Course overview: Introduction to Python
Introduction to Python is the first course offered through the Visual Studio Code for Education platform. This course teaches students the basics of Python, one of the most popular programming languages in the world.
Units
The Introduction to Python course includes eight units. They cover the core ideas of Python, functions, IF statements, structures, FOR statements, sequences, nesting, and time complexity.
Lessons
Each unit is divided into several lessons. You can think of lessons like chapters. For example, the Sequences unit contains four lessons:
- Indexes
- String Iteration
- File Systems
- Files
Each lesson starts with a lesson detail page and ends with a summary. Lessons also include interactive exercises like "Check your understanding" questions and coding challenges. These exercises give students the opportunity to review the lesson material and practice coding while getting learner-friendly feedback.
Check your understanding
"Check your understanding" questions are formative assessments that help students recall, process, and apply what they learned in the lesson. If they answer a question incorrectly, a hint appears to help them find the right answer. Here's an example of a hint:
Coding challenges
Coding challenges are interactive coding exercises that require students to think critically, evaluate problems, and develop solutions by using the tools in Visual Studio Code.
Similar to the "Check your understanding" questions, if students get stuck, they receive feedback in the terminal to help them find the solution. Beyond the terminal output, students see helpful tips in new-to-coding phrases and language. Here's an example of a hint in a coding challenge:
To learn more about the Introduction to Python course and what it covers, see the course details page.