Introduction to Computer Science with Python: Free Course

About this course

Learn a practical introduction to computer science with Python in this free Khan Academy course. All seventy-two source videos are included, from expressions, variables and conditionals to loops, functions, lists, dictionaries, APIs and objects. Project previews and the final teacher tour remain available alongside the teaching lessons.

Course at a glance

What you’ll learn

• Trace program execution and work with expressions, variables, input and conditions.
• Use loops, functions and modules to organize small programs.
• Explore lists, strings, dictionaries, nested data and API concepts.
• Follow introductory object, method, scope, testing and debugging explanations.

Skills you’ll gain

• Python fundamentals
• Program tracing
• Control flow
• Functions
• Data structures
• Testing and debugging

Course Overview

The course develops several stages of programming understanding. Early recordings introduce computer science, expressions, tracing and variables. Selection and repetition then lead into conditional and loop examples, followed by functions, modules, scope and testing. Lists, strings, dictionaries, nested data and API concepts provide a data-oriented foundation, and the later object lessons introduce methods, composition and related design examples. Project previews give context for each stage, while the final teacher tour is retained as original course material. All seventy-two videos remain available. This is the recorded teaching edition; interactive coding exercises, completed project specifications and platform mastery assessment are separate from the video classroom.

How to study the course

• Work through the introductory, variable and conditional lessons while tracing short programs by hand. Write the expected result before running a practice example.
• Study loops, functions, modules and tests. Keep tasks small enough that you can explain why a function or branch exists.
• Complete the data-structure and object sections, retaining the project previews. Use a small invented dataset and test both a normal case and an unexpected input.

Use the searchable classroom lesson list to revisit a specific explanation. Pause after a useful demonstration, reproduce a small example and explain the result in your own words. Keep a short note of what worked, what changed and what you still need to understand before moving on.

Who is this for?

This course suits beginners entering programming, students learning introductory computer science and returning learners who want a structured Python foundation. The design and tracing examples are particularly useful for learning how to reason about a program’s behavior.

Before you start

A suitable Python practice environment and basic computer navigation are helpful. No prior programming knowledge is required to start. Free videos do not include instructor review, graded projects, paid software services or an assessed computing qualification.

Put the lessons into practice

Build a small program using invented data, such as a book list or a simple inventory. Start with input and a conditional decision, then add a loop and a function when their purpose becomes clear. Use a list or dictionary to organize the data and write a few tests for expected and unexpected cases. Trace one execution on paper and compare it with the actual output. After the object section, consider whether a small class improves the design or merely adds complexity. Keep a short record of your decisions and debugging steps.

This optional activity is provided by WikiFree for independent practice. It is not a graded assignment from the instructor. Keep your working notes, check the result against the task you defined and return to the relevant lesson when an assumption or technique is unclear.

Certificate / Assessment

Watching the public videos and using WikiFree progress tracking does not award a certificate, exam voucher, academic credit or instructor assessment.

Use your practice output to review what you can now explain and repeat independently. Completion tracking records your study progress; it does not replace an assessed qualification or professional experience.

Frequently asked questions

Provider: Khan Academy. Videos play from the Khan Academy channel on YouTube.