Python Fundamentals Training for Non-Programmers

Course 1904 Advantage Plan Course

Duration: 2 days
Labs: Yes
Language: English
Level: Foundation

This hands-on course is intended for those individuals with little or no software development experience. Starting with the most fundamental elements, this training evolves your skills to produce complete computer applications, including the user interface, business logic and data access layers. During the course, attendees will write code using Python, one of the most popular modern languages and highly suitable for beginners. Development techniques include requirements, design, code generation, testing and debugging.

Of special note, this course combines adaptive learning (AdaptaLearn) with the use of Generative AI (Chat.OpenAI) to accelerate your pace of learning and ability to do hands-on development work. This will ensure you are highly productive Python programmers the moment you return to your office. A post-course AI-driven hands-on practicum is provided for ongoing practice and improvement.

With this course, you will gain all the pre-requisite skills necessary to carry on to more language-specific training appropriate for the type of applications your organisation needs, be they data science, web development, embedded real-time systems or other.

Python Training for Non-Programmers Course Delivery Methods

In-Person
Online
Upskill your whole team by bringing Private Team Training to your facility.

Python Training for Non-Programmers Course Information

In this Python for Non-Programmers course, you will learn how to:
- Begin developing modern computer applications.
- Design and implement an application using Python.
  Write cohesive object-oriented logic (classes and libraries).
- Leverage Generative AI (Chat.OpenAI) and modern integrated development tools (PyCharm) for code editing, execution, testing, and debugging.
- Access data files to save and restore persistent information.
Prerequisites

Basic computer literacy is expected. Attendees will need to know how to use Microsoft Windows to edit and copy files both in Windows Explorer and via a command prompt. Prior programming experience is not needed.

Python Training for Non-Programmers Course Outline

Chapter 1 – Starting to Programme

Principles of Programming

How computers solve problems
Language types and evolution
Procedural logic
Object Orientation
Bugs and other challenges

Syntax and Semantics

About Python
Statements and comments
Literals, Variables and Data Types
Collection Types
Expressions and Operators
Strings, Concatenation, and type conversion
Demo – accessing exercise computers and Py
Hands-On Exercise – First Python programme using Py

Chapter 2 – Development Tools

Programme Layout and Organisation

Modules and Packages
Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
Introduction to PyCharm

Chapter 3 – Controlling Programme Flow

Making Decisions with Conditionals

if/elif/else statements
Criteria expressions
in and not in

Repeating Programme Logic with Loops

Counting loops and for/Range
For-each Loops
Iterating a List
Loop control

Writing and Calling Functions

Function definition
return statement
Accepting parameters
Returning results
Importing modules and functions
Cross-module calls
Calling library functions

Chapter 4 – Object-Oriented Programming

Why Object Oriented?

Challenges with purely procedural code
Global variables – not the solution
Principles and style of object orientation

Classes and Objects

Defining classes
Properties vs local variables
Methods vs functions
Creating objects
Object state and instance data

Chapter 5 – User Interfaces and Events

Graphical UI Frameworks

3-layer model
What is a framework?
Framework choices
GUI Philosophy
Why Tkinter (tinker)

Windows, Frames and Widgets

Familiar widgets – from labels to radio buttons
The GUI class structure and layout
Adding widgets to a form
Geometry manager
pack(), vs grid() vs place()
Adding widgets to a frame
Adding a frame to a window
Using grids – automatic rows and columns
Tk Choice properties
Radio button example

Events and Event Binding

Philosophy of event-driven programming
Event types
Binding to events using bind()
Button click event
Keyboard enter-key event
Choice widget command options
Command response function vs event method
Discussion – An event has happened, now what?
Hands-On Exercise – Adding events for the case study.

Chapter 6 – Input and Output

Accessing Files

Types of data input
Flat vs serialisation vs big data vs database
I/O streams
Opening modes – read, write and append
New files vs appending
Reading/writing binary, raw and character data
Handling exceptions
Preventing exceptions

Chapter 7 – Leveraging Generative AI

Capabilities and Concepts of Gen AI

The AI megatrend
How GenAI works
The promise and the pitfalls
AI Ethics

Preparing AI prompts and queries

Elements of an effective prompt
Succinct polite queries
Background...Goal...Rationale format
Repeat and regenerate until satisfied.
Designing the post-course practicum

Chapter 8 – Course Summary

Next Steps

Commercial Pricing

£1,650

2-day instructor-led training course
Hands-On Labs Included
After-course instructor coaching benefit
Learning Tree end-of-course exam included

Would you like to take this course as a team?

Include dates with afternoon start times

Sep 28 - 29 2:00 PM - 9:30 PM BST

Herndon, VA or Virtual
Nov 16 - 17 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM GMT

London or Virtual
Jan 11 - 12 2:00 PM - 9:30 PM GMT

Herndon, VA or Virtual
Mar 30 - 31 2:00 PM - 9:30 PM BST

Herndon, VA or Virtual
May 17 - 18 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM BST

London or Virtual
Jun 28 - 29 2:00 PM - 9:30 PM BST

Herndon, VA or Virtual

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Python Training for Non-Programmers Course FAQs

Yes! Software developer roles are replacing many traditional, non-technical jobs. If you are being asked to or considering moving to one of these roles, you must demonstrate pre-requisite programming knowledge, and this is the perfect class for that!

Yes! Often managers are bewildered by the technical terms and processes of what they are supervising. This class provides a high-level conceptual understanding of the significant aspects of software development, including its terminology and processes.