Introduction to Programming with Python (CS1010)

Instructor

Dr. Madhavi Vaidya
Instructor,
Department of EECS
Finesssefleet Foundation
[email protected]

Teaching Assistant

Ms. Syeda Faaiza Afreen
TA
Department of EECS
Finessefleet Foundation
[email protected]

Course Description

This course, offered by the Finessefleet Foundation, is a part of its broader commitment to advancing public education and digital literacy as a matter of social responsibility. Designed to run over a span of fourteen weeks, the course introduces learners to the fundamentals of programming through the Python language—widely regarded for its simplicity, readability, and relevance across disciplines. Structured to be accessible to learners from all academic and professional backgrounds, the course emphasizes not only the syntax and semantics of Python but also the development of computational thinking and structured problem-solving skills. Through a combination of conceptual discussions, illustrative examples, and practical coding exercises, participants will be guided towards acquiring both a theoretical and applied understanding of core programming constructs. The course is offered entirely free of charge and is open to all, with no prerequisites other than a willingness to learn. All lectures will be conducted in an interactive format, live-streamed to allow real-time engagement, and subsequently made available as recorded sessions for flexible, self-paced learning. By the end of this MOOC, learners are expected to develop a foundational competency in Python and gain the confidence to apply their skills to a range of real-world and academic contexts. This course reflects the Foundation’s belief in the transformative power of open education and its role in fostering inclusive, future-ready communities.

Key topics include: Introduction to Python programming; Python syntax, variables, and basic operators; control structures including conditionals and loops; functions and recursion; core data structures such as lists, tuples, strings, dictionaries, and sets; file handling techniques; exception handling; object-oriented programming concepts; use of modules, packages, and standard libraries; foundational Python libraries including NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib; debugging strategies and test case development; and the capstone project for practical implementation.

Prerequisites

• Basic computer literacy
• Fundamental logical reasoning skills
• High school-level mathematics (algebra and basic functions)

Course Logistics

Lecture Venue: ‘Takshashila’ Virtual Classroom, hosted via MS Teams
Tutorial Sessions: TBD
Lecture Recordings: CS1010 Lectures Playlist
Course Curriculum: CS1010   Approval OM

Evaluation Scheme

Component	Weightage
Examination I	25%
Examination II	25%
Assignments	20%
Capstone Project	15%
Class Participation / Interaction	15%

No makeup exams. Late submissions are penalized unless pre-approved. Applicable for Assignments as well.

Additional References

• "Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science" by John Zelle
• "Think Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist" by Allen B. Downey
• "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python" by Al Sweigart
• "Introduction to Computation and Programming Using Python" by John Guttag
• Python Documentation, https://docs.python.org/3/ (Primary source for syntax, libraries, and updates.)

Assignments and Exams

Assignments will be posted after each lecture or two as per internally intimated to all learners. Submissions are to be made individually unless stated otherwise.

Exams will be conducted in proctored mode. All are closed-book unless otherwise announced.

Weekly Spotlight

Week 3 Spotlight: Piyush Malviya, Gudipally Vaishali, Ajay Ahirwar
Week 4 Spotlight: Dharmendra Yadav, Sudha N, Aryan Reddy, Guru Sainath, Ajay Ahirwar, Ganesh S, G. Vaishali, Piyush Malviya, Rishwant Kumar Singh, N. Likhitha

Miscellaneous

• Week 5: Error Analysis & Code Debugging Session led by Syeda Faaiza Afreen and overall contributed by Shri Ajay Ahirwar, Nominated Student Volunteer, CS1010. The program is structured into two distinct sessions, with the principal objective of fostering learners' analytical and problem-solving skills through real-time debugging of deliberately constructed erroneous code segments. The code samples utilized in these sessions will be derived from the content covered up to Lecture 05 of the CS1010 course. The sessions are scheduled to take place on the 14th and 16th of May, 2025. Participants who demonstrate active engagement and substantive contributions during the sessions will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Participation.
            May 14th, 2025: Recording, Code (while live), Take Home Challenges 1, Take Home Challenges 2
            May 16th, 2025: Recording, Take Home Challenges

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to maintain strict academic honesty. Any form of plagiarism, cheating, or unauthorized collaboration will result in disciplinary action as per institute policy.