Python Fundamentals

This course equips you with the foundational knowledge and skills to begin developing programs using Python.

Course Objectives:

• Understand the benefits and applications of Python programming.

• Install and configure a Python development environment.

• Write basic Python programs using fundamental syntax and control structures.

• Process text data using built-in Python functionalities.

• Create modular programs by utilizing functions and modules.

Course Length: 3 Days

Course Outline:

Module 1: Introduction to Python

• What is Python?

  • Overview of Python as a general-purpose programming language.

• Why Use Python?

  • Exploring the advantages of Python for beginners and experienced programmers.

• Comparing Python to Other Languages

  • Understanding how Python differs from other popular programming languages.

Module 2: Python Development Environment Setup

• Downloading and Installing Python

  • Setting up a local development environment to write and execute Python code.

• Introduction to Jupyter Notebooks

  • Introduction to Jupyter Notebooks as an interactive development environment for Python.

Module 3: Getting Started with Python Basics

• Variables and Data Types

  • Declaring and manipulating variables of different data types (integers, floats, strings).

• Operators and Expressions

  • Performing basic arithmetic operations and string manipulations using built-in functions.

• Control Flow Statements

  • Utilizing conditional statements (if/elif/else) and loops (for, while) to control program flow.

Module 4: Working with Data Structures

• Iterables and Sequences

  • Understanding iterables, sequences (lists, tuples), and their functionalities (slicing, indexing, iteration).

• Dictionaries and Sets

  • Creating and using dictionaries (key-value pairs) and sets (unordered collections) for data storage.

• File Input/Output (I/O)

  • Reading from and writing data to text files using Python.

Module 5: Functions and Modules

• Defining and Using Functions

  • Creating reusable blocks of code with functions, including arguments and return values.

• Importing Modules

  • Leveraging pre-written code by importing Python modules and accessing their functionalities.

Module 6: Exception Handling

• Understanding Exceptions

  • Identifying and handling errors (exceptions) that may occur during program execution.

• Using try/except Blocks

  • Implementing try/except blocks to gracefully handle exceptions and prevent program crashes.

Module 7: Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) with Python (Optional)

• Object-Oriented Programming Concepts (Time permitting)

  • Introduction to core OOP concepts like classes, objects, methods, and inheritance in Python.

Additional Notes:

• Labs and hands-on exercises will be incorporated throughout the course to solidify learning.

• The course assumes no prior programming experience.