Python Programming Fundamentals

What you will be able to do

By the end of this course you will be able to:

Run Python code in Google Colab or on your own computer
Store and use data with variables, lists and dictionaries
Make decisions with if, elif and else
Repeat work with for and while loops
Write your own functions
Read from and write to text and CSV files

Course content

4 sections · 12 lessons · 2 h 38 min total · lessons open when you enrol

Getting set up3 lessons · 23 min

Welcome to programming 5 min

Running Python: Google Colab or your computer 10 min

Your first program 8 min

Variables and data types3 lessons · 34 min

Numbers and strings 12 min

Lists and dictionaries 14 min

Quiz: variables and data types 8 min

Making decisions and repeating3 lessons · 32 min

if, elif and else 12 min

for and while loops 12 min

Quiz: decisions and loops 8 min

Functions and files3 lessons · 1 h 9 min

Writing functions 12 min

Reading and writing files 12 min

Mini project: grade calculator 45 min

About this course

Python is the most popular first programming language in the world — and the language behind data analysis, machine learning and much of the web. This free course takes you from "what is a variable?" to writing small programs that read files and make decisions.

You can follow the whole course in a web browser with Google Colab, so you do not need a powerful computer. It is also the foundation for our Data Analysis with Python and Machine Learning with Python courses.

Requirements

A computer or tablet with internet access
A Google account (for Google Colab) — or Python installed on your computer

Who this course is for

Complete beginners
Students who want to move into data analysis or machine learning
Professionals who want to automate repetitive tasks

Your instructor

JL

Joseph M. Lamin

Software developer and health-informatics researcher based in Bo, Sierra Leone. Teaches and supervises research at Njala University School of Public Health and builds health, school and business information systems.

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