Description
Intro to Programming Course Overview
In this full-year, self-paced Intro to Programming course, homeschool students learn to write, test, and debug Python programs using Visual Studio Code. They turn ideas into programs that make decisions, process information, and interact with users.
Students start with simple calculations and user input, then build toward programs that organize data, save information to files, and display interactive windows. Recorded lessons, guided demonstrations, and hands-on projects help them put each new skill into practice.
Intro to Programming at a Glance
- Teacher: Anna Pollard
- Grade level: Grades 8–12
- High school credit: 1.0 credit
- Format: Full-year, self-paced online course with instructor support
- Prerequisites: No prior programming experience required
- Programming language: Python
- Learning platform: Schoology
- Start date and access: Begin anytime and receive one year of course access
What Students Will Learn in Intro to Programming
- Programming Fundamentals. Use algorithms to plan solutions and learn how computers run programs.
- Getting Started with Python. Write, run, test, debug, and save programs in Visual Studio Code.
- Variables and Data Types. Work with numbers, strings, expressions, and mathematical operations.
- Input and Output. Write programs that accept user input and display results.
- Decision Structures. Use conditionals, comparisons, and logical operators to make programs respond to different situations.
- Repetition and Loops. Automate repeated steps with
forandwhileloops. - Functions and Modular Programming. Write reusable functions with parameters and return values.
- Strings, Lists, and Tuples. Store and manipulate text and collections of information.
- Files and Exception Handling. Read and write files and handle errors that arise while a program runs.
- Dictionaries and Sets. Organize and retrieve data using Python collections.
- Graphical User Interfaces. Use Tkinter to build interactive applications with buttons, labels, and text boxes.
Student Projects and Activities
Projects build on the skills students practice in each lesson. Examples include:
- Number guessing game. Combine random numbers, conditionals, and loops.
- Password generator. Use strings, randomization, and programming logic.
- Student grade calculator. Process grades and calculate averages.
- File-based application. Save and retrieve information from a file.
Self-Paced Learning and Instructor Support
Students work through lessons, coding exercises, assignments, and assessments in sequence in Schoology. They can pause and replay demonstrations and spend more time on challenging concepts. Weekly workload varies with each student’s experience and pace.
Anna Pollard provides feedback on assignments and offers individual Zoom assistance with programming concepts and debugging. Students have one year of course access. Families who need extra time can contact MyFunScience to ask about an extension.
Why Learn to Program with Python?
Required Materials
- Textbook: OpenStax Introduction to Python Programming, available online at no cost.
- Programming language: Python (free download).
- Code editor: Visual Studio Code (free download).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my student need to know how to code?
No. The course starts with basic Python programs and builds toward more complex projects.
Are there scheduled live classes?
Students follow recorded lessons at their own pace. Individual Zoom help is available when they need support.
Who is this course a good fit for?
Intro to Programming is designed for students in grades 8–12 who want to learn to code, build their own programs, or prepare for further study in programming or computer science.
