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Head First Learn to Code: A Learner's Guide to Coding and Computational Thinking
What will you learn from this book? Itâ??s no secret the world around you is becoming more connected, more configurable, more programmable, more computational. You can remain a passive participant, or you can learn to code. With Head First Learn to Code youâ??ll learn how to think computationally and how to write code to make your computer, mobile device, or anything with a CPU do things for you. Using the Python programming language, youâ??ll learn step by step the core concepts of programming as well as many fundamental topics from computer science, such as data structures, storage, abstraction, recursion, and modularity. Why does this book look so different? Based on the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory, Head First Learn to Code uses a visually rich format to engage your mind, rather than a text-heavy approach that puts you to sleep. Why waste your time struggling with new concepts? This multi-sensory learning experience is designed for the way your brain really works.
639 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 2018
103 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 3, 2019
Head First Learn To Code is a book by Eric Freeman that attempts to teach you how to write programs in Python, specifically Python 3.6. It is one of those books that has you participate in exercises and write in the book itself. This is something that I am even more leery of doing than usual since it is a library book.
Coding and Programming take an effort to do. You aren’t just going to pick up a book and be a programming wizard overnight. However, this book can help you along your way by providing you with techniques and methods to keep the information in your memory.
With that goal in mind, the book is quite entertaining. It has plenty of little pictures and images to aid memory and to keep the material fresh. The brain craves new information, this is directly from our days on the Savannah of Africa. People that didn’t see the predator didn’t live very long. However, now we live in a position that affords us the top rank of the food chain.
The book treats programs as a recipe that tells the computer what to do. This is a pertinent comparison. As many programmers and others have said; Garbage in, Garbage out. You might have heard this rule before, but it is appropriate for computers in particular. Computers aren’t magical machines, they follow set patterns and ironclad rules. All they do is compare and add numbers really fast.
Anyway, off the soapbox I go. If you want to learn the basics of programming, this book is a great place to start. It promotes involvement in the coding process and has a number of projects to take part in culminating in programming a game. It would probably be way better if I had more time with this book, but my library only has a take-out period of three weeks. Now, a little caveat. If you are a skilled programmer or know a great deal already, this book probably isn’t for you. It breaks down everything and this might be annoying if you are really familiar with coding and programming.
Coding and Programming take an effort to do. You aren’t just going to pick up a book and be a programming wizard overnight. However, this book can help you along your way by providing you with techniques and methods to keep the information in your memory.
With that goal in mind, the book is quite entertaining. It has plenty of little pictures and images to aid memory and to keep the material fresh. The brain craves new information, this is directly from our days on the Savannah of Africa. People that didn’t see the predator didn’t live very long. However, now we live in a position that affords us the top rank of the food chain.
The book treats programs as a recipe that tells the computer what to do. This is a pertinent comparison. As many programmers and others have said; Garbage in, Garbage out. You might have heard this rule before, but it is appropriate for computers in particular. Computers aren’t magical machines, they follow set patterns and ironclad rules. All they do is compare and add numbers really fast.
Anyway, off the soapbox I go. If you want to learn the basics of programming, this book is a great place to start. It promotes involvement in the coding process and has a number of projects to take part in culminating in programming a game. It would probably be way better if I had more time with this book, but my library only has a take-out period of three weeks. Now, a little caveat. If you are a skilled programmer or know a great deal already, this book probably isn’t for you. It breaks down everything and this might be annoying if you are really familiar with coding and programming.
January 8, 2022
Good book for learning to code from scratch, takes you from 0 to someone who knows all basic programming concepts, prepares you well for more advanced concepts like object oriented programming.
October 26, 2020
A real step-by-step. Fun to read. Easy to follow.
Specially suggested to those who think coding is not for them.
Specially suggested to those who think coding is not for them.
March 18, 2023
It's Thinking Time
Firstly, the book is not just a dry technical manual, but it is written in a fun and engaging way that keeps the reader interested and motivated. Freeman's writing style is clear, concise and never boring, which is a rare feat for a technical book.
One of the best things about this book is that it takes a "learn by doing" approach. Instead of just reading about programming concepts, the reader gets hands-on experience with coding exercises and activities. This helps the reader to really understand the concepts and see how they are applied in real-world situations.
The illustrations and diagrams in the book are also a great feature. They help to simplify complex topics and make them easier to understand. Freeman has done an excellent job of making technical concepts accessible and approachable, which is especially helpful for beginners.
Moreover, the book covers not only programming languages, but also computational thinking, which is a crucial skill for any programmer. This means that readers not only learn how to code, but also learn how to approach and solve problems in a logical and structured way.
Overall, this is an excellent book for anyone who wants to start coding or teach coding to others. It's well-written, engaging, and provides a solid foundation for learning programming concepts. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to get started in coding.
An outstanding resource for new coders, but could perhaps go into more detail on some topics.
As I am learning how to teach youth to code, this was a great book for me.
4.4/5
Firstly, the book is not just a dry technical manual, but it is written in a fun and engaging way that keeps the reader interested and motivated. Freeman's writing style is clear, concise and never boring, which is a rare feat for a technical book.
