Intro & Syllabus

Introduction:

Programming Is a Creative Activity

...like constructing a castle out of LEGO bricks.

1. Start with a basic idea of what you want your castle to look like
2. Inventory your available blocks.
3. Start building.
4. Once finished building your program, clean-up /accessorize your code just like you would your castle.

The difference between programming and other creative activities is that when programming, you have all the raw materials you need in your computer; no buying additional canvas, paint, film, yarn, LEGO bricks, or electronic components. Your finished product (written program), can easily be shared online with the entire world.

And though we all make mistakes when creating/programming, the entire activity is still a lot of fun.

This course offers understanding of the basics of programming using Python and then allows you to expand your abilities using the Pygame library to make games with graphics, animation, and sound.

Syllabus:

Fall:

Introduction to Programming

Introduction to Python turtle

Draw basic shapes

Use loops to achieve more intricate designs

Use lists

Use Random class to create a random design

Introduce Pygame

Create a basic video game

Animate video game

Introduce visual effects and sound