Introduction to Programming

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Introduction to Programming

Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Coy

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

30 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

Build toward a degree

Learn more

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

30 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

Build toward a degree

Learn more

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

4 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 5 modules in this course

Designed for the not-yet-experienced programmer, this course will provide you with a structured foundation for developing complex programs in the fields of computer science or data science. If you are a self-taught programmer with scattered bits of understanding, or a complete novice, this is the course for you.

Here, you will gain a thorough understanding of how to write programs to solve problems, through structured, scaffolded, hands-on exercises with many examples and opportunities to practice. You will learn the foundational concepts of computer science by developing programs in the python programming language (one of the most commonly used languages). We will also use many of the most common python packages -- why reinvent the wheel when you can use well-tested, flexible, pre-built solutions? While these packages can save significant time, it is also important to understand how they do their magic, and if your particular problem is the right fit to be solved by these potential tools. You will encounter the following python packages: numpy, scipy, matplotlib, pandas, seaborn, re (for regular expressions), textblob, nltk, and others. In the process of learning how to program, we will explore different topics at the introductory level, including natural language processing and data analytics. By the end of this course, you will be confident in your ability to solve a problem using the python programming language -- and how to verify that your solution is accurate.

Welcome to the course! In this module, we will explore what makes the python programming language so excellent to learn and begin to write our first python programs. We will learn about variables, how to use them, how a program makes decisions using if statements, and how to interact with the user through input() and print() functions.

What's included

13 videos7 readings2 assignments1 programming assignment1 discussion prompt

13 videos Total 79 minutes

Welcome to the Course 2 minutes
Module 1 Overview 1 minute
Meet your Instructor 2 minutes
Why python? 4 minutes
Writing Code in Jupyter Notebook 3 minutes
Variables and Assignment Statements 8 minutes
Arithmetic 7 minutes
Live Coding: Variable Assignment and Arithmetic 8 minutes
Using print() for Output and Strings 8 minutes
Getting Input from the User with input() 8 minutes
Decision Making: the if Statement 8 minutes
Live Coding: comments and if Statement Example 8 minutes
Built-in Functions: min() and max() 12 minutes

7 readings Total 57 minutes

About This Course 5 minutes
Read the Course Syllabus 10 minutes
Meet Your Course Staff 5 minutes
About Lectures and "Live Coding" Videos in this Course 2 minutes
Supplemental Material 30 minutes
About Reflective Practice Assignments 4 minutes
Module 1 Conclusion 1 minute

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Programming Assignment 1a 30 minutes
Programming Assignment 1b 30 minutes

1 programming assignment Total 45 minutes

Module 1 Reflection Activity 45 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 30 minutes

Introduce Yourself 30 minutes

In this module, we will learn how to make our programs more flexible, and able to solve more complex problems. We'll see how we can make more complex decisions using the if statement by including elif and else. We'll also see how we can have the program repeat actions using for and while, and be introduced to other useful functions such as range(), mean(), median(), and mode().

What's included

22 videos2 readings2 assignments1 programming assignment

22 videos Total 172 minutes

Module 2 Overview 1 minute
Introduction, algorithms, and pseudocode 11 minutes
Control statements and python keywords 4 minutes
if statements and if..else statements 10 minutes
if..elif..else statements 9 minutes
General form for an if statement 4 minutes
Live Coding: if...elif...else statement 10 minutes
while statements: example 1 14 minutes
While Statements: Example 2 9 minutes
Live Coding: while statement 13 minutes
for statements 5 minutes
for statements: example 1 - loop through letters in a word 10 minutes
for statements: example 2 - loop through numbers using range() 5 minutes
General form for a for loop, augmented assignment, and example 3 - use a for loop to add up numbers 8 minutes
Live Coding: for statement (and nested statements) 10 minutes
Examples using formatted strings 8 minutes
Control statements: break and continue 7 minutes
Boolean Operators: And 6 minutes
Boolean Operators: Or, Not 6 minutes
Live Coding: Using a For Statement to Count Upwards 5 minutes
Intro to Data Science: mean(), median(), and mode(), and Importing a Package 6 minutes
Common Mistakes: If, For, and While 11 minutes

