Lesson Path

Recommended path through the FreeCampus Python course.

Open this lesson in Google Colab

How to use this chapter hands-on

This chapter is about the full course path. Do not read it like a reference manual. Use it as a sequence of short labs. For each lesson, open the Colab notebook from the button above, run Example 1, write a prediction, and then change one small part of the code.

By the end of the chapter, you should have one small artifact: a notebook, a script, a trace table, or a project note. The artifact should show one working example, one controlled variation, and one error or surprising result that you investigated calmly.

If time is short, study one lesson deeply instead of skimming all of them. A deeply understood example is one you can run again, explain in plain language, modify safely, and debug when it breaks.

How to use this course

If you are new to programming, follow the lessons in order. If you already know some Python, use the quizzes, debugging corners, and challenges to decide where to start.

TipKey idea

Programming is not memorizing every command. Programming is learning how to break a problem into small steps, run experiments, read feedback, and improve.

Course map

1. Getting Started

Set up your learning environment and understand how Python runs before memorizing syntax.

• What Is Programming?
• Google Colab
• Local Python Tools

2. Core Python

Learn the small building blocks that almost every Python program uses: values, names, decisions, and repetition.

• Values, Variables, and Types
• Strings, Input, and Output
• Booleans and Conditionals
• Indentation in Python
• Loops and Tracing

3. Data Structures

Store, organize, search, and transform many values with the right container for the job.

• Lists
• Tuples
• Dictionaries
• Sets
• Nested Data

4. Functions

Package useful steps behind names so code can be reused, tested, and explained.

• Function Basics
• Function Contracts
• Decomposition and Testing

5. Debugging

Read errors calmly, inspect state, and make small experiments instead of guessing.

• Error Messages
• Debugging Tools
• Minimal Reproducible Examples

6. FAQ and Common Issues

Find a familiar symptom, inspect one clue, and test a small fix without guessing.

• Unexpected Keyword Arguments in Classes
• Running Code and Understanding Output
• Names, Values, and Types

7. Files and Data

Read, write, validate, and recover from problems when programs interact with data outside memory.

• Paths and Text Files
• Structured Files
• Exceptions and Validation

8. Projects and Environments

Organize code into files, install dependencies safely, and run programs as small projects.

• Modules and Packages
• Environments and Dependencies
• Command-Line Programs
• Project Layout

9. Code Quality

Make code trustworthy with tests, style, formatting, linting, types, and automation.

• Testing with pytest
• Style, Formatting, and Linting
• Type Checking
• Pre-commit and CI

10. Object-Oriented Python

Use classes when data and behavior belong together, while avoiding unnecessary complexity.

• Object-Oriented Basics
• Dataclasses
• Object-Oriented Design

11. Advanced Python Patterns

Learn powerful Python patterns one at a time after core concepts are stable.

• Comprehensions
• Iterables and Generators
• Decorators
• Context Managers
• Logging and Configuration

12. Scientific Python

Use Python’s scientific stack for arrays, simulation, plotting, symbolic math, and numerical methods.

• NumPy
• Random Simulation
• Matplotlib Basics
• SymPy Symbolic Math
• SciPy Overview

13. Data Science

Turn questions and datasets into cleaned, analyzed, visualized, and communicated results.

• Workflow and Loading Data
• Inspecting, Selecting, and Cleaning
• Grouping and Statistics
• Visualization with seaborn
• Communicating Results

14. Machine Learning and AI

Understand AI vocabulary, train simple models, evaluate them responsibly, and know where major libraries fit.

• Concepts and Datasets
• Training and Evaluation
• Deep Learning Libraries
• Transformers Overview
• Responsible AI

15. Capstone

Plan, build, test, document, and present a beginner-friendly Python project that integrates the course.

• Project Selection and Planning
• Testing and README
• Presentation and Rubric

Lesson pattern

Lessons are intentionally cohesive, not microscopic. A topic like lists can include indexing, slicing, methods, and copying on one page because those ideas belong to one container. When a page has multiple sections, it can also include multiple OJS quizzes so students can check understanding before continuing.

