What will I actually learn in this interactive Python course?

You'll learn how to think through basic Python programs and turn them into simple interactive applications. It starts with core coding ideas, then builds into event-driven programs that respond to user input and draw on screen. Along the way, you'll create small projects such as a digital stopwatch and a basic version of Pong.

Do I need to know Python before taking this course?

No, you don't need prior Python or computing experience for this course. It begins with expressions, variables, and simple syntax in a browser-based coding environment before moving into functions and interactive behavior. If you're completely new, the main thing to expect is that you'll start writing code early rather than spending a long time on setup.

Is this course beginner-friendly for learning Python?

Yes, it's beginner-friendly if you want a true introduction and are comfortable learning by coding as you go. The course starts with very basic Python ideas and builds them into small graphical programs and games step by step. It may feel less suitable if you want a no-code overview, because you'll be writing and testing your own programs throughout.

How long does it take to complete this course?

Expect about 19 hours in total, or roughly two weeks at around 10 hours a week. The workload mixes short lessons with coding practice, quizzes, and readings, and the later part of the course adds more time for mini-projects. You'll move through lessons, optional exercises, quizzes, readings, and peer-reviewed project work.

Are there hands-on exercises and projects in this course?

Yes, there's regular hands-on work throughout the course. Most of it is guided coding: you'll use CodeSkulptor for exercises and mini-projects, and you'll build programs such as Guess the Number and Stopwatch: The Game. That practice helps you apply each new idea right away instead of only reading about it.

What skills and topics are covered in this course?

You'll cover core Python programming, simple graphics, and the logic behind interactive applications. That means writing functions, making decisions in code, and using lists as your programs become more dynamic. By the end, you'll understand how small programs keep track of state and respond to buttons, timers, and keyboard input.

What can I actually do after finishing this course?

After finishing, you should be able to write and debug small Python programs that react to user input and update what appears on screen. For example, you could build a simple guessing game, a stopwatch game, or a basic arcade-style program with moving objects and scoring. The scope stays introductory, but it moves you beyond one-off scripts into complete interactive programs.

Is this course more conceptual or hands-on?

It's more hands-on than theory-heavy, but the practice is clearly guided. Lessons explain each idea first, then you reinforce it through exercises, quizzes, and mini-projects. It's a good fit if you want explanations and regular coding practice in the same course.

Why would I choose this course over other Python courses?

Choose this course if you want to learn Python through visible, interactive results rather than only text-based exercises. It moves from core syntax into graphics, events, and mini-projects like Pong, so you can see how your code changes what happens on screen. If that learn-by-building approach appeals to you, this course is a stronger fit than a more text-only introduction.

An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 1)

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An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 1)

This course is part of Fundamentals of Computing Specialization

Instructors: John Greiner

223,709 already enrolled

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

3,319 reviews

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

3,319 reviews

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

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Assessments

8 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 5 modules in 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.

Module details

Understand the structure of this class, explore Python as a calculator

What's included

6 videos4 readings1 assignment1 peer review

6 videosTotal 71 minutes

Introduction15 minutes
CodeSkulptor11 minutes
Arithmetic Expressions13 minutes
Variables11 minutes
Saving in CodeSkulptor10 minutes
Mini-project Video11 minutes

4 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Practice Exercises for Expressions (optional)10 minutes
Practice Exercises for Variables and Assignments (optional)10 minutes
Mini-project Description10 minutes
Code Clinic Tips10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Quiz 030 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

"We want... a shrubbery!"60 minutes

Learn the basic constructs of Python programming, create a program that plays a variant of Rock-Paper-Scissors

What's included

7 videos5 readings1 assignment1 peer review

7 videosTotal 98 minutes

Functions16 minutes
Visualizing Functions12 minutes
More Operations17 minutes
Logic and Comparisons10 minutes
Conditionals11 minutes
Programming Tips - 116 minutes
Mini-project Video16 minutes

5 readingsTotal 50 minutes

Practice Exercises for Functions (optional)10 minutes
Practice Exercises for Logic and Conditionals (optional)10 minutes
Mini-project Description10 minutes
Practice Mini-project: Mystical Octosphere (optional)10 minutes
Code Clinic Tips10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Quiz 130 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock60 minutes

Learn the basics of event-driven programming, understand difference between local and global variables, create an interactive program that plays a simple guessing game

What's included

8 videos5 readings2 assignments1 peer review

8 videosTotal 83 minutes

Event-Driven Programming13 minutes
Local vs. Global Variables11 minutes
SimpleGUI11 minutes
Buttons11 minutes
Input Fields10 minutes
Visualizing Events6 minutes
Programming Tips - 214 minutes
Mini-project Video7 minutes

5 readingsTotal 50 minutes

Practice Exercises for Interactive Applications (optional)10 minutes
Practice Exercises for Button and Input Fields (optional)10 minutes
Mini-project Description10 minutes
Practice Mini-project: Magical Octosphere Reloaded (optional)10 minutes
Code Clinic Tips10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Quiz 2a30 minutes
Quiz 2b30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

"Guess the Number!"60 minutes

Create a canvas in Python, learn how to draw on the canvas, create a digital stopwatch

What's included

7 videos4 readings2 assignments1 peer review

7 videosTotal 71 minutes

Canvas and Drawing13 minutes
String Processing12 minutes
Interactive Drawing13 minutes
Timers10 minutes
Visualizing Drawing and Timers6 minutes
Programming Tips - 37 minutes
Mini-project Video10 minutes

4 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Practice Exercises for Drawing (optional)10 minutes
Practice Exercises for Timers (optional)10 minutes
Mini-project Description10 minutes
Code Clinic Tips10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Quiz 3a30 minutes
Quiz 3b30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Stopwatch: The Game60 minutes

Learn the basics of lists in Python, model moving objects in Python, recreate the classic arcade game "Pong"

What's included

8 videos4 readings2 assignments1 peer review

8 videosTotal 77 minutes

Lists11 minutes
Keyboard Input9 minutes
Motion14 minutes
Collisions and Reflections12 minutes
Velocity Control9 minutes
Visualizing Lists and Mutation6 minutes
Programming Tips - 44 minutes
Mini-project Video12 minutes

4 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Practice Exercises for Lists (optional)10 minutes
Practice Exercises for Keyboard (optional)10 minutes
Mini-project Description10 minutes
Code Clinic Tips10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Quiz 4a30 minutes
Quiz 4b30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Pong60 minutes

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Instructors

Instructor ratings

(290 ratings)

John Greiner

Rice University

2 Courses232,478 learners

Stephen Wong

Rice University

2 Courses232,478 learners

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Rice University

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Reviewed on Apr 26, 2019

Each sections has many examples that can help student easy to understand then practice immediately. I'm happy to know a new language and improved my coding knowledge after completing this course

Reviewed on Apr 24, 2020

it is really a good, and interesting course offered by coursers. the teaching staff and the proffers exp land in a detailed and understandable way and made the course essay to understand and workout.

Reviewed on Jul 9, 2018

Great start course! The learning curve gets a bit steep for people with no prior knowledge after the first few weeks, but the teachers keep the class interesting and the exercises are great practice.

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