Python Programming Essentials
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Python Programming Essentials
This course is part of Introduction to Scripting in Python Specialization
Instructors: Scott Rixner
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There are 4 modules in this course
This course will introduce you to the wonderful world of Python programming! We'll learn about the essential elements of programming and how to construct basic Python programs. We will cover expressions, variables, functions, logic, and conditionals, which are foundational concepts in computer programming. We will also teach you how to use Python modules, which enable you to benefit from the vast array of functionality that is already a part of the Python language. These concepts and skills will help you to begin to think like a computer programmer and to understand how to go about writing Python programs.
By the end of the course, you will be able to write short Python programs that are able to accomplish real, practical tasks. This course is the foundation for building expertise in Python programming. As the first course in a specialization, it provides the necessary building blocks for you to succeed at learning to write more complex Python programs. This course uses Python 3. While many Python programs continue to use Python 2, Python 3 is the future of the Python programming language. This first course will use a Python 3 version of the CodeSkulptor development environment, which is specifically designed to help beginning programmers learn quickly. CodeSkulptor runs within any modern web browser and does not require you to install any software, allowing you to start writing and running small programs immediately. In the later courses in this specialization, we will help you to move to more sophisticated desktop development environments.
This module will expose you to Python so that you can run your first simple programs. You will use Python to compute the results of arithmetic expressions, as you would when using a calculator.
What's included
9 videos4 readings1 assignment
9 videos•Total 62 minutes
- Welcome!•6 minutes
- Course Overview•4 minutes
- Hello, world!•3 minutes
- Python Development Environments•9 minutes
- Numbers•7 minutes
- Simple Expressions•8 minutes
- Compound Expressions•7 minutes
- Variables and Assignment•8 minutes
- Handling Errors in Python•10 minutes
4 readings•Total 40 minutes
- Using CodeSkulptor3•10 minutes
- A Short Guide to Common Errors in Python•10 minutes
- Practice Exercise for Expressions•10 minutes
- Practice Exercises for Variables and Assignments•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 14 minutes
- Basic Python Syntax•14 minutes
This module will teach you how to define and call functions. Functions allow you to write code once that you can execute repeatedly with different inputs.
What's included
6 videos2 readings1 assignment
6 videos•Total 46 minutes
- What is a Function?•7 minutes
- Calling Functions•7 minutes
- Defining Functions•11 minutes
- Local Variables•5 minutes
- Understanding Function Evaluation•9 minutes
- Using Print and Return in Functions•7 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
- Functions•10 minutes
- Practice Exercises for Functions•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 14 minutes
- Functions•14 minutes
This module will teach you how to use logic and conditionals to change the behavior of the program based upon values within the program.
What's included
7 videos3 readings1 assignment
7 videos•Total 54 minutes
- Boolean Logic•6 minutes
- Logical Expressions•5 minutes
- Comparisons•7 minutes
- Conditionals•8 minutes
- More Conditionals•9 minutes
- Using Python Documentation•9 minutes
- Following Coding Standards•10 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
- Conditionals in Python•10 minutes
- Coding Standards and Style•10 minutes
- Practice Exercises for Logic and Conditionals•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 14 minutes
- Logic and Conditionals•14 minutes
This module will introduce you to the concept of modules. Python modules allow code to be divided up into different files and reused in different programs. Python provides many modules that you can use within your programs.
What's included
6 videos6 readings2 app items
6 videos•Total 57 minutes
- Python Modules•6 minutes
- The Datetime Module•6 minutes
- Coding the Practice Project - Part 1•10 minutes
- Coding the Practice Project - Part 2•10 minutes
- RPSLS Video•11 minutes
- Project Video•13 minutes
6 readings•Total 60 minutes
- Python Modules•10 minutes
- Datetime Module Quick Reference•10 minutes
- Practice Project: Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock•10 minutes
- Tips for RPSLS•10 minutes
- Project Description: Working with Dates•10 minutes
- OwlTest: Automated Feedback and Assessment•10 minutes
2 app items•Total 120 minutes
- Project Submission History•60 minutes
- Project: Working with Dates•60 minutes
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Reviewed on Jun 5, 2019
I started this course with an idea to get started on Python. The presenters did a great job of easing into it. Enjoyed the experience and got a great start to Python programming.
Reviewed on Jul 13, 2020
Overall the course is very good, but for the grading tool in the last week project there are problems such as input year zero is tested and input year zero is already out of range of MINYEAR
Reviewed on Jul 24, 2020
Very good course for python beginners. No prior programming experience is required before starting this course so it is great start for people who wants to become python programmer
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