Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/interactive-python-2
### Course Review: An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 2) **Platform**: Coursera **Offered by**: Rice University **Course Duration**: 4 Weeks #### Overview “An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 2)” is a continuation of the first part of the course aimed at novices in programming, especially those who may not have a computing background. This second part delves deeper into building interactive applications using Python, a language known for its simplicity and versatility. The course leverages a newly designed browser-based programming environment, streamlining the experience of crafting interactive applications without the fuss of complicated setups. At its core, this course is not only focused on teaching you Python syntax but also on applying those concepts to create engaging applications. By the end of this course, students will have gained foundational skills in Python and enhanced their ability to solve problems through interactive programming. #### Course Content and Syllabus Breakdown The course spans four weeks and covers diverse topics essential for creating interactive applications. Here’s a closer look at each week's focus: - **Week 5: Mouse Input, List Methods, Dictionaries** In this week, students learn how to read mouse input, which is crucial for interactive applications. They also explore list methods and dictionaries, two fundamental data structures in Python. The hands-on experience of drawing images further solidifies these concepts by applying them in real scenarios. - **Week 6: Classes and Object-Oriented Programming** This week introduces the cornerstone of software design: classes and object-oriented programming (OOP). Students learn how to create and use classes in Python, which allows for efficient organization and management of code. This foundational knowledge is imperative for developing larger applications, emphasizing the importance of structured programming. - **Week 7: Basic Game Physics and Sprites** In this exciting week, students dive into the physics of motion as they learn about acceleration and friction, crucial for game development. The course introduces sprites— graphical objects that represent characters or items in games. Participants create simple games and incorporate sound, making the applications more vibrant and engaging. - **Week 8: Sets and Animation** The final week focuses on sets and collision detection, enabling students to develop more advanced features in their applications. Learning about animation techniques helps bring their projects to life, teaching them how to create dynamic interactions between sprites, which is vital for captivating user experiences. #### Why You Should Take This Course 1. **Beginner-Friendly**: The course is tailored for absolute beginners, providing a gentle introduction to programming and Python. The use of a browser-based environment means no prior setup or installations are needed, making it accessible for anyone. 2. **Hands-On Approach**: The interactive nature of the course ensures that students engage with the material actively. By building applications and games, learners can see immediate results of their coding efforts. 3. **Comprehensive Curriculum**: Covering a broad spectrum of programming topics—ranging from basic input handling to more complex animation and physics—students will build a well-rounded skill set. 4. **Engaging Projects**: The focus on game development will keep learners motivated and enthusiastic. Creating fun and interactive applications helps in retaining the information learned and applying it in real-world contexts. 5. **Community and Support**: Being part of Coursera, students will have access to a community of learners and support resources to assist them throughout the course. #### Final Recommendation Whether you're looking to get your feet wet in programming or aiming to build foundational skills that could lead to a career in software development, “An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Part 2)” is a fantastic choice. The hands-on, project-based approach not only makes learning enjoyable but also reinforces the concepts effectively. This course will equip you with essential programming skills and enhance your problem-solving abilities, making it a valuable addition to your learning journey. I highly recommend diving into this course—you won't just learn Python; you'll also empower yourself to create your own interactive applications!
Week 5 - Mouse input, list methods, dictionaries
Read mouse input, learn about list methods and dictionaries, draw images
Week 6 - Classes and object-oriented programmingLearn the basics of object-oriented programming in Python using classes, work with tiled images
Week 7 - Basic game physics, spritesUnderstand the math of acceleration and friction, work with sprites, add sound to your game
Week 8 - Sets and animationLearn about sets in Python, compute collisions between sprites, animate sprites
This two-part course is designed to help students with very little or no computing background learn the basics of building simple interactive applications. Our language of choice, Python, is an easy-to learn, high-level computer language that is used in many of the computational courses offered on Coursera. To make learning Python easy, we have developed a new browser-based programming environment that makes developing interactive applications in Python simple. These applications will involve wi
This is an excellent program; the pace is rigorous but the instruction is thorough. The peer-review component forces you to read code and learn through greater exposure. Excellent.
Instructors were superb just as they were in Part 1. I enjoyed the class material and feel like it really enhanced my programming knowledge. I would recommend the course to future students.
Fantastic course, pleasantly surprised at top quality lessons and you can really see that the instructors love to teach the course also. Would recommend to anyone interested in learning coding.
I enjoyed this course so much.Scott and Joe are really good ,funny and have invested a lot of effort in this course.I recommend this course for anyone who wants to start programming
Fantastic idea of using simple games to teach the basics of Python. The mini-projects in this course are so much more satisfying that the other tutorials that I tried ( and gave up mid way).