This is a short introduction to programming, using the Python programming language. No previous knowledge of programming or Python is assumed. Working through this tutorial should take you about 2 hours.

You will not install any software or create any user account. All programming exercises will be done within your web browser. While in principle you can work through this tutorial on any device, I recommend you use a desktop or laptop computer because a larger screen and a mechanical keyboard make it easier to complete the exercises.

I wrote the first version of Simple Coding in 2015 for OpenLearn. It was one of my three contributions to the BBC’s Make It Digital season. I also co-authored a free information pack (with ca. 11,000 copies requested by the public) and consulted for the TV programme The Secret Rules of Modern Living: Algorithms, nominated for a Learning On Screen award. The programme is available on Amazon and Netflix in some countries.

Simple Coding is structured as follows:

  1. Introduction
  2. Sequence
  3. Selection
  4. Iteration: for-loops
  5. Functions
  6. Iteration: while-loops
  7. Summary

I hope you enjoy this introduction to programming and find it useful.

Michel Wermelinger

Simple Coding is copyright © 2022 by The Open University and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License. Creative Commons Licence