Course Curriculum
2 phases · 15 classes total
Programming Basics
- What is programming and Python?
- Installing Python and IDE setup
- Variables and data types (strings, integers, floats, booleans)
- Print statements and basic math operations
- Task: Create a program that introduces yourself (name, age, hobbies) and does simple calculations
User Input & Conditionals
- Getting user input with input()
- If, elif, else statements
- Comparison operators (==, !=, >, <, >=, <=)
- Nested if statements
- Task: Build a simple age checker or movie rating system (check eligibility based on age/criteria)
Logical Operators & While Loops
- Logical operators (and, or, not)
- While loops - repeat until condition is false
- Loop counters and break/continue statements
- Input validation with loops
- Task: Create a number guessing game (computer picks number, player keeps guessing with hints until correct)
For Loops & Nested Loops
- For loops and range() function
- Nested loops
- Loop patterns with stars/numbers
- Iterating through sequences
- Task: Create a multiplication table generator or pattern printer (pyramid shapes, grids)
Functions Basics
- Defining functions with def
- Parameters and arguments
- Return values
- Function scope (local vs global variables)
- Why functions make code better
- Task: Create a calculator with functions (add, subtract, multiply, divide) and a menu system
Lists
- Creating and accessing lists
- List operations (append, remove, insert, pop)
- List methods (sort, reverse, count, index)
- List slicing [start:end]
- Iterating through lists with for loops
- Task: Create a to-do list program (add tasks, remove tasks, view all, mark complete)
Advanced Lists & Nested Lists
- Lists inside lists (2D lists/grids)
- Accessing nested list elements
- Creating grids with nested loops
- Practical uses of 2D lists
- Task: Create a simple grid-based board (like checkerboard pattern or seating chart)
Dictionaries
- Understanding key-value pairs
- Creating and accessing dictionaries
- Adding, updating, removing items
- Dictionary methods (keys(), values(), items())
- Iterating through dictionaries
- Task: Build a simple phonebook or student grade tracker (store and manage data with names as keys)
Advanced Functions
- Multiple parameters and default values
- Organizing code with multiple functions
- Docstrings and code documentation
- Refactoring code using functions
- Task: Refactor your to-do list or phonebook program to use well-organized functions
Working with Files & Random Module
- Opening, reading, and writing files
- Append mode and the with statement
- Random module (random.randint, random.choice)
- Saving and loading data from files
- Task: Create a program that saves high scores or quiz results to a file and displays leaderboard