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Learning Python

Python Starter Kit

The goal of this module is to teach some foundational concepts in python, equip you with the tools to write your own scripts and break down barriers so that coding seems a little less daunting!

This is not meant to be comprehensive and should be viewed as an introduction to some vast topics.

Throughout this module, you will find various examples of scripts that will help you understand important concepts in python. We encourage you to try it out yourself as you progress.

Some words of advice: The best way to learn is to make mistakes. A great way to solve an error is to just Google the error.

Navigating Through the Module:

  • This module contains various tools to aid in your learning process. You may find some of these to be more suited for you. Feel free to explore what options are available. Below, you will find links to each of the sections discussed in the educational module.
  • Tool 1: Written explanations with code snapshots. Each concept is described in the write-ups. You may find it useful to read through the content before proceeding to the examples. There are summary tables that you can refer to in the future as well!
  • Tool 2: To expedite the time taken to work through this module, I've included short code blocks that you can copy and paste to your own Jupyter Environment.
  • Tool 3: There are short videos that walk you through some of the examples. The examples in each video are the same ones in the written portion. It may be helpful to type along with me and hear the explanations as an additional resource.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will:

  1. Be able to write and run simple scripts in python
  2. Have an understanding of the basic syntax of python
  3. Gain familiarity in various datatypes
  4. Understand the usage of operators
  5. Use regular expressions to find patterns and manipulate data
  6. Create and use dictionaries
  7. Understand conditional statements and their syntax
  8. Define and implement functions
  9. Be able to take input files and use them in your scripts
  10. Use python to answer a practical question from a real dataset

Table of Contents:

 

 

Conclusion:

Thank you for following along! I hope you were introduced to some new topics and are leaving with a better understanding of what Python is. The key point I would like to leave at is: this is just the starting point. Use the vast resources available online to explore other cool methods. Indulge your curiosity and discover what this language has to offer.

Credit for page content: Ramiya Sivakumar as part of capstone for Masters in Biotechnology.

University of Southern California