Introduction to Python: Learn How to Program Today with Python

Overview

Python is a great, beginner-friendly programming language because it was originally designed with learners in mind. It is also used by professional developers in a wide range of applications, like web programming, data science, artificial intelligence, and DevOps. It is estimated that there are about 3 million Python programmers in the world, and by some accounts, it is the fastest growing, most widely used language, especially in high-GDP countries. Out of dozens of programming languages, Python is the third most loved language and is the number one language that current and aspiring developers want to learn.

As an instructor who regularly teaches people who are completely new to programming, Arianne has found that students are often looking for more context than is provided in most introductory courses. Specifically, students want to know how various languages fit into the programming landscape, as well as what next steps they should take after the course. Introduction to Python LiveLessons attempts to fill these gaps by providing “extra context” lessons, in addition to teaching fundamental programming concepts, answering questions like, “Why are there so many languages?”, “How is Python different from other languages?”, and “What concepts should I learn next?” Afterwards, the lessons end with a crash-course on data analysis and web development, the two primary uses of Python.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Lesson 1: Introduction to Programming and Python
Lesson 2: Python and Programming Basics
Lesson 3: Control Flow with Conditionals
Lesson 4: Lists and Loops
Lesson 5: Advanced Language Topics
Lesson 6: Introduction to Data Analysis in Python
Lesson 7: Introduction to Web Development in Python
Summary

Description

This 7+ hour LiveLesson video helps absolute beginners get started in Python, which is one of the most popular and in-demand languages in use today. Python was created with beginners in mind, but don't let its simple nature fool you. It is used by professional developers in a wide range of applications, such as web programming, data analysis, machine learning, and DevOps. While most introductory courses focus on the basics of the language, this course goes one step further to explain how Python is used in practice in the fields of data analysis and web development.

Students learn fundamental programming concepts–for example, variables and functions. They are given hands-on, modular problems to solve so they can progress as they go. Finally, students tie it all together and experiment with some real programming in the form of text-based games.

The overall goal of this course is to help absolute beginners learn from scratch, navigate the esoteric world of software development, and then kick-start their programming journey with introductions to two of the more common uses of Python: data analysis and web development.

The companion files for this LiveLesson can be accessed from https://github.com/ariannedee/intro-to-python-livelessons.

Arianne Dee is a full-stack software developer, technology educator, and all-around maker, located in Vancouver, Canada. She has four years of professional Python experience and loves Python for its intuitive syntax and broad applications. Over the years she has been an instructor for introductory programming courses through Canada Learning Code, presented at Python conferences, and coauthored the open-source project django-graph-api. Arianne is the instructor of Rethinking REST LiveLessons (Addison-Wesley, 2019) and has worked on various Live Trainings on these topics.

Skill Level

• Beginner

What You Will Learn

Students will learn how to

• Think like a programmer
• Solve mini practice problems in Python
• Use common libraries like “math” and “random”
• Build three small games to practice their learning
• Use PyCharm, a code editor for Python
• Clean up code so it is easy to understand

Once the basics are down, Arianne will provide

• A brief introduction to data analysis
• A brief introduction to web development
• An overview of classes, external libraries, and virtual environments in Python

Who Should Take This Course

• Primary: People who are curious about programming and have little to no experience in it
• Secondary: Beginner/novice programmers who already know one language and want to learn Python

Course Requirements

• General computer skills are an asset‚Äìfor example, moving, copying, renaming, and deleting files on the computer they will be using
• Experience using text-editors and/or spreadsheet applications
• Comfort using web browsers and search engines

About Pearson Video Training

Pearson publishes expert-led video tutorials covering a wide selection of technology topics designed to teach you the skills you need to succeed. These professional and personal technology videos feature world-leading author instructors published by your trusted technology brands: Addison-Wesley, Cisco Press, Pearson IT Certification, Prentice Hall, Sams, and Que Topics include: IT Certification, Network Security, Cisco Technology, Programming, Web Development, Mobile Development, and more. Learn more about Pearson Video training at http://www.informit.com/video.