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Stanford University

Computer Science 101

Stanford University via edX

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Overview

CS101 is a self-paced course that teaches the essential ideas of Computer Science for a zero-prior-experience audience. Computers can appear very complicated, but in reality, computers work within just a few, simple patterns. CS101 demystifies and brings those patterns to life, which is useful for anyone using computers today.

In CS101, participants play and experiment with short bits of "computer code" to bring to life to the power and limitations of computers. Everything works within the browser, so there is no extra software to download or install. CS101 also provides a general background on computers today: what is a computer, what is hardware, what is software, what is the internet. Anyone who has the ability to use a web browser may be successful in this course. No previous computer science experience is required.

Taught by

Nick Parlante

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Reviews

4.1 rating, based on 18 reviews

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  • S. Joly

    S. Joly completed this course, spending 2 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be medium.

    Even if I can be considered as an advanced computer user (I can install an OS, create web pages...), I realize that I have learned much more than I expected with this course. It brought me answers to questions I could not even imagine, especially for the pictures manipulation topic. I strongly recommend it, especially if you are an autodidact.
  • Keith Okan

    Keith Okan completed this course, spending 3 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be medium.

    This was an excellent course. It covered hardware, software, programming, networking and security. The instructor taught the course in a manner that was not too geeky. Although the lecture using the Ocilloscope was pushing it.
  • Anonymous
    very good course, and the content of the courses is very understandable to beginner like me. I have learned and benefitted a lot from this course.
  • CD

    CD completed this course, spending 2 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be easy.

    If you're looking for an intro to CS then this is the class for you. However, if you know anything about computers, programming, or the internet, this class will be a breeze for you.
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    Blu Burroni

    Blu Burroni is taking this course right now, spending 1 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be very easy.

    The course is really easy for someone who had played around with a computer for a bit and knows just the programming basics. I would reccomend it at a 14 yo student.
  • Rafael C.

    Rafael C. completed this course, spending 1 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be very easy.

    Level is too low. Basically, if you've been using a computer and know anything about coding *at all* you won't benefit from this course. It would be the kind of course you would recommend to your grandmother (yes, really). Unless you know literally nothing about computers, you should not do it.
  • Emmanuel D Anderson

    Emmanuel D Anderson completed this course, spending 20 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be easy.

    I thought this was a great introduction to Computer Science. It covered topics from basic code to how computer hardware works. I found the instructor did a great job of breaking down the principles into digestible and useful bits.
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