Nice to see Shaw, Zed A. 'Learn Python the Hard Way' in the recommended textbooks :)
Free MIT Online Class teaches CS fundamentals using Python
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Re: Free MIT Online Class teaches CS fundamentals using Python
#12I've been following this in my spare time for the last month. I've found it really useful.
As a sysadmin who doesn't really do any proper programming day to day and ends up learning just enough to scrape by in a few languages, I've found it really beneficial to go back to basics and learn to think like a proper computer scientist.
Re: Free MIT Online Class teaches CS fundamentals using Python
#13New update to a great course that many (myself included) have used to get started.
New update? I've seen this posted here before, sure enough. What part of the course has been updated?
Looks like it is a whole new term rather than a pure update. The original was with Prof Grimson and Guttag from Fall '08, this one is just Prof Guttag from Spring '11. The biggest change is the addition of OCW Scholar (which means the course is designed with more of an online flow -- for 'independent learners').
Re: Free MIT Online Class teaches CS fundamentals using Python
#14It will be a dream come true if Waterloo taught CS with Python.
I am sure that there are a lot students that wish XYZ university taught CS with python. However, with all due respect I do not think HN is the right place to express your opinion about your university's curriculum.
Re: Free MIT Online Class teaches CS fundamentals using Python
#15Dear HN, what is the conventional wisdom here on the merits of this course vs. other Python methods of learning, tutorials, classes, &c?
I don't know about conventional wisdom but I can give you my opinion. Disclaimer: I have not taken this course, neither am I a python Wizard. Their stated goal: "It aims to provide students with an understanding of the role computation can play in solving problems. It also aims to help students, regardless of their major, to feel justifiably confident of their ability to write small programs that allow them to accomp…
I haven't taken the class, but have helped many friends through the course if they needed it.
The class is more of an introduction to programming using Python than a class about learning Python the language. They learned some things like sorting, searching, testing, basic hash tables, etc. However, the primary reasons the course exists are to see let students explore Computer Science or because their major requires that they take either 6.00 (This course) or 1.00 (Same type of course, but in Java.)
If you want to learn Python and you're an experienced programmer, this class will take you maybe a night or two to breeze through. I would recommend taking other courses on OCW instead though with a more specific focus. If you want basic-intermediate algorithms, take 6.006. If you want low-level, 6.004 is a great introduction. (If you want advanced algorithms, buy CLRS and take 6.046).
tl;dr: 6.00 is more for people that have never programmed anything before, not to learn Python.
Re: Free MIT Online Class teaches CS fundamentals using Python
#16This isn't the famous SICW class?
No, this is 6.00, which sounds like it is aimed at non-majors. My 11 year old son wanted to go through it with me, and so far the first lecture was good for him. 6.001 is the SICP course.