One of the best things about this book is that it takes a "learn by doing" approach. Instead of just reading about programming concepts, the reader gets hands-on experience with coding exercises and activities. This helps the reader to really understand the concepts and see how they are applied in real-world situations.
The illustrations and diagrams in the book are also a great feature. They help to simplify complex topics and make them easier to understand. Freeman has done an excellent job of making technical concepts accessible and approachable, which is especially helpful for beginners.
Moreover, the book covers not only programming languages, but also computational thinking, which is a crucial skill for any programmer. This means that readers not only learn how to code, but also learn how to approach and solve problems in a logical and structured way.
Overall, this is an excellent book for anyone who wants to start coding or teach coding to others. It's well-written, engaging, and provides a solid foundation for learning programming concepts. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to get started in coding.
An outstanding resource for new coders, but could perhaps go into more detail on some topics.
As I am learning how to teach youth to code, this was a great book for me.
4.4/5
April 11, 2021
کتابی جذاب برای یادگیری کدنویسی و روش تفکر محاسباتی. کتاب قدم به قدم، در کنار آموزش مقدماتی برنامه نویسی به زبان پایتون، روش حل مسئله و شکستن آن به مسائل کوچک و حل اونها رو یاد می ده. کتاب بسیار با حوصله و مفصل هر موضوعی رو توضیح داده و سعی کرده همه ابعاد موضوع رو شفاف کنه. و همین مسئله کتاب رو به شکل یک کتاب خودخوان درآورده. البته برای کسی که فضای برنامهنویسی دور بوده شاید کمی توضیح باعث تسریع یادگیری بشه.
هر فصل یک مبحث برنامه نویسی و در کنار اون یک مسئله برای حل کردن رو مطرح می کنه. این مسائل گاهی به شکل داستان یک پروژه کاری ارائه میشه و گاه به شکل یک بازی. دو نمونه از مثال های جالب کتاب، مسئله میزان پیچیدگی یک متن و مسئله شبیه سازی Conway's Game of Life بود. همین روایت داستان گونه به شدت از خشکی و خسته کنندگی معمول کتب آموزشی برنامهنویسی، کم کرده و حتی ایجاد کشش و کنجکاوی کرده. در بین مطالب، به پرسش و پاسخهایی برمیخوریم که بسیار کاربردی و مفید هستند. همچنین در انتهای هر فصل، پاسخ تمرین ها داده شده.
اگر دانش برنامه نویسی ندارید و تمایل دارین به صورت خودخوان، به این مهارت دست پیدا کنید، این کتاب، سرنخهای خوبی به شما می ده.
هر فصل یک مبحث برنامه نویسی و در کنار اون یک مسئله برای حل کردن رو مطرح می کنه. این مسائل گاهی به شکل داستان یک پروژه کاری ارائه میشه و گاه به شکل یک بازی. دو نمونه از مثال های جالب کتاب، مسئله میزان پیچیدگی یک متن و مسئله شبیه سازی Conway's Game of Life بود. همین روایت داستان گونه به شدت از خشکی و خسته کنندگی معمول کتب آموزشی برنامهنویسی، کم کرده و حتی ایجاد کشش و کنجکاوی کرده. در بین مطالب، به پرسش و پاسخهایی برمیخوریم که بسیار کاربردی و مفید هستند. همچنین در انتهای هر فصل، پاسخ تمرین ها داده شده.
اگر دانش برنامه نویسی ندارید و تمایل دارین به صورت خودخوان، به این مهارت دست پیدا کنید، این کتاب، سرنخهای خوبی به شما می ده.
April 20, 2021
این کتاب رو در حالی خوندم که قبلش یه کتاب مقدماتی دیگه از مجموعه هد فرست برای یادگیری برنامه نویسی خونده بودم. و البته، این کتاب رو هم مثل قبلی با کمک یه معلم خوندم. کلا این مجموعه رو خیلی دوست دارم و فکر میکنم کتاب خیلی خوبیه برای یادگیری برنامه نویسی مخصوصا به حالت خود خوان، اما این کتاب به نسبت اون یکی کتاب (الان اسمش رو یادم نمیاد:)) ) سختر تر بود برام. همچنان از کلی مثال و قصه گویی استفاده کرده بود اما کمتر و به طور کلی یادگیری مباحث این کتاب از کتاب قبلی برام چالش برانگیزتر بود. با اینکه هردوی این کتاب ها برای اشنایی مقدماتی با برنامه نویسی هستن و به زبان پایتون برنامه نویسی رو یاد میدن، اما تا حد زیادی مباحث مختلفی رو پوشش میدن که هم پوشانی کمی دارن. برای همین توصیه میکنم اول اون یکی کتاب رو بخونین و بعد سراغ این بیاین. اولاش یکم تکراری میشه اما برای تثبیت بهتر تمرین خوبیه.
March 16, 2020
"there are no Dumb Questions"
الحمدلله..
الحمدلله..
October 8, 2023
I would highly recommend this book to anyone just getting started in programming. I have used many different books and online courses and must say that this book had the greatest impact on my understanding and thought processes as a programmer. It lays a foundation you will likely reference throughout your programming journey. Fantastic book that I cannot recommend enough!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews