Welcome to the course

Welcome to Programming 102 - Thinking like a computer scientist.

What will I learn?

Over the following four weeks we will be using the Python programming language. You will:

• Create modular programs using functions

• Design and apply algorithms that manipulate data

• Learn to break down problems into smaller parts

• Work with data structures such as lists to store and organise data

• Evaluate the efficiency of algorithms

What you should already know

This course is designed for anyone with some basic experience of programming who is looking to extend their knowledge.

Ideally you should be able to write simple Python programs, and know how to:

• Use built in functions such as print() and input()

• Create and use variables

• Make decisions (selection) using if ... elif ... else

• Repeat sections of code with while and for loops

• Define your own simple functions

What will I need?

All of the activities presented in the course can be completed online. However, if you want to complete them offline, you will need:

• Python 3 installed on your computer

• A development environment, such as mu, in which to write your programs

Week 1

In this first week, you will:

• Check your existing Python knowledge

• Define and use functions in your programs

• Understand the benefits of using functions in your programs