Python can be used to develop many different types of programs, including web applications, general use software, desktop GUIs, or games. Python is easy for current programmers to pick-up quickly. It is also a great language for beginning programmers to learn. Python is free to use, and there are many free Python online courses available. Some of the free programs offer premium upgrades for additional features, including certificates to enhance your career as a programmer. Here are five of the top free Python online courses for you to consider when deciding where to learn Python.
The Best Python Online Course Options
Learnpython.org
Learnpython.org is an interactive tutorial that can be used by either beginning or experienced programmers. The Python online course offered by Learnpython.org can be accessed via the website’s homepage. The course has three sections:
- Learn the Basics – 12 chapters.
- Data Science Tutorials – two chapters.
- Advanced Tutorials – 11 chapters.
Each chapter is a separate lesson which can be accessed by clicking on the chapter’s hyperlink on the homepage. One of the great features of Learnpython.org is that you do not have to have Python or a text editor downloaded because all of the lesson exercises are completed directly in your browser.
If you run into difficulty with the Learn Python course, you can join the website’s Facebook group to obtain assistance from other users. There is a link to the group on the site’s homepage.
Learnpython.org is part of a series of coding websites. Students can also access coding courses in Java, HTML and CSS, C and C++, JavaScript, PHP, Shell, C#, Perl, and Ruby.
Code Academy
Code Academy is an online learning portal that specializes in teaching students how to code in various different programming languages. Their basic Python online course is free to access. The course is divided into five different sections for a total of 13 lessons. This course can be taken by both beginning or experienced programmers.
The Python online course at Code Academy is interactive and all lessons in the free course can be completed in your browser. Although the free course does not come with any individualized support, Code Academy does offer articles, forums, a Blog, and a help page to obtain assistance.
The free course does not contain any quizzes or a certificate program, However, by upgrading to Codeacademy Pro for $19.95 per month, students gain access to eight projects, nine quizzes, and a final project as part of the Python course. Codeacademy Pro Students also gain access to course advisers. If you sign up for Code Academy Pro, you will need to download Python and an appropriate text editor to complete the projects. Code academy has instructions for downloading Python in their Python articles section.
One of the nice things about using Code Academy, particularly for the first time programmer who wants to develop a broad array of programming skills, is that the service offers a total of 24 different programming courses. All of these courses can be accessed for free, but the added learning features of Code Academy Pro are well worth the monthly membership fee if you are planning on taking multiple courses and want to develop a career in the field.
Google for Education
Google’s Python Class requires that students have “a little” programming experience. The course has three different types of course materials; written, videos, and exercises. The written material teaches Python over a total of 10 lessons. This material is supplemented with seven video lectures and four exercises.
To complete the course, users must already understand what a “variable” and an “if statement” are, download Python and an appropriate text editor, and download several exercise files while completing the course material. This is an entirely self-directed course and the only available support is the Python Google Code University Forum.
DataCamp
DataCamp is an online learning website that specializes in data science oriented computer courses. DataCamp’s introduction to Python online course is unique in that it focuses on the programming language from a data science perspective. The course is taught in four sections covering Python basics, lists, functions and packages, and the Python Numpy data science package. The course contains 11 videos and 57 exercises.
The basic DataCamp course is available for free to any user who registers with the website. DataCamp offers additional premium course material, including certificates, for $300 per year or $29 per month. If you are intending to specialize in Python for data science, DataCamp is a service that you should consider as they also offer an additional 13 advanced Python courses that specialize in data science related material.
Code School
The Python online course offered at Code School covers the basics of coding with python and focuses on storing and manipulating words and numbers. The course consists of three levels. The three levels cover getting started with Python, spam and strings, and conditionals. The lessons consist of six videos and 20 challenges. Users receive a course completion badge when they finish all three levels. The material taught in this course is extremely basic. In order to gain wider exposure to Python programming, you have to upgrade to Code School’s paid courses, which cost $29 per month or $228 year. The paid service opens access to three additional Python based courses, two of which focus on the Django web framework.
Python is a great programming language for experienced or beginning programmers to learn. Learning Python is easy and you can learn it free through a Python online course. Code Academy offers the most comprehensive Python learning environment, but Learnpython.org and Google for Education also offer good courses. For users specializing in data science, DataCamp is the best service for learning Python. Finally, Code School offers a very basic overview of Python.
Now we would like to hear from you. Tell us what you think of the five free Python online courses, and about any experiences you may have had with them. Do you have another suggestion for our list?
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