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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Introduction to Computer Programming by University of London

4.1
stars
845 ratings

About the Course

This MOOC provides you with the foundational skill set required to write computer programs. If you are interested in learning how to write interactive, graphical programs from an introductory level in a real programming language, this is the course for you. You will begin by learning the basics of editing and running programs. Then you will learn how to create 2D graphics using shapes and coordinates. Finally, you will learn how to create interactive graphics that you can control with the mouse. You will even solve a set of interactive puzzles using your coding skills in the Sleuth game which has been created especially for this course. The course uses the Javascript language and the p5.js library....

Top reviews

GT

Jun 8, 2019

The course is built up well, the steps are easy to follow. Even when there is some research required, the intentional gaps are highly manageable. The gamified deliverables were really fun to do! :-)

AA

Jul 19, 2021

It's worth the hard work. I'm insatiable for learning and need more impossible looking projects or games that Coursera designed to help the student really get into the world of computer programming.

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176 - 200 of 287 Reviews for Introduction to Computer Programming

By Anthropolo S

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Sep 15, 2019

Engaging.

By w a

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Nov 4, 2021

very fun

By Mansurova Z

•

Jan 12, 2022

Great

By Ravindu S

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May 9, 2021

good

By angelica

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Apr 23, 2021

good

By Tharindu M

•

Jan 25, 2021

good

By Fawad N

•

Jan 19, 2021

GOOD

By Dániel S

•

Feb 18, 2020

Good

By jack p

•

Jan 13, 2021

ok

By Archana B

•

Apr 20, 2023

.

By Nelson L W

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Dec 20, 2021

This was an interesting course and I find it quite interesting for an introduction to programming course to be based on javascript. It is really exciting to learn something new with web technology and I found the programming exercises quite interesting and useful. Please note that I am an experienced programmer who wanted to learn javascript and true beginners may have a different opinion. There were a few issues with the course that I think need to be addressed on the course material which I list below:

1) I am using LINUX MINT 20.2 on my computer and the software used for coding in the course, Brackets, is now unsupported. I have tried downloading it from the MINT software manager app, but only the FLATPAK version was available and it doesn't work with live preview. I have then downloaded the package linked in the course page (should have done this from the start), but unfortunately the installation does not work because it requires libcurl3 while Mint 20.2 comes with the newer libcurl4. It is not possible/desirable to downgrade the library, but it is fully compatible, so I had to update the package dependencies to accept the new library. This is not easy nor something someone starting on computing would know, so I think it should be described in the course page. This link provides instructions on how to do it: https://github.com/adobe/brackets/issues/14786

2) The course assignement (sleuth) is described on week 1, when the student still didn't learn all that he needs to solve the assignment. There is also no information that the required knowledge will be obtained throughout the course. So, I have spent countless hours researching on the Internet which led me to finish the assignment and then I realized the material I had researched was part of the course. Not only that, once you finish the assignment, the course is deemed complete, even though we haven't yet seen most of the material. Maybe this is a limitation of Coursera's system, but information should be provided that students should be completing the assignment later in the course, with each lesson/case tied to a different topic. Also, information should be provided to the student when he should try to resolve a case level, based on having gone through the required learning. Another aspect of this problem is that the assignment is supposed to be finished at the end of week 1, when in reality, it should be finished at the end of week 3.

3) The LINUX version of brackets has an experimental live preview mode that works with Firefox and I used it throughout the entire course. However, it doesnt work for one of the Sleuth cases, so I had to revert to Chrome. But the course does indicate that Chrome is the preferred choice, so that is fine.

By Dennis M D N

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Jan 28, 2020

Great content, enthusiastic teachers. As noted by others, the Sleuth assignments are do within the first two weeks and are under Week 1 in spite of the fact that it requires all three weeks of content to get through these. This and other niggles make the layout/flow of the course and alignment with the assignments less than perfect. Also, some of the Sleuth assignments were a grind without being particularly enlightening. Most tested useful skills involving the declaration of variables, initializing objects, and using interactive events. Some involved spending tons of time adjusting rectangles and lines just to make them pinpoint accurate, even though this was not a particularly useful skill. Overall, this course was a great soft opening to the world of coding.

