Introduction

Hello! I’m Ben, the author of these introductory python lessons. This series began as a side project of writing some intro CS lessons, and has blossomed into an intro programming learning tool. Back in 2021, I decided to start writing some introductory CS / programming lessons. I began by writing a linear sequence of lesson pages that followed the sequencing from the introductory programming course that I had taught a number of times (CS 110 at the UofA). I wrote a handful of these lessons that year but then, let the project sit without attention for while. In the summer of 2022, I was inspired to pick it back up and to introduce the lesson flowchart, and other features. This year (2023) I continued this process. I wrote a bunch more lessons and added some much-needed polish, and will be releasing it to provide others with high-quality learning material.

The purpose of this lesson series is to allow learners to gain a solid foundation in python in a fun, interactive, and customizable way. I also aim to provide an interface that is clean and distraction-free for optimal learning. Some of the cool features of A Guide to Python include:

• The Lesson Flowchart on the home page allows students to visualize their path and progress of learning. It provides a clear overview of the topics, lesson completion, what remains to be learned, and what content can be skipped.
• There are Completion Status buttons for each lesson. When you set a lesson to “completed” it will indicate this with a green dot on the flowchart. Incomplete lessons have a red dot instead.
• There is a Bookmark button at the bottom of each lesson. This can be used to indicate where you left off, so that next time you return you can jump back in. There can only be one bookmark at a time, and it is indicated with a pulsing icon on the lesson flowchart.
• Many lessons contain Interactivity via embedded questions. These should be completed to help you learn the material better and solidify your understanding. These sections are highlighted in light blue, and include multiple-choice, matching, and parsons-problems style questions.

For an overview of how to use this website effectively, give this video a quick watch:

I hope that this resource can be used by many CS students looking to learn or solidify their understanding of Python. If you have any feedback about the book or want to report a bug, please do not hesitate to reach out. If you are an instructor considering using this material in one of your courses or other educational purposes, see the instructor resources page. I can be reached at bddicken @ gmail. Enjoy!