2 readings Total 31 minutes

Supplemental Material 30 minutes
Module 2 Conclusion 1 minute

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Programming Assignment 2a 30 minutes
Programming Assignment 2b 30 minutes

1 programming assignment Total 45 minutes

Module 2 Reflection Activity 45 minutes

In this module, we will learn how to create our own custom functions, which allow us to reuse our code, divide programs into meaningful chunks, and also reduce the number of errors and bugs in our code. This content will be split over 2 modules, with the first few sections being covered in this first module, with the remainder being covered in the next module.

What's included

15 videos2 readings2 programming assignments1 peer review1 ungraded lab

15 videos Total 129 minutes

Module 3 Overview 1 minute
Introduction to Functions 5 minutes
Defining a Function 7 minutes
Calling a Function 4 minutes
Creating a Program that Uses Functions 2 minutes
Variable Scope: Local vs. Global 6 minutes
Functions With Multiple Parameters 16 minutes
Live Coding: A Function With No Arguments 7 minutes
Live Coding: A Function With One Argument 13 minutes
Live Coding: A Function With Two Arguments 18 minutes
Live Coding: Two Functions in One Program 15 minutes
Random Number Generation 7 minutes
Example: Random Number Generation 8 minutes
The Python Standard Library and the Math Module 11 minutes
Live Coding: Using the Math Module (and Writing a Function) 9 minutes

2 readings Total 31 minutes

Supplemental Material 30 minutes
Module 3 Conclusion 1 minute

2 programming assignments Total 120 minutes

Programming Assignment 3a 60 minutes
Programming Assignment 3b 60 minutes

1 peer review Total 45 minutes

Module 3 Reflection Activity, Part 2 (Peer Review in two steps) 45 minutes

1 ungraded lab Total 45 minutes

Module 3 Reflection Activity, Part 1 45 minutes

In this module, we will learn review functions, and continue practicing creating our own functions. There are a few lecture segments that touch on a few finer points from this chapter, and then more live programming examples. At this point in the semester, we have enough "tools" that we can write a larger program! You should experiment in the Reflective Practice and see what you can accomplish! In the full version of this course, this module also includes the beginning of a larger, 2 week long, project. Therefore, the content in this Module is somewhat shorter than normal.

What's included

9 videos2 readings2 programming assignments

9 videos Total 87 minutes

Module 4 Overview 2 minutes
Review of Functions 8 minutes
Methods 10 minutes
Scope Rules: Local vs. Global 7 minutes
A Deeper Look at Import 7 minutes
Intro to Data Science: Measures of Dispersion 9 minutes
Live Coding of Another Function, With Discussion of Local vs. Global Scope 30 minutes
Live Coding of the Different Uses of Import, With the Math Module 8 minutes
Live Coding of the Use of the Statistics Module: pvariance() and pstdev() 6 minutes

2 readings Total 32 minutes

Supplemental Material 30 minutes
Module 4 Conclusion 2 minutes

2 programming assignments Total 105 minutes

Programming Assignment 4 60 minutes
Module 4 Reflection Activity 45 minutes

What's included

2 readings

Build toward a degree

This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by Ball State University. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(12 ratings)

Dr. Jennifer Coy

Ball State University

2 Courses 7,427 learners

Offered by

Ball State University

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Reviewed on Dec 25, 2024

Very gentle, but gives a firm grounding in the absolute essentials of Python programming.

Reviewed on Aug 10, 2024

A terrific introduction to coding--and a broad one at that--for folks with no background whatsoever.

Reviewed on Dec 24, 2023

Well run course. A professor who really wants you to succeed.

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