Watch How to Program: Computer Science Concepts and Python Exercises

Name: How to Program: Computer Science Concepts and Python Exercises
Released: 2016-11-01
Cast: John Keyser

TV-PG
2016
1 Season

How to Program: Computer Science Concepts and Python Exercises is an educational show from The Great Courses Signature Collection that is hosted by John Keyser, an experienced professor and computer science expert. The show is designed to provide viewers with an in-depth guide to computer programming using the popular Python language.

Throughout the show, Keyser walks viewers through the basics of programming, starting with an overview of what programming is and how it works. He explains key concepts such as variables, data types, and loops, and demonstrates how these concepts can be used to create simple programs. He also covers more advanced topics, such as functions, classes, and modules, and shows viewers how they can use these tools to create more complex programs.

One of the unique features of How to Program: Computer Science Concepts and Python Exercises is that it is highly interactive. Keyser frequently asks questions of the audience and provides exercises for viewers to complete on their own. These exercises are designed to reinforce key concepts and help viewers apply what they have learned to real-world problems. Keyser also includes sample code and step-by-step tutorials to guide viewers through each exercise.

The show is divided into several modules, each of which covers a specific topic in depth. For example, the first module covers the basics of programming, including variables, data types, and loops. The second module delves into more advanced topics, such as functions and classes, while the third module focuses on program design and organization. Each module builds on the previous one, so viewers can progress through the show at their own pace.

In addition to its emphasis on Python programming, How to Program: Computer Science Concepts and Python Exercises also provides viewers with a solid grounding in computer science theory. Keyser explains key concepts such as algorithms, data structures, and complexity theory, and shows viewers how these concepts relate to programming. By the end of the show, viewers will have a comprehensive understanding of both the practical and theoretical aspects of computer programming.

Overall, How to Program: Computer Science Concepts and Python Exercises is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn how to code. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced programmer, the show provides a wealth of information and practical exercises to help you sharpen your skills. Keyser is an engaging and knowledgeable host, and the show is well-produced and easy to follow. Highly recommended for anyone interested in computer science and programming.

How to Program: Computer Science Concepts and Python Exercises is a series that ran for 1 seasons (24 episodes) between November 1, 2016 and on The Great Courses Signature Collection

Filter by Source

Rent or Buy Subscription

Amazon Prime Amazon

Do you have Watch Now?

What are you waiting for?

Nice! Browse Watch Now with Yidio.

Ad Info

Seasons

24. Parallel Computing Is Here

November 1, 2016

One of the major trends in the present and future of computing is parallel processing. Put this clever technique to work in Python. Then close the course with Professor Keyser€™s suggestions for your further explorations of programming, along with his reflections on the personal benefits of this remarkable human achievement.

23. Graph Search and a Word Game

November 1, 2016

Examine a famous graph algorithm called breadth-first search, which shows the shortest path connecting nodes in a tree. Use this technique to write a program creating an entertaining game, in which a word is transformed one letter at a time, with each new iteration required to be a valid word.

22. Graphs and Trees

November 1, 2016

In computing, a graph is a mathematical structure composed of vertices and edges. Discover its incredible power to capture relationships such as the airline routes between cities and the friends in a social network. Try writing programs utilizing graphs and a special type of graph called trees.

21. Recursion and Running Times

November 1, 2016

Expand your study of algorithms to cover recursion, one of the most fascinating ideas in computer science. Apply recursion to form a pair of sorting algorithms. Then see how another approach, iteration, excels at tasks that take too long with recursion, such as calculating the Fibonacci sequence.

20. Algorithms: Searching and Sorting

November 1, 2016

Enter the realm of algorithms, the heart of computer science. See how a well-designed algorithm-a general set of steps that accomplish a task-allows you to work out the logic of a program before you commit it to code. Try this with search and sort exercises.

19. Data Structures: Stack, Queue, Dictionary, Set

November 1, 2016

Data structures allow you to perform operations more effectively. Start with two of the most basic data structures, stacks and queues, discovering that both can be executed using lists. Then move to non-linear data structures, exemplified by dictionaries and sets, which can be implemented using a hash table.

18. Objects with Inheritance and Polymorphism

November 1, 2016

Dig deeper into object-oriented design, seeing how encapsulation-combining data and the functions that deal with data into a single package-is the basis for two other object-oriented features: inheritance and polymorphism. Apply these ideas to sports statistics.

17. Classes and Object-Oriented Programming

November 1, 2016

Learn about an exciting approach to programming called object-oriented design, which bundles functions together with data into a series of objects, whose tools and properties can be defined in a single class. Try your hand at this powerful technique by constructing a bank account program.

