About 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".
Who is this class for: Recommended Background - A knowledge of high school mathematics is required. The class is designed for students with no prior programming experience.
Created by: Rice University
Taught by: John Greiner, Lecturer
Department of Computer Science
Taught by: Stephen Wong, Lecturer
Computer Science
Taught by: Scott Rixner, Professor
Computer Science
Taught by: Joe Warren, Professor
Computer Science
| Basic Info | Course 1 of 7 in the Fundamentals of Computing Specialization |
| Commitment | 5 weeks of study, 7-10 hours/week |
| Language | English, Subtitles: Italian, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified) |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Week 0 - Statements, expressions, variables
Understand the structure of this class, explore Python as a calculator
6 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Video: CodeSkulptor
- Video: Arithmetic Expressions
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Expressions (optional)
- Video: Variables
- Video: Saving in CodeSkulptor
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Variables and Assignments (optional)
- Video: Mini-project Video
- Reading: Mini-project Description
- Reading: Code Clinic Tips
- Peer Review: "We want... a shrubbery!"
Graded: Quiz 0
WEEK 2
Week 1 - Functions, logic, conditionals
Learn the basic constructs of Python programming, create a program that plays a variant of Rock-Paper-Scissors
7 videos, 5 readings
- Video: Functions
- Video: Visualizing Functions
- Video: More Operations
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Functions (optional)
- Video: Logic and Comparisons
- Video: Conditionals
- Video: Programming Tips - 1
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Logic and Conditionals (optional)
- Video: Mini-project Video
- Reading: Mini-project Description
- Reading: Practice Mini-project: Mystical Octosphere (optional)
- Reading: Code Clinic Tips
Graded: Quiz 1
Graded: Rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock
WEEK 3
Week 2 - Event-driven programming, local/global variables
Learn the basics of event-driven programming, understand difference between local and global variables, create an interactive program that plays a simple guessing game
8 videos, 5 readings
- Video: Event-Driven Programming
- Video: Local vs. Global Variables
- Video: SimpleGUI
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Interactive Applications (optional)
- Video: Buttons
- Video: Input Fields
- Video: Visualizing Events
- Video: Programming Tips - 2
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Button and Input Fields (optional)
- Video: Mini-project Video
- Reading: Mini-project Description
- Reading: Practice Mini-project: Magical Octosphere Reloaded (optional)
- Reading: Code Clinic Tips
Graded: Quiz 2a
Graded: Quiz 2b
Graded: "Guess the Number!"
WEEK 4
Week 3 - Canvas, drawing, timers
Create a canvas in Python, learn how to draw on the canvas, create a digital stopwatch
7 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Canvas and Drawing
- Video: String Processing
- Video: Interactive Drawing
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Drawing (optional)
- Video: Timers
- Video: Visualizing Drawing and Timers
- Video: Programming Tips - 3
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Timers (optional)
- Video: Mini-project Video
- Reading: Mini-project Description
- Reading: Code Clinic Tips
Graded: Quiz 3a
Graded: Quiz 3b
Graded: Stopwatch: The Game
WEEK 5
Week 4 - Lists, keyboard input, the basics of modeling motion
Learn the basics of lists in Python, model moving objects in Python, recreate the classic arcade game "Pong"
8 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Lists
- Video: Keyboard Input
- Video: Motion
- Video: Collisions and Reflections
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Lists (optional)
- Video: Velocity Control
- Video: Visualizing Lists and Mutation
- Video: Programming Tips - 4
- Reading: Practice Exercises for Keyboard (optional)
- Video: Mini-project Video
- Reading: Mini-project Description
- Reading: Code Clinic Tips
Graded: Quiz 4a
Graded: Quiz 4b
Graded: Pong
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Help from Your Peers
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.
Creators
Rice University
Rice University is consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the U.S. and the top 100 in the world. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Pricing
| Purchase Course | |
|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Available |
Ratings and Reviews
An accessible, interesting course with a strong focus on Interactive programming.
Very good course for beginners. Funny & entertaining.
Excellent course for start in the programming world!
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sy
These guys are very good teachers !