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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Computational Thinking for Problem Solving by University of Pennsylvania

4.7
stars
1,385 ratings

About the Course

Computational thinking is the process of approaching a problem in a systematic manner and creating and expressing a solution such that it can be carried out by a computer. But you don't need to be a computer scientist to think like a computer scientist! In fact, we encourage students from any field of study to take this course. Many quantitative and data-centric problems can be solved using computational thinking and an understanding of computational thinking will give you a foundation for solving problems that have real-world, social impact. In this course, you will learn about the pillars of computational thinking, how computer scientists develop and analyze algorithms, and how solutions can be realized on a computer using the Python programming language. By the end of the course, you will be able to develop an algorithm and express it to the computer by writing a simple Python program. This course will introduce you to people from diverse professions who use computational thinking to solve problems. You will engage with a unique community of analytical thinkers and be encouraged to consider how you can make a positive social impact through computational thinking....

Top reviews

J

Dec 18, 2018

Excellent course for beginners with enough depth, programming and computational theory to increase their computer science knowledge to a higher level. It builds a good foundation of how computers work

AK

Dec 13, 2022

I recommend this course to everyone who wants to learn about Computation Thinking in an effortless manner. I am delighted with this course. Thanks to UPenn and Coursera for giving me this opportunity.

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451 - 468 of 468 Reviews for Computational Thinking for Problem Solving

By Kristin G

Aug 13, 2021

This course is well-intended, but falls short of its goals. Far too much time is spent on the very basic concepts (the 1st 3 weeks), leaving almost no time for learning the Python programming in the 4th week at the level they expect. If you get stuck, there is no support. No one answered the question I posted online, and when I emailed a question, I got a response that my question would be answered in days. Considering each section is only 1 week long, waiting days for an answer prevents me from submitting my project on time.

The projects all go one step beyond what you were taught, with no opportunities to practice incremental steps to develop the thought processes that would enable one to move independently to writing programming beyond the course materials. Also, basic program formats are not taught (when to use parantheses vs brackets, for example), so executing code results in error messages before one can get to the point of testing functions.

Finally, the Coursera structure is irritating. Messages pop up in the middle of the videos telling me I'm meeting my learning goals, which then knock me out of the video, so I have to go back and find my place again. There are constant "add-on" purchase pressures and daily adverts trying to convince me to pursue a Masters when I hate the course I'm taking currently.

If you just need to get a certificate, go ahead and take this course. But if you actually want to see if programming is for you, take a real class. Or purchase a book for half the price of this course and teach yourself, as this course doesn't provide any benefits beyond what you can find in a book

Finally, the Coursera structure is irritating.

By Baoshun Y

Oct 5, 2020

This course is disappointing. It does not provide useful information in the first 3 weeks, and rush to python introduction in the lask week without enough excise and clarification.

By Praveenkumar M

Jul 7, 2023

a. The course needs more examples real-time

b. This course is fit for the technical people who writes coding.

c. non-coding people - this course is a greek and latin for you

By Valentine S

Jul 3, 2023

Super helpful topic, but expect to spend way more time than advertised on some of these assignments, depending on your level of knowledge. Not a simple course to complete.

By Ryan L

Aug 1, 2019

Terrible. Too many bugs in the autograder. Need more specific guidelines for submission in section 4.8

By Esther G

Sep 4, 2024

I don't think it's fair people without experience be allowed to evaluate my assignment

By Jaden

May 31, 2019

Boring, not application based.

How this help me on the job?

By Ami O

Oct 1, 2020

very messy although basic. It seems the course was rearranged in the middle so the quizzes don't always add up. Otherwise, either they assume you already know it all or they try to make you think it is complicated. Some very "sophisticated" trick questions suggest the later.

The instructors just quote the material in a very friendly voice. They lach intonation or emphasize. It was really easy to loose attention.

Further more, the examples they gave were not always easy to follow. For me, it was easier to follow the computer programs than to understand the human description.

... and they rely on peer review excessively. Every student should prepare himself being a part time Teaching assistant. Since you need to review one assignment but your assignment needs to be graded by 2, it don't add up and you end up begging in the forum to be reviewed if you want to get the certification

By Russ E

Mar 23, 2021

This course requires some significant experience using Python programming, which is required when you reach the last section of the course. You will need several days or a week to learn Python and that may be beyond what you had planned in terms of time commitment. Also, the instructional videos are very very rudimentary, but the quizzes require more detail info that you will need to get from other internet sources, like re-learning math logarithms. >>>>Please credit my account, the course is poorly designed.

By Sergio I

Apr 10, 2020

Very difficult, especially the last module. I'm sorry but I don't agree with the expectations provided by the presentation of the course. It is difficult to get support and you feel easily lost. I don't recommend taking this course unless people are very proficient in computer science and / or Python.

Thank you.

By Jose J

Jun 5, 2023

I am not reviewing this course. The one star is for not having an option to unenroll from courses. I saw a tutorial on how to unenroll and there is absolutely no option. Tried it on the web browser and the on mobile with no results. It's a little frustrating to seeing this.

By Michael O

Feb 22, 2023

The first two weeks of this course are great if you've just started to eat solids or want a jump on kindergarten. The other two weeks are passable, but are just a vague introduction to Python. In all, not worth undertaking.

By Delroy C

Aug 9, 2021

I always wanted to withdraw from the class, the final section of the assignment was not my favorite. I need to withdraw right now. I haven't found a way to withdraw altogether please let me talk to somebody immediately.

By Alex R

Dec 16, 2022

The grading system is awful. I've seen assignments that were submitted in 2018. Even one of my assignments is still not graded and I'm just waiting.

By Deleted A

Sep 23, 2020

Can't unenroll from course. And beware: indoctrination starts with the very first video.

By Nassiba R

Nov 9, 2021

Peer dependency who still is a student doesn't make sense. Will not reecomend.

By 김승운

Mar 10, 2021

4주차 과제가 너무 어려웠어요

By 북광주대학교

May 15, 2023

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