Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming

About this course: Have you ever wished you knew how to program, but had no idea where to start from? This course will teach you how to program in Scratch, an easy to use visual programming language. More importantly, it will introduce you to the fundamental principles of computing and it will help you think like a software engineer.

Created by:  The University of Edinburgh, Universidad ORT Uruguay

• Taught by:  Areti Manataki, Researcher

  School of Informatics

• Taught by:  Inés Friss de Kereki, PhD

  Engineering School, Universidad ORT Uruguay

Commitment 15-20 hours Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.7 stars Average User Rating 4.7See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Syllabus


WEEK 1


Your First Computer Program
In this unit you’ll create your very first computer program! You’ll be introduced to basic programming concepts and you’ll familiarise yourself with Scratch.


19 videos, 6 readings expand

1. Video: Welcome to Code Yourself!
2. Video: About the Course
3. Reading: Syllabus
4. Reading: Course Logistics
5. Reading: How to use the Discussion Forums
6. Reading: Course Team
7. Reading: Copyright
8. Reading: Resources for Unit 1
9. Video: Algorithms and Sequence
10. Video: Representation of Algorithms
11. Video: Precision and Assumptions
12. Video: Introduction to Scratch
13. Video: Options for Using Scratch
14. Video: Programming in Scratch
15. Video: Selection
16. Video: Selection in Scratch
17. Video: Conditions within Selection
18. Video: Iteration: Infinite Loops
19. Video: Balloon Party! Changing the Looks of our Sprites
20. Video: Modifying Programs in Scratch
21. Video: Blow the Clouds Away!
22. Video: A Movie with Two Characters
23. Video: Summary
24. Video: Interview with an Informatics Researcher
25. Video: Interview with an Audiovisual Producer (Spanish with English subtitles)

Graded: Quiz 1

WEEK 2


Code Gone Loopy!
In this unit you’ll keep working with control structures, you’ll find out how to use events in your programs and how to incorporate visual and sound effects in Scratch. You’ll also start thinking about the requirements and the design of your program.


19 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Reading: Resources for Unit 2
3. Video: Count-controlled Loops
4. Video: Condition-controlled Loops
5. Video: Recreating a Tune
6. Video: Music Video
7. Video: Drawing Squares
8. Video: Birthday Card - Butterfly Behaviour
9. Video: Birthday Card - Cake Behaviour
10. Video: Birthday Card - Extend with If-then-else
11. Video: Birthday Card - Extend with Sounds
12. Video: Face Effects with Event-driven Programming
13. Video: Software Design
14. Video: Cut the Fruit!
15. Video: Software Requirements
16. Video: Helicopter Game Design
17. Video: Helicopter Game Implementation
18. Video: Summary
19. Video: Interview with a Software Engineer (Spanish with English subtitles)
20. Video: Interview with an Architect

Graded: Quiz 2

WEEK 3


Remixing Games
In this unit you’ll have a go at modifying and extending existing games to create new versions. You’ll also learn about software engineering practices for testing and documenting your programs.


11 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Reading: Resources for Unit 3
3. Video: Helicopter Game Extension with Variables
4. Video: Analysing the Pong Game
5. Video: Modifying Pong with Complex Conditions
6. Video: Modifying Pong into Pizza Pong
7. Video: Modifying Pong into a Penalty Shootout Game
8. Video: Guess the Number!
9. Video: A Flower Garden with Nested Loops
10. Video: Summary
11. Reading: How-to guide for peer-reviewed projects
12. Video: Interview on Football-playing Robots
13. Video: Interview with a Biotechnologist (Spanish with English subtitles)

Graded: Quiz 3
Graded: Project 1

WEEK 4


Reusing Your Code
In this unit you’ll be introduced to procedures and cloning in Scratch, and you’ll apply these ideas to reuse your code.


11 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Reading: Resources for Unit 4
3. Video: Catch the Mouse with Procedures
4. Video: Generalising a Program for Drawing Squares
5. Video: Staircase
6. Video: Hunting Ghosts with Cloning
7. Video: Fireworks
8. Video: A Modular Program for Bursting Bubbles
9. Video: Wave
10. Video: Summary
11. Video: Interview on Entrepreneurship and Programming (Spanish with English subtitles)
12. Video: Interview with a Jewelry Designer

Graded: Quiz 4

WEEK 5


Think Like a Software Engineer
In this unit you’ll follow all the steps of software development to create a fun computer game. You’ll also learn about message broadcasting and concurrency.


11 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Reading: Resources for Unit 5
3. Video: Zombie Game: Requirements and Interface Design
4. Video: Zombie Game: Code Design
5. Video: Zombie Game: Implementation of the Interface, Broom and Zombie
6. Video: Zombie Game: Implementation of the Zombie Clones & Message Broadcasting
7. Video: Zombie Game: Implementation of the Backdrop and Flower
8. Video: Zombie Game: Implementation of Invasion and Extensions
9. Video: Sharing your Projects in Scratch & Links with Python
10. Video: Summary
11. Video: Interview with a Computer Science Student
12. Video: Interview with a Game Developer (Spanish with English subtitles)

Graded: Quiz 5
Graded: Project 2