By Ghanshyam P

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Sep 24, 2020

....BEING A PART OF THIS COURSE, I FEEL EXTREMELY HAPPY TO COMPLETE IT, THOUGH THERE WERE A FEW CASES WHEREIN, THE MODERATOR DID NOT SOLVE THE CASE UPTILL 100%, YET NO WORRIES

I MANAGED TO COMPLETE IT, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I FEEL MOST HAPPY ABOUT. WELL, COMING TO THE RATING... I'VE GIVEN THE COURSE 4 STARS.. GOOD ELUCIDATION OF THE CONCEPTS, NICE DISPLAY OF THE CASES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE DISCUSSION PROMPT..IT WAS AMAZING INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT CORNERS. AND THERE,,, THANKS TO THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED ME TO GET ALONG...!

By Edward S

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Apr 21, 2020

Excellent instruction, as well as comprehension because of the frequent quizzes as well as practice problems. I would give it 5 stars, if only for the buggy Sleuth & Co. lab assignment. Although it's only the first handful of lab assignments required for week one, it kept showing me as failed week one until I had completed 80% or more of the assignments This wasn't possible with the knowledge given in week one. It's not until week 3 that you can get that amount of comprehension. good exercises all the same.

By John R

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Mar 28, 2021

Really liked the course material and professors. Thought the way the Sleuth game was due on week one, was totally lame and wonky because it made me waste a WHOLE bunch of time before I realized the subjects were discussed in Week's 2 and 3. And then once you finish Case 302 it sends you a email saying you completed the course. I mean, doesn't take much effort to write that into the notes!! But this does seem to be a distilled version of a longer accredited course. Again, liked the subject and P5.js.

By Ivan C

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Jul 13, 2020

Assignments are pretty simple to complete and students get to learn the basics of p5.js, a great JavaScript framework to learn if you are interested in computer graphics.

There are a couple of bugs in the course though; one allows the students to download the full certificate without needing to complete all three weeks of the course and some of the videos stopped playing abruptly before it reach the end of the video.

By izuchukwu d

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Mar 15, 2020

the course is properly structured and gives nascent individuals to programming a good foundation that will sustain them for subsequent programming classses and endeavors...although there is a huge room for improvement in the scope of lecture videos especially when compared to the scope of the sleuth assignment, as the videos are not sufficient to equip one in solving beyond 50% of the sleuth assignment.

By Justin J C

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Oct 19, 2021

My only complaint is that the Sleuth game was given on week 1 when it should've been given later on when we learn the concepts properly. I enjoyed the Sleuth game though, it was frustrating at times yes but it was challenging and stimulating and the difficulty forced me to learn by myself rather than being spoon-fed. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn Computer Programming. :)

By Samarth S

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Apr 19, 2020

Alright anyone who is about to start with this COURSE will have to complete everything in 10 days only because they have given us the main assignment in week 1.

case 201 Stage 4 is impossible to do because the judgment mechanism of their website is not functioning properly.

case 303 stage 4. there is some internal error due to which i could not submit the asssignment.

By Santtu V

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Feb 10, 2023

Some exercises/assignents are just huge waste of time. Too much repetition and I am not meaning the DRY principle now --> (meaning) you cannot avoid this with your own functions. If you have already some beginner level programmig experience, but you are not familar with p5.js library this is quite funny course for you.

By Celine C

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Jun 25, 2020

The course was taught through the use of interesting and fun activities(solving crimes on sleuth), it is a great and easy way to get started for computer programming. The only issue being it is hard to solve certain stages and it would be great if there was a way to get some help after several tries.

By Tuan C

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Nov 15, 2021

The course is great for those who just start getting in to programming. Learners will be challenged through a series of exercises which require alternating or creating objects using p5.js. Thought the course uses Bracket.io to modify code, learners are free to work with the tools they are used to.

By John L D C

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Aug 22, 2021

I've learned a lot from my first week of understanding basic principles, brackets and p5.js. The one thing I've learnt about the brackets text editor is that sometimes code works with errors and it can break despite being organized. Overall I had a fun time when the programs did work.

By Josephine K

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May 26, 2019

Very fun and informative. I liked the interactive programming assignments, however I wish that those could be completed not just from a Mac or Windows OS but from iOS system, such as tablet, as well. That would have made my ability to complete the assignments more accessible.

By Atwin P

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Jun 7, 2020

Makes me wonder if JavaScript main function is for drawing on web browsers. The quiz (the Sleuth game) is a bit too exhausting (and repetitive)! Besides, a great course to introduce to programming and particularly JavaScript.