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Learning to Program with Python

Course Summary

This course introduces participants to the fundamentals of programming through Python, with no prior coding experience required. Participants will build core skills by writing and executing real Python code in an interactive environment, focusing on problem-solving, logical thinking, and hands-on practice. Through approachable examples and guided exercises, participants will gain confidence with key programming concepts like variables, loops, functions, and data structures.

Purpose
Learn the fundamentals of programming using Python
Audience
Individuals who have never written code before and those interested in automating repetitive tasks, or improving productivity with Python scripting
Role
Product Manager | Project Manager | Business Analyst | Data Analyst
Skill level
Introduction
Style
Lecture | Hands-on Activities | Labs
Duration
5 days
Related technologies
Python

 

Learning objectives
  • Understand basic programming concepts
  • Gain proficiency in basic Python programming
  • Apply problem-solving techniques such as decomposition, sequencing, and debugging

What you'll learn:

In this Learning to Program with Python course, you'll learn:

What is Programming?

  • What is coding? What do programmers do?
  • Algorithms: step-by-step problem solving

Problem-Solving Foundations

  • Decomposition: Break down a problem into steps
  • Sequencing: Code runs in order
  • Debugging: Expect errors!
  • Algorithms vs. Pseudocode
  • Programming is 3-step process
    • English description for another human to follow
    • Pseudocode to outline the steps, w/o the details
    • Convert to code
  • Types of Errors that may occur
    • Syntax
    • Runtime
    • Semantic

Introducing Python

  • Numeric calculations
  • Our first program: Hello, World!
  • Analyzing our first program
  • input(): Getting input from the user
  • Functions are like appliances
  • Python's basic data types
  • Variables/Typing
    • Variable naming
    • int, float, string
  • Boolean expressions and logical operators
    • bool
  • Type conversion functions
    • int(), float(), str(), bool()
  • Strings / string operations
    • concatenation (+)
    • replication (*)
    • indexing
  • Code blocks/colons

Making Decisions and Looping in Python

  • if/elif/else
    • Conditional logic
    • Nested if/else
    • Multi-level decision structures
  • Iteration / Looping
    • while, for
    • range function
    • in operator
    • Example: Fibonacci sequence (both while and for versions)
    • Nested loops

Collections

  • Iterables/Sequences
    • What are iterables and sequences?
    • Slicing operator
    • String functions (methods)
    • .join() / .split()
    • .sort() vs. sorted()
    • Lists
      • List methods
      • Finding common elements
      • Finding duplicates
      • enumerate()
      • zip()
  • Tuples
  • Dictionaries
    • dict methods
  • Sets
    • set methods
    • Finding common elements
    • Removing duplicates
  • File I/O
    • Files are iterables
    • The with statement

Functions and Exception Handling

  • Functions
    • Docstrings
    • Positional arguments
    • Keyword arguments
    • Default arguments
  • Exception Handling
    • What is an exception?
    • Exception types
    • LBYL vs. EAFP
    • try/except, else, finally

Python Modules

  • Module syntax
    • import vs. from ... import...
  • Useful Python Modules
    • Command-line arguments / sys module
    • argparse
    • shutil
    • pathlib
    • os
    • glob
    • json
    • logging

Learning to Program with Python

real world content

Real-World Content

Project-focused demos and labs using your tool stack and environment, not some canned "training room" lab.
expert practitioners

Expert Practitioners

Industry experts that bring their battle scars into the classroom.
experiential learning

Experiential Learning

More coding than lecture, coupled with architectural and design discussions.
fully customized

Tailored Outlines

Once-size-fits-all doesn't apply to training teams. That's where we come in!

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