Study routine for every lesson

1. Read the analogy first.
2. Predict what each short code example will do.
3. Run it in Colab, Jupyter, or VS Code.
4. Answer the section quiz.
5. Review if needed before continuing.
6. Change one small thing and run again.
7. Explain the result in your own words.

Course checkpoint

This OJS quiz checks whether you understand how to study the course.

{
  const scripts = Array.from(
    document.querySelectorAll("script.fcpython-ojs-quiz-config")
  );
  const script = scripts.find(
    (node) => node.dataset.fcpythonRendered !== "true"
  );

  if (!script) {
    return html`<div class="fcpython-quiz fcpython-quiz-warning">
      Quiz configuration was not found.
    </div>`;
  }

  script.dataset.fcpythonRendered = "true";
  const quiz = JSON.parse(script.textContent);
  const container = html`<div class="fcpython-quiz"></div>`;
  const title = document.createElement("h3");
  title.textContent = quiz.title;
  container.appendChild(title);

  const instructions = document.createElement("p");
  instructions.textContent = quiz.instructions;
  container.appendChild(instructions);

  const feedbackNodes = [];

  quiz.questions.forEach((question, questionIndex) => {
    const fieldset = document.createElement("fieldset");
    fieldset.className = "fcpython-quiz-question";

    const legend = document.createElement("legend");
    legend.textContent = `${questionIndex + 1}. ${question.prompt}`;
    fieldset.appendChild(legend);

    question.options.forEach((option, optionIndex) => {
      const label = document.createElement("label");
      label.className = "fcpython-quiz-option";

      const input = document.createElement("input");
      input.type = "radio";
      input.name = `${quiz.id}-${question.id}`;
      input.value = String(optionIndex);

      const text = document.createElement("span");
      text.textContent = option;

      label.appendChild(input);
      label.appendChild(text);
      fieldset.appendChild(label);
    });

    const feedback = document.createElement("p");
    feedback.className = "fcpython-quiz-feedback";
    feedback.setAttribute("aria-live", "polite");
    feedbackNodes.push(feedback);
    fieldset.appendChild(feedback);
    container.appendChild(fieldset);
  });

  const actions = document.createElement("div");
  actions.className = "fcpython-quiz-actions";

  const check = document.createElement("button");
  check.type = "button";
  check.textContent = "Check answers";

  const reset = document.createElement("button");
  reset.type = "button";
  reset.textContent = "Reset";

  const score = document.createElement("p");
  score.className = "fcpython-quiz-score";
  score.setAttribute("aria-live", "polite");

  check.addEventListener("click", () => {
    let correctCount = 0;

    quiz.questions.forEach((question, questionIndex) => {
      const selected = container.querySelector(
        `input[name="${quiz.id}-${question.id}"]:checked`
      );
      const feedback = feedbackNodes[questionIndex];

      if (!selected) {
        feedback.textContent = "Choose an answer before checking.";
        feedback.className = "fcpython-quiz-feedback";
        return;
      }

      const selectedIndex = Number(selected.value);
      if (selectedIndex === question.answer_index) {
        correctCount += 1;
        feedback.textContent = `✅ Correct. ${question.explanation}`;
        feedback.className = "fcpython-quiz-feedback is-correct";
      } else {
        const answer = question.options[question.answer_index];
        feedback.textContent = `❌ Not yet. Correct answer: ${answer}. ${question.explanation}`;
        feedback.className = "fcpython-quiz-feedback is-incorrect";
      }
    });

    score.textContent = `Score: ${correctCount}/${quiz.questions.length}`;
  });

  reset.addEventListener("click", () => {
    container.querySelectorAll("input[type='radio']").forEach((input) => {
      input.checked = false;
    });
    feedbackNodes.forEach((feedback) => {
      feedback.textContent = "";
      feedback.className = "fcpython-quiz-feedback";
    });
    score.textContent = "";
  });

  actions.appendChild(check);
  actions.appendChild(reset);
  container.appendChild(actions);
  container.appendChild(score);
  return container;
}