16. Visualizing Data and Creating Simulations

November 1, 2016

Delve into data visualization and simulations-two areas where computers have had a revolutionary but under-recognized impact. Learn how to do both with matplotlib, a Python package for creating plots, graphs, and charts. Use it to design a financial simulation that can help you plan your retirement.

15. Event-Driven Programming

November 1, 2016

Explore the visual style of programming seen on the web and in the graphical user interface of an operating system. Get started with pyglet, a Python package created to help support development of games and other audio-visual environments. Use pyglet to make a graphical version of the game from Lesson 13.

14. Bottom-Up Design, Turtle Graphics, Robotics

November 1, 2016

Now experiment with bottom-up design, an approach that starts with the available elements and builds from there. Utilize a Python module called turtle graphics to model robot motion, relying on the basic turtle commands: forward, backward, and turn left or right by an angle you specify.

13. Game Design with Functions

November 1, 2016

Use the knowledge you€™ve gained so far to design a grid-based matching game-an entertaining way to practice top-down development of more complex programs using functions. You€™ll see how rough-and-ready lines of code known as stubs come in very handy as you tackle such projects.

12. Python Standard Library, Modules, Packages

November 1, 2016

Discover the remarkable programming tools called modules that you have at your fingertips with Python. Modules are ready-made programs that can be imported into your code as you write it, enhancing your creativity, expanding your options, and saving you time. Bundles of modules are called packages.

11. Error Types, Systematic Debugging, Exceptions

November 1, 2016

Confront the nemesis of all computer programmers: bugs. First, look into the history of this peculiar term. Then take a systematic approach to solving mysterious glitches in your own programs. Get acquainted with the debugger in PyCharm, and explore strategies for tracking down bugs and fixing them.

10. Parameter Passing, Scope, and Mutable Data

November 1, 2016

Complete your introduction to elementary programming by looking at parameters-the major technique for passing information through functions. Learn when a parameter or variable is €œin scope,€ how to work with list data that can change when passed as a parameter, and what it means for parameters to have default values.

9. Functions and Abstraction

November 1, 2016

One of the key ideas in computer science is abstraction-using simple interfaces to manage complex procedures. See how functions can simplify away the details of complex process, freeing attention to focus on what goes into a function and what comes out. Learn when to use functions and the side effects that sometimes occur.

8. Top-Down Design of a Data Analysis Program

November 1, 2016

Take what you have learned about lists, loops, files, and other techniques and design a program that lets you analyze weather data. Sound daunting? Discover the trick of top-down design, which breaks a complex task into manageable parts and is applicable not just to coding but to any major project.

7. Operations with Lists

November 1, 2016

Python makes it very easy to create lists and perform a wide range of operations on them. Learn the fundamentals of building lists. Then experiment with indexing into lists, looping over lists, and making slices of lists, lists of lists, and list-like structures called tuples.

6. Files and Strings

November 1, 2016

Learn the fundamentals of files: what they are, how they€™re named, and how to interact with them. Typically, the file format that you write to and read from will be one long string-a sequence of alphanumeric characters. See how these differ from binary files such as images, which are composed of 1s and 0s.

5. Loops and Iterations

November 1, 2016

One of the biggest thrills from writing code comes from getting a computer to perform a sequence of instructions repeatedly until a task is complete. Discover the ease of writing such loop programs and also the peril of getting stuck in infinite loops. Investigate while loops, for loops, and iterations.

4. Basic Program Development and Testing

November 1, 2016

Take the plunge and write a program that€™s useful for saving money! In the process, learn the importance of planning ahead, testing often, and building your code incrementally. As your program takes shape, Professor Keyser describes instructive incidents from computer history and his own experience.

3. Conditionals and Boolean Expressions

November 1, 2016

Any time a computer takes different paths depending on your response, there is usually a conditional statement involved. Delve into these widely used tools, looking at branching points, comparisons, if/then statements, nesting conditionals, and Boolean (true/false) expressions.

2. Variables: Operations and Input/Output

November 1, 2016

Study some of the basic operations of computers. First, investigate the memory hierarchy and what the CPU does. Then consider variables, which are like boxes where units of data are stored in a program. Look at simple arithmetic operations with variables, and try input/output commands.

1. What Is Programming? Why Python?

November 1, 2016

€œHello, World!€ Following tradition, write a program that produces this greeting as your first exercise in coding a computer program. Learn why Python is the ideal computer language for beginners and many others. After this lesson, follow the onscreen instructions for installing Python and the programming editor PyCharm.

Description

Where to Watch How to Program: Computer Science Concepts and Python Exercises

How to Program: Computer Science Concepts and Python Exercises is available for streaming on the The Great Courses Signature Collection website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch How to Program: Computer Science Concepts and Python Exercises on demand at Amazon Prime, Amazon and Hoopla.