Have you ever wished you knew how to program, but had no idea where to start from? This course will teach you how to program in Scratch, an easy to use visual programming language. More importantly, it will introduce you to the fundamental principles of computing and it will help you think like a software engineer.
This course is also available with captions in the following languages:
Arabic
https://www.coursera.org/learn/intro-programming-ar
Spanish
https://www.coursera.org/learn/a-programar
Learners can apply for Financial Aid directly with Coursera to assist with the cost of accessing the full course and gaining a certificate for successfully completing the course.
In this unit you’ll create your very first computer program! You’ll be introduced to basic programming concepts and you’ll familiarise yourself with Scratch.
What's included
19 videos6 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
19 videos•Total 65 minutes
Welcome to Code Yourself!•2 minutes
About the Course•2 minutes
Algorithms and Sequence•3 minutes
Representation of Algorithms•2 minutes
Precision and Assumptions•4 minutes
Introduction to Scratch•2 minutes
Options for Using Scratch•1 minute
Programming in Scratch•5 minutes
Selection •2 minutes
Selection in Scratch•3 minutes
Conditions within Selection•2 minutes
Iteration: Infinite Loops•3 minutes
Balloon Party! Changing the Looks of our Sprites•5 minutes
Modifying Programs in Scratch •3 minutes
Blow the Clouds Away! •5 minutes
A Movie with Two Characters•3 minutes
Summary•1 minute
Interview with an Informatics Researcher•9 minutes
Interview with an Audiovisual Producer (Spanish with English subtitles)•8 minutes
6 readings•Total 60 minutes
Syllabus•10 minutes
Course Logistics•10 minutes
How to use the Discussion Forums•10 minutes
Course Team•10 minutes
Copyright•10 minutes
Resources for Unit 1•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Quiz 1•30 minutes
Code Gone Loopy!
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this unit you’ll keep working with control structures, you’ll find out how to use events in your programs and how to incorporate visual and sound effects in Scratch. You’ll also start thinking about the requirements and the design of your program.
What's included
19 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
19 videos•Total 79 minutes
Introduction•1 minute
Count-controlled Loops•2 minutes
Condition-controlled Loops•2 minutes
Recreating a Tune •3 minutes
Music Video•4 minutes
Drawing Squares •5 minutes
Birthday Card - Butterfly Behaviour•5 minutes
Birthday Card - Cake Behaviour •3 minutes
Birthday Card - Extend with If-then-else •4 minutes
Birthday Card - Extend with Sounds•2 minutes
Face Effects with Event-driven Programming •6 minutes
Software Design •4 minutes
Cut the Fruit! •6 minutes
Software Requirements•3 minutes
Helicopter Game Design•3 minutes
Helicopter Game Implementation•7 minutes
Summary•1 minute
Interview with a Software Engineer (Spanish with English subtitles)•8 minutes
Interview with an Architect•9 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Resources for Unit 2•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Quiz 2•30 minutes
Remixing Games
Module 3•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this unit you’ll have a go at modifying and extending existing games to create new versions. You’ll also learn about software engineering practices for testing and documenting your programs.
What's included
11 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review
Show info about module content
11 videos•Total 63 minutes
Introduction•1 minute
Helicopter Game Extension with Variables•7 minutes
Analysing the Pong Game•4 minutes
Modifying Pong with Complex Conditions•7 minutes
Modifying Pong into Pizza Pong •9 minutes
Modifying Pong into a Penalty Shootout Game•7 minutes
Guess the Number! •8 minutes
A Flower Garden with Nested Loops•5 minutes
Summary •1 minute
Interview on Football-playing Robots•9 minutes
Interview with a Biotechnologist (Spanish with English subtitles)•6 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Resources for Unit 3•10 minutes
How-to guide for peer-reviewed projects•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Quiz 3•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Project 1•60 minutes
Reusing Your Code
Module 4•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this unit you’ll be introduced to procedures and cloning in Scratch, and you’ll apply these ideas to reuse your code.
What's included
11 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
11 videos•Total 61 minutes
Introduction•1 minute
Catch the Mouse with Procedures•10 minutes
Generalising a Program for Drawing Squares•7 minutes
Staircase•4 minutes
Hunting Ghosts with Cloning•7 minutes
Fireworks•7 minutes
A Modular Program for Bursting Bubbles•5 minutes
Wave•5 minutes
Summary•1 minute
Interview on Entrepreneurship and Programming (Spanish with English subtitles)•9 minutes
Interview with a Jewelry Designer•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Resources for Unit 4•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Quiz 4•30 minutes
Think Like a Software Engineer
Module 5•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this unit you’ll follow all the steps of software development to create a fun computer game. You’ll also learn about message broadcasting and concurrency.
What's included
11 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review
Show info about module content
11 videos•Total 61 minutes
Introduction•1 minute
Zombie Game: Requirements and Interface Design•5 minutes
Zombie Game: Code Design•7 minutes
Zombie Game: Implementation of the Interface, Broom and Zombie•6 minutes
Zombie Game: Implementation of the Zombie Clones & Message Broadcasting•4 minutes
Zombie Game: Implementation of the Backdrop and Flower•7 minutes
Zombie Game: Implementation of Invasion and Extensions•7 minutes
Sharing your Projects in Scratch & Links with Python•4 minutes
Summary•2 minutes
Interview with a Computer Science Student•6 minutes
Interview with a Game Developer (Spanish with English subtitles)•13 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Resources for Unit 5•10 minutes
Post-Course Survey•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Quiz 5•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Project 2•60 minutes
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Edinburgh. Extraordinary futures await. As a top 50 global university, the University of Edinburgh offers an exceptional online learning experience, making high-quality education accessible to all. Whatever excites you, whatever your ambition, whatever makes you ‘you’, we know one thing; nothing ordinary comes from this extraordinary place. Enhance your knowledge, skills and employability by enrolling on a University of Edinburgh Coursera course.
------------English: Universidad ORT Uruguay is an innovative university with a focus on science, technology, management, design, and education. Member of World ORT, it was established in Uruguay as a private non-profit educational organization in 1942. With more than 11,000 students, increasing numbers of joint projects with industry and research production, ORT is one of the largest non-governmental universities in the country. ORT contributes to the strengthening of the national entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem, and has pioneered the introduction of new study programmes and education technologies in Uruguay. ------------Spanish: Universidad ORT Uruguay es una universidad innovadora con foco en ciencia, tecnología, administración, diseño y educación. Miembro de World ORT, se estableció en Uruguay como una organización educativa privada sin fines de lucro en 1942. Con más de 11.000 alumnos, un creciente número de proyectos conjuntos con la industria y producción de investigación, es una de las más grandes universidades no estatales del país. ORT contribuye al fortalecimiento del ecosistema nacional de innovación y emprendedurismo y ha sido pionera en la introducción de nuevos programas de estudio y tecnologías educativas en el Uruguay.
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L
LH
5·
Reviewed on Mar 5, 2018
Really good beginner course that has led me to want to learn more and got me thinking about things that are possible through computer programming. Thank you to all involved in this course!
K
KD
5·
Reviewed on Sep 19, 2015
I love the way this course is designed! It's a really wonderful breath of fresh air.Scratch is a wonderful tool for understanding programming before jumping into courses in programming languages.
J
JC
5·
Reviewed on Sep 19, 2021
Very fun and engaging course. Allows you to interact with your peers and gain valuable feedback. The interviews were also very useful as they showed how concepts could be utilized in other fields.
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To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.