Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python
All-Time Top 100Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX
- Provider edX
- Cost Free Online Course (Audit)
- Session Upcoming
- Language English
- Certificate $75 Certificate Available
- Effort 14-16 hours a week
- Duration 9 weeks long
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Overview
This course is the first of a two-course sequence: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python, and Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science. Together, they are designed to help people with no prior exposure to computer science or programming learn to think computationally and write programs to tackle useful problems. Some of the people taking the two courses will use them as a stepping stone to more advanced computer science courses, but for many it will be their first and last computer science courses. This run features lecture videos, lecture exercises, and problem sets using Python 3.5. Even if you previously took the course with Python 2.7, you will be able to easily transition to Python 3.5 in future courses, or enroll now to refresh your learning.
Since these courses may be the only formal computer science courses many of the students take, we have chosen to focus on breadth rather than depth. The goal is to provide students with a brief introduction to many topics so they will have an idea of what is possible when they need to think about how to use computation to accomplish some goal later in their career. That said, they are not "computation appreciation" courses. They are challenging and rigorous courses in which the students spend a lot of time and effort learning to bend the computer to their will.
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Reviews for edX's Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python Based on 122 reviews
- 5 stars 71%
- 4 stars 18%
- 3 stars 2%
- 2 stars 4%
- 1 stars 4%
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The problem sets are very hard, but also the best part of the experience: they drive home the lecture concepts and completing them successfully makes you feel accomplished. Some examples: we had to w…
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The pace, relative complexity of some of the subject matter* and difficulty of a few of the exercises - I'm not a gifted programmer and I found a couple fairly challenging despite some background - might make it better suited as a second (or third) course for some, despite using Python (perhaps the easiest programming language to pick up). Rice's IIP or Udacity's CS101 - which I'd both done earlier - would b…
this review helpful
I did finish (just this second) and did get a good grade, but I put far more time and effort into the class than I had expected. Be prepared!
As an example the first 3 'week' projects are due 4 days apart (Thurs, Tue, Fri due dates) so the 'week' concept was a bit misleading. Again, I really enjoyed and learned a ton, but I hope others know their expectations.
Also a lot of the work is self taught. You need to go out and find the answer far more than expect the answer to be in the videos or exercises.
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One of the things to take away from this course for me was that coding of complex programs is not done alone. Brainstorm with some one else if the approach you are taking to solve the problem is on the right track. Pseudocodes are important.
Another thing I learnt in this course is that they make you work hard on the Problem sets so that you are well prepared for the Finals. You may have difficulty winning the battle but you will win the war because you are well prepared for it.
At the end of it, it's real power when you tell the computer what you want it to do and it does that!
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This MOOC helped me to recognize my potential in the field of computer science. It is demanding, even might cause you scratchingly uncomfortable. But it is definitely a worth try. As the saying goes, "good things take time".
I finished the course a bit mor…
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This was my first MOOC, and up to this point, the most rewarding one. The way it approaches CS is the best I've seen so far, giving real examples of usage of all the concepts, it's really motivating.
Regarding difficulty, it has the perfect balance: the challenges are demanding but not so hard that you feel frustrated or can't complete it.
I totally recommend this one, but I advise you that if your only goal is to learn Python, maybe it is not the best choice, as you will use a lot of time on others subjects rather then just programming.
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The pacing of the class is also a little uneven: we lingered over the easier topics early on, but then sped through more demanding topics, such as object-oriented programming, toward the end of the course.
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