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.

Python for Everybody - A Fantastic Introduction to Programming!
I just completed "Python for Everybody" on Coursera, taught by Dr. Chuck Severance, and I have to say it's one of the best online courses I've taken for beginners in programming. As someone with zero prior coding experience, I was a bit intimidated at first, but Dr. Chuck makes everything so approachable and fun.
What really stands out is how he lays out the structure in each lecture. He breaks down complex concepts—like loops, functions, and data structures—into simple, logical steps with clear explanations, real-world examples, and even a touch of humor. It's like he's right there guiding you through it, ensuring you grasp the fundamentals before moving on. The videos are concise yet thorough, and the accompanying resources (like the free textbook) reinforce everything perfectly.
That said, the course isn't just about easy learning—Dr. Chuck pushes you to stretch yourself in the exercises and assignments. They're designed to build on what you've learned, starting straightforward but ramping up to challenge your problem-solving skills. I found myself debugging code and thinking creatively in ways I didn't expect, which really boosted my confidence. By the end, I was writing my own scripts and feeling like a real programmer!
Overall, this course is engaging, well-paced, and incredibly valuable. If you're new to Python or programming in general, I highly recommend it—it's free to audit, and the specialization options are worth exploring too. Thanks, Dr. Chuck, for making coding accessible to everyone! 5 stars!

I enjoyed Dr. Chuck as an instructor. He's enthusiastic about teaching, and overall, I feel that he does a good job with his instruction. The course material is pretty easy to pick up, especially if you read through the book chapters in congruence with the course modules. I definitely have more confidence now with Python than when I started the course, so it's doing its job.

I would say there are some unnecessary elements to the modules that feel like busywork, such as the videos relating to meeting and greeting other students from around the world (to me, it kind of just looked like Dr. Chuck looking for excuses to travel using University resources). I also wish the course did a better job teaching Python syntax, which I had to use external sources for several times to get a better handle on.

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.