Introduction to Programming for Non-Programmers (using Python)

• Kevin Cunningham
  • https://kevincunningham.co.uk
  • kevin@kevincunningham.co.uk

Audience

• Individuals who would like to learn the principles of computer programming.
• Uses Python as an introductory language.

Prerequisites

• None

Goals

• Learn to think programmatically
• Understand basic data structures
• Understand basic control loops
• Solve numerous practical programming examples

Duration

• 3 Days (delivered over 4 shorter days)

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Syllabus

Welcome and Introductions

• Introduction to the instructor
• Delegate introductions
• Course overview
• Questions

Introduction to Python and Coding Setup

• What is Python
• Common uses for Python
• How Python programs work
• Running a Python program
• REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop)
• IDEs: PyCharm, VS Code, Spyder
• Jupyter Notebooks
• Python Hello World

Lab 1: Setting up a Python Project

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Solving Problems with a Computer

• Problem Decomposition
• Abstraction & Modeling (e.g., London Underground Map)
• Logical and Algorithmic Thinking
  • What is an Algorithm
  • Example: How to book a holiday
  • Evaluation or Testing of Solutions

Lab: Algorithmic Thinking

• Exercises in teams (2-3 people):
  • How to get to the cafeteria
  • Smiley Face Exercise
  • Chicken, Sack of Corn, and the Fox River Crossing

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Variables and Values

• Variables, Symbol Names, and Values
• Variable declarations
• Naming conventions
• Variable values
• Numerical Data Types in Python
  • Integers
  • Floating-point numbers
  • Arithmetic operations

Lab 3: Working with Numbers

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Strings

• String operations
• Converting numbers to strings
• Basic string formatting

Lab 4: Working with Strings

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Flow of Control

• Conditional statements
  • if, if-else, if-elif
  • Boolean Logic

Lab 5: Number Guess Game Part 1 – Using Conditionals

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Loop Constructs

• Counted Loops (for loop)
• Conditional Loops (while loop)

Lab 6: Number Guess Game Part 2 – Working with Iterations

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Functions

• Abstracting logic
• Defining functions
• Calling functions
• Parameter passing
  • Default parameter values
  • Mandatory and optional parameters
  • Named parameters
• Returning values

Lab: Organizing the Number Guess Game Using Functions

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Sequential Data Containers

• Mutable and Immutable types
• Tuples
• Lists

Lab: Using a List to Record Guesses in the Number Guess Game

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Advanced Data Containers

• Sets
• Dictionaries

Lab: Adding User High Scores to Number Guess Game Using a Dictionary

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File I/O

• Obtaining a file reference
• File access modes
• Reading from a file
• Writing to a file
• Using with for file handling
• Simple exception handling
• Renaming and deleting files

Lab: Logging Program Start-up and Results in a File

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CSV Module

• Introduction to Modules
• CSV module
• Reading CSV data from a file
• Writing data to a CSV file

Lab: Store Usernames and Best Guess Scores in a CSV File