβ’Total 35 minutes
- Type strβ’5 minutes
- Input/Output and str Formattingβ’10 minutes
- Docstrings and Function Helpβ’1 minute
- Function Design Recipeβ’6 minutes
- Function Reuseβ’7 minutes
- Visualizing Function Callsβ’6 minutes
6 readingsβ’Total 60 minutes
- Type strβ’10 minutes
- Input/Output and str Formattingβ’10 minutes
- Docstrings and Function helpβ’10 minutes
- Function Design Recipeβ’10 minutes
- Function Reuseβ’10 minutes
- Visualizing Function Callsβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Strings and Designing Functionsβ’30 minutes
1 programming assignmentβ’Total 180 minutes
- Assignment 1: Time Zonesβ’180 minutes
This module introduces Booleans (logical values True and False), how to convert between types, how to use Boolean expressions in if statements to selectively run code, and the concept of a Python module.
What's included
7 videos7 readings1 assignment
7 videosβ’Total 42 minutes
- Functions, Variables, and the Call Stackβ’5 minutes
- Type Boolβ’9 minutes
- Converting Between int, str, and floatβ’3 minutes
- Import: Using Non-Built-in Functionsβ’5 minutes
- If Statementsβ’9 minutes
- No if Requiredβ’4 minutes
- Structuring if Statementsβ’6 minutes
7 readingsβ’Total 70 minutes
- Functions, Variables, and the Call Stackβ’10 minutes
- Type Boolβ’10 minutes
- Converting Between int, str, and floatβ’10 minutes
- Import: Using Non-Built-in Functionsβ’10 minutes
- If Statementsβ’10 minutes
- No if Requiredβ’10 minutes
- Structuring if statementsβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Booleans, Import, Namespaces, and if Statementsβ’30 minutes
This module introduces one way to repeat code (using a for loop), how to manipulate strings, and how to use a debugger to watch a program execute step by step.
What's included
5 videos5 readings1 assignment1 programming assignment
5 videosβ’Total 26 minutes
- More str Operatorsβ’2 minutes
- Str: Indexing and Slicingβ’5 minutes
- Str Methods: Functions Inside of Objectsβ’4 minutes
- For Loop Over Strβ’12 minutes
- IDLE's Debuggerβ’4 minutes
5 readingsβ’Total 50 minutes
- More str Operatorsβ’10 minutes
- Str: Indexing and Slicingβ’10 minutes
- Str Methods: Functions Inside of Objectsβ’10 minutes
- For Loop Over Strβ’10 minutes
- IDLE's Debuggerβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- For Loops and Fancy String Manipulationβ’30 minutes
1 programming assignmentβ’Total 180 minutes
- Assignment 2: DNA Processingβ’180 minutes
This module introduces another way to repeat code (using a while loop), how to properly document your code to help other programmers understand it, Python's list data type, and the concept of mutation.
What's included
6 videos6 readings1 assignment
6 videosβ’Total 43 minutes
- While Loopsβ’12 minutes
- Commentsβ’5 minutes
- Type listβ’4 minutes
- list Methodsβ’8 minutes
- Mutability and Aliasingβ’10 minutes
- rangeβ’4 minutes
6 readingsβ’Total 60 minutes
- While Loopsβ’10 minutes
- Commentsβ’10 minutes
- Type listβ’10 minutes
- list Methodsβ’10 minutes
- Mutability and Aliasingβ’10 minutes
- rangeβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- While Loops, Lists, and Mutabilityβ’30 minutes
This module introduces how to use a for loop over the indexes of a list, how to nest lists, and how to read a write files.
What's included
7 videos6 readings1 assignment1 programming assignment
7 videosβ’Total 82 minutes
- For Loop Over Indicesβ’14 minutes
- Parallel Lists and Stringsβ’6 minutes
- Nested Listsβ’4 minutes
- Nested Loopsβ’14 minutes
- Reading Filesβ’5 minutes
- Writing Filesβ’5 minutes
- Developing a Program β’34 minutes
6 readingsβ’Total 60 minutes
- For Loop Over Indicesβ’10 minutes
- Parallel Lists and Stringsβ’10 minutes
- Nested Listsβ’10 minutes
- Nested Loopsβ’10 minutes
- Reading Filesβ’10 minutes
- Writing Filesβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 26 minutes
- For Loops Over Indices, Parallel Lists and Strings, and Filesβ’26 minutes
1 programming assignmentβ’Total 180 minutes
- Assignment 3β’180 minutes
This module introduces tuples (an immutable version of lists), and Python's dictionary type.
What's included
4 videos3 readings2 assignments
4 videosβ’Total 24 minutes
- Tuplesβ’2 minutes
- Type dictβ’10 minutes
- Inverting a Dictionaryβ’4 minutes
- Populating a Dictionary β’7 minutes
3 readingsβ’Total 30 minutes
- Tuplesβ’10 minutes
- Type dictβ’10 minutes
- Inverting a Dictionaryβ’10 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 60 minutes
- Tuples and Dictionariesβ’30 minutes
- Final Examβ’30 minutes
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Packt
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Reviewed on Apr 11, 2020
I enjoyed this course very much. The concepts were well explained. I gave only 4 stars because I wish there were more assignments to do instead of the quizzes. All in all great intro into programming.
Reviewed on Nov 24, 2024
Great introduction to Python. Some concepts glossed over just a tiny bit quickly so some background reading might be needed for the full learning experience. Otherwise, A+ as to "fundamentals".
Reviewed on Aug 20, 2020
Es muy claro como base para entender mejor otros cursos. Algunas partes relacionadas con el funcionamiento de la memoria del computador son ΓΊtiles pero pueden resultar aburridas para algunas personas.
Frequently asked questions
You'll learn how to turn simple problems into Python code and understand what the computer is doing as it runs that code. It starts with expressions, variables, and functions, then builds into decisions, loops, and working with text, files, and collections. You'll apply that in quizzes and programming assignments, including string-processing work such as DNA processing.
No, the course starts from the beginning and teaches Python as it teaches programming. You'll begin with installing Python and using IDLE, then move into expressions, variables, and functions. The main thing you'll need is a willingness to practice, because you'll start writing code early in the course.
Yes, it's beginner-friendly for someone who wants a thorough introduction to programming, not just a quick tour of syntax. The course explains core ideas carefully and reinforces them with lessons, readings, quizzes, and programming assignments, so you keep practicing as the material builds. It may feel more demanding if you're looking for a very short overview, because regular practice is part of the learning experience.
More questions
Financial aid available,
