Python Basics: Automation and Bots

Instructor: Seth Frey

2,463 already enrolled

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Learn how to play faster and looser and more casual with code, skimming and copying code from the Internet.
Discuss code flow and the order that your computer reads the code you write. This introduces us to a whole other level of thinking in code.
Logic can be harnessed to do useful stuff. We'll make it concrete by performing tasks like building an anagram finder.
Apply Python by robocall and spam text yourself through the Twilio API.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

3 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 4 modules in this course

Understanding the flow of running code is a major part of learning to think in code and of coding itself. In this course we will study the flow of code through several demonstrations and walkthroughs. We'll experience turning logic into useful work by running Python that automatically reads all of Shakespeare, and by setting Python up to give you a call on the phone. In technical terms, this course will demonstrate Python loops, list comprehensions, and conditional statements, while at a higher level we'll discuss code style and good practices for code.

To demonstrate the power of Python, you'll download and automatically read the complete works of William Shakespeare, toward finding his longest and strangest words. In this module, you'll also learn how to play faster and looser and more casual with code, skimming and copying code from the Internet. Let's get started!

What's included

4 videos4 readings1 assignment1 programming assignment2 discussion prompts

4 videos Total 41 minutes

Course Introduction 3 minutes
Copying from Code on the Internet 8 minutes
How to Skim Code 7 minutes
Demo: Gutenberg Walkthrough 23 minutes

4 readings Total 46 minutes

Course Navigation and Safety Statement 1 minute
The Three Virtues 10 minutes
Jupyter Notebook Tutorials 30 minutes
Demo and Code Lesson Walkthrough "How To" 5 minutes

1 assignment Total 15 minutes

Module 1 Quiz 15 minutes

1 programming assignment Total 60 minutes

Demo: Gutenberg 60 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 20 minutes

Learning Goals 10 minutes
The Three Virtues 10 minutes

Code flow is the order that your computer reads the code you write. It's usually straightforward, from left to right, top to bottom, but the more we play with logic, the funnier the flow of code through the page. This introduces us to a whole other level of thinking in code.

What's included

5 videos1 assignment1 programming assignment1 discussion prompt

5 videos Total 62 minutes

Introduction 18 minutes
Growing Data 10 minutes
Thinking Through Flow 8 minutes
Bringing it all Together 15 minutes
Thinking Through Code Flow 11 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 2 Quiz 30 minutes

1 programming assignment Total 120 minutes

Code Lesson: Code Flow 120 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Code Flow 10 minutes

It can be hard to imagine at first how logic can be harnessed to do useful stuff. In this module we make it concrete by performing wordy little tasks like building an anagram finder.

What's included

6 videos1 assignment1 programming assignment1 discussion prompt

6 videos Total 51 minutes

Introduction 6 minutes
Filter Data that Satisfies Conditions 12 minutes
Logical Flows 8 minutes
Filter Data, Long Form 5 minutes
Comparing Lists Element by Element 7 minutes
Bringing it all Together 14 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 3 Quiz 30 minutes

1 programming assignment Total 120 minutes

Code Lesson: Doing One Thing If Another 120 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Thinking in Code: Competency 10 minutes

In the honor's section of this module, you will robocall and spam text yourself through the Twilio API in Python. Twilio is what companies use to automate phone calls and texting.

What's included

3 videos5 readings1 programming assignment2 discussion prompts

3 videos Total 31 minutes

Course Summary 2 minutes
Demo: Robocalls Walkthrough 15 minutes
Reading Documentation 15 minutes

5 readings Total 55 minutes

Honor's Assignment 10 minutes
Optional Reading: "Spam" Review 10 minutes
Course Credits 10 minutes
SETUP: Twilio Keys 10 minutes
Robocalls 15 minutes

1 programming assignment Total 30 minutes

Demo: Robocalls 30 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 20 minutes

Self-Reflection 10 minutes
Spam and Bots 10 minutes

Instructor

Seth Frey

University of California, Davis

4 Courses 6,546 learners

Offered by

University of California, Davis

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