Course Spotlight: Python Level 1

Python is a simple-yet-powerful programming language used to build mission critical systems at Google, Dropbox, Pinterest, Instagram, and other major tech companies. It can be used to develop desktop GUI applications, websites and web applications. Students (Ages 9+) will learn concepts including variables, if statements, and loops, and develop several useful skills that can be applied across all programming languages. By the end of the course, students will know how to create a variety of programs, including a number guessing game. Let’s dive deeper into the course content…

What Your Child Will Learn

Variables

In computer programming, a variable is a storage location paired with an associated symbolic name, which contains some known or unknown quantity of information referred to as a value. In many programming languages, variables are statically typed. That means a variable is initially declared to have a specific data type, and any value assigned to it during its lifetime must always have that type. However, variables in Python are not subject to this restriction. In Python, a variable may be assigned a value of one type and then later re-assigned a value of a different type. Students will learn in depth how to construct, assign, and use variables in various exercises.

If Statements

Decision making is required when we want to execute a code only if a certain condition is satisfied. The if…elif…else statement is used in Python for decision making. These conditional statements are features of a programming language, which perform different computations or actions depending on whether a programmer-specified the condition to evaluate as true or false. Students will stretch their critical thinking skills as they learn how to use these statements to execute different lines of codes.

Loops

To keep a computer continuously doing useful work we need repetition, which requires looping back over the same block of code again and again. Loops are used to iterate over elements of a sequence, and is often used when you have a piece of code which you want to repeat “n” number of times. Students will learn about the various types of loops that tell the computer how to perform under certain circumstances.

Functions

A program is more efficient if the task it needs to complete can be done with less code. Functions allow you to write code for a specific task only once, then reuse it whenever the same task needs to be done. Students will learn how to use built-in functions and create their own, and incorporate both in their code to create efficient programs.

Skills Acquired

  • New language – computers speak their own language too! Our society is saturated with the use of computers and the need for computer programmers is exponential.
  • Coding Skills – this concepts learned in this course can be applied to other programming languages such as Java, C++ and more!
  • Problem-Solving – often there will be issues that come up where students will have to modify and figure out how to correct and improve their code, which can sometimes be challenging, but builds problem solving skills!
  • Critical thinking – being able to create sequences of code that make sense are a great way to hone critical thinking skills.
  • Decision making – with a series of outcomes to consider, and multiple ways to code a function, decision-making is directly associated with every part of the programming process, to get the computer to carry out what it needs to do.
Sign up for Python Level 1

Wait, there’s more!

Python level 2 is a continuation to the Python Level 1 course. Students will explore more advanced programming concepts, including lists, classes, and objects. Upon the completion of this course, participants will get a final project that incorporates all the topics covered in this course.

Sign up for Python Level 2