Python for Beginners

Computers, smartphones, and artificial intelligence systems are essential elements in our everyday lives, and so too are programming skills. Whether it’s automating repetitive tasks, performing data analysis, or carrying out home automation, the ability to understand and even write your own code to control systems is increasingly relevant. In addition to which, programming is a fun activity too. Ever thought of developing your own computer game? Using the right programming language and tools, this is not as complex as it may seem.

In this course, you’ll get to know Python, currently the most popular programming language in the world, according to IEEE Spectrum. In contrast to other popular languages, Python has a simple syntax and enables learners to get a quick start in programming. But Python is also used by professional developers around the world to develop anything ranging from embedded systems and games to large-scale machine learning systems. This flexibility is due to Python’s ecosystem, providing a vast number of libraries for different task and requirements.

In this course, we’ll use Jupyter Notebooks to teach Python. Jupyter Notebooks are a programming environment that is particularly well suited for teaching programming. Besides that, Jupyter Notebooks are also the tool of choice for data scientists. All the information and tools you need will be explained in detail in the preparation week before the actual learning content starts.

This course is aimed at beginners. We don’t expect any previous programming experience. Nevertheless, the course is also suitable for people with prior programming experience. After introducing the basic programming concepts like variables, data types, and loops, more complex topics like functions, libraries, and file input and output will also be covered in subsequent weeks. At the end of the course you’ll be able to write simple Python that reads and writes data to solve your everyday programming problems.

This course will be accompanied by a research project, which will be introduced when the course starts. If you complete the survey, certain anonymized statistical data about you and your learning behavior during this MOOC will be evaluated for scientific purposes. The anonymized data of all learners who participated in the survey will be analyzed by our research partner, The Open University. Many thanks in advance for your time and effort.

Here is what some participants are saying about the course:

• “I would like to say a big Thank you for this amazing course! This is just a perfect starting point for beginners. The course is very professionally delivered, the content is of a high quality, the exercises are challenging and very interesting. It kept me engaged all 6+ weeks and I had a great fun at the same time. I liked the way it was organized and presented to the audience, appreciate the quality of materials (slides and workbooks) and exercises.” Read the original post

• "Thank you for creating this online course! Your light 'programming' humor has been very entertaining and made the course feel almost recreational. (…)” Read the original post

• "This beginners course really helped me to understand the basic programming concepts of Python programming and to be honest this course has been really exciting and fun. The fun part of the course was cracking the exercises and assignments (I believe in the quiz assignments but am more interested with the hands-on experience than the theory).” Read the original post

• “I really liked the way the course was set up. The perfect balance between theory and practice, the possibility to exchange with the other course participants in the discussion forum. Also the alternation between Christian and Stefan was a good idea to break up the course. Some things like the song selection or the stickers on Christian's notebook made me smile. " Read the original post

• ”I like it because it is very intuitive, logic and understandable from a person who doesn't have coding background like me. I will encourage my family and colleagues to learn this course if it’s reopen.” Read the original post

• “Dear team - professors and other contributors,​let me thank you for interesting and well organized Python programming course! In my opinion it was one of the most engaging courses on OpenSAP ever, some late-night hours were well spent for learning, Course is great combination of theory, nicely explained also in the Jupyter Notebooks; and practical hands-on exercises which I found on rather easy side...” Read the original post

Course Content

• Week 0: Getting Ready
• Week 1: Python Fundamentals
• Week 2: Lists and Loops
• Week 3: Complex Data Types
• Week 4: Reading and Writing Data
• Week 5: Functions
• Week 6: Libraries
• Week 7: Final Exam

Target Audience

• Students and professionals interested in learning programming
• Developers interested in learning Python

Course Requirements

• No prior programming experience required
• Curiosity and motivation to learn programming

Development Systems

• All the information and tools you need to actively participate in the course will be explained in detail in Week 0 (preparation week). All described systems are free of charge.

Attention: This course is currently in self-study mode, in which you do not have access to graded assignments/exams. Therefore, we can only issue you a certificate of participation.