Python for Everybody

Excellent introduction to basic Python code, with a focus on parsing strings and data structures, connecting with data sources, and database basics.
This five-course program was my first Python MOOC. The other, also taken on the Coursera.org platform, was the two-course "An Introduction to Interactive Computing" course from Rice U. Both of these were excellent. While they were both designed for beginners, they focused on very different things. The U. Mich. course focused on writing code to extract information from files, connecting with data sources on the internet, and organizing data in databases, all on an introductory level. The Rice U. course, on the other hand, focused on building simple games. Thus, the U. Mich. course taught us how to parse text strings and dictionaries, while the Rice U. course taught us how to create and use classes of objects. There was surprisingly little overlap between the two, and I feel very lucky that I found both courses and stuck with them to completion.

The teachers for both courses were excellent, albeit very different. There is no one best way to teach well, and they proved that. Hats off to all of the teachers of both schools.

The lecturer is quite good and deals a great way to teach us. A huge thanks to him and Coursera for this opportunity. I have learnt a lot of ways till now about python and yes, this course is true that "Python for everybody". Anyone can get benefited through this course. The teacher not only knows his material, but has a lot of experience working with first time programmers and so knows what errors they are likely to make and what questions they are likely to ask and addresses them all. He is fun to listen to, unlike others. I have taken where the teachers were reading and got the intonation all wrong--very distracting. This one wasn't like that by far. He was interesting and even funny at times. The only issue I have is that if you are auditing the class, it isn't as nice an experience. You can't submit quizzes to see if you got them right and all your coding problems are marked wrong. You can still do the coding and the website will error check and all, but you won't get the pass/fail grade to be sure you got it right. I worked through all the materials, including reading the chapters in the book in just four days. I'd say there is about 2 to 4 hours of work per "week" expected. So, great course, but Coursera has become more interested in making money than in those of us who must only audit. It is not worth my time to chase up financial aid for something I'm working through so quickly. I'd rather spend the time working on a portfolio for future work than to bother about all that. Many thanks!

Excellent introduction to basic Python code, with a focus on parsing strings and data structures, connecting with data sources, and database basics.

This five-course program was my first Python MOOC. The other, also taken on the Coursera.org platform, was the two-course "An Introduction to Interactive Computing" course from Rice U. Both of these were excellent. While they were both designed for beginners, they focused on very different things. The U. Mich. course focused on writing code to extract information from files, connecting with data sources on the internet, and organizing data in databases, all on an introductory level. The Rice U. course, on the other hand, focused on building simple games. Thus, the U. Mich. course taught us how to parse text strings and dictionaries, while the Rice U. course taught us how to create and use classes of objects. There was surprisingly little overlap between the two, and I feel very lucky that I found both courses and stuck with them to completion.

The teachers for both courses were excellent, albeit very different. There is no one best way to teach well, and they proved that. Hats off to all of the teachers of both schools.

The lecturer is quite good and deals a great way to teach us. A huge thanks to him and Coursera for this opportunity. I have learnt a lot of ways till now about python and yes, this course is true that "Python for everybody". Anyone can get benefited through this course. The teacher not only knows his material, but has a lot of experience working with first time programmers and so knows what errors they are likely to make and what questions they are likely to ask and addresses them all. He is fun to listen to, unlike others. I have taken where the teachers were reading and got the intonation all wrong--very distracting. This one wasn't like that by far. He was interesting and even funny at times. The only issue I have is that if you are auditing the class, it isn't as nice an experience. You can't submit quizzes to see if you got them right and all your coding problems are marked wrong. You can still do the coding and the website will error check and all, but you won't get the pass/fail grade to be sure you got it right. I worked through all the materials, including reading the chapters in the book in just four days. I'd say there is about 2 to 4 hours of work per "week" expected. So, great course, but Coursera has become more interested in making money than in those of us who must only audit. It is not worth my time to chase up financial aid for something I'm working through so quickly. I'd rather spend the time working on a portfolio for future work than to bother about all that. Many thanks!