Learn to Program: Online course to teach you how to become a programmer using Python – Starting August

Do you want to learn how to program? Programmers make the web go round. You wouldn’t be reading this page or have a website like Google or Facebook to surf without the genius of programmers. Here is an opportunity for you to learn how to program, starting from the fundamentals.

This University of Toronto, through Coursera will be offering a free online course – Learn to Program, starting August 19^th, to teach you the fundamental building blocks of programming and how to write fun and useful programs using Python Language.

Watch the Introductory Video


Start Date
The 7 weeks long course will start on August 19th 2013

Who the course is for?
This course is intended for people who have never seen a computer program. It will give you a better understanding of how computer applications work and teach you how to write your own applications. More importantly, you’ll start to learn computational thinking, which is a fundamental approach to solving real-world problems.

Computer programming languages share common fundamental concepts, and this course will introduce you to those concepts using the Python programming language. By the end of this course, you will be able to write your own programs to process data from the web and create interactive text-based games.

Recommended Background
This course is intended for people who have never programmed before.  Knowledge of grade school mathematics is necessary: you need to be comfortable with simple mathematical equations, including operator precedence. You should also be comfortable working with simple functions, such as f(x) = x + 5.

Course Format
The class consists of 1 to 2 hours of lecture each week, which are made up of videos that are generally shorter than 10 minutes each. Each video contains integrated quiz questions. There are also weekly standalone exercises that are not part of the video lectures and a (non-optional) final exam.
To learn more about this course and to sign up visit the Program webpage
The course will start on Aug 19th 2013 and you will be notified if you sign up, just before then to remind you when class will begin.

If you have basic background knowledge of Python and object-oriented programming (OOC) and want to see how the language can be used for web-specific projects, take this course on Web Programming with Python.

In and out of Virtual Offices

Many technological advances that took place during the 1980s revolutionized the way that Americans and indead the world, work in their offices. The traditional equipment that had existed for decades consisted of typewriters and traditional telephone systems.
During the technological revolution of that decade, these machines were replaced with computers and technologically advanced telephones that allowed people to send voice messages and data to coworkers. Just as the world were getting used to the new technologies, a new trend started to emerge, and it threatened to end the traditional concept of an office. The concept of the virtual office has its origins in a time when large companies with offices through out the America, Europe, and some parts of Africa implemented changes that allowed them to function in a more cohesive way.
Organizational development was a goal pursued by many companies in the field of airlines, banking and finance.
This large firms wanted both clients and workers to have access to information, regardless of their location.

with the widespread use of fax, telephone, and computers, employees were able to work on the same project even if they were thousands of miles away from each other. With the introduction of high-speed Internet connections, employees can now access documents and information quickly from anywhere in the world.

Result of Virtual Office

The succes of this type of organizational style has led many smaller companies to follow the example of the larger institutions.
As office space become more expensive to rent, some executives realized that they could save money if they asked their employees to work out of their own homes. Initially, many people thought the idea was too radical. After all, employees and executives were used to a daily trip to an office where they would work regardless of productivity.
Until recently, few people could imagine having an office that had no predetermined physical space.

What is needed for a successful virtual office

Naturally, there are certain elements that are necessary to have a successful virtual office.
1. Must have a computer at home with access to the company's network. The connection to the company's network makes it possible to send and receive information to colleagues regardless of where they are.
2. Having access to high-speed Internet. It is possible to have phone or Internet conferences with live image with other employees.
Technnology also allows employees to communicate with other companies at a worldwide level. Companies and employees use the Internet to advertise or sell products and to obtain information about any subject.
It is essential to have a sophisticated telephone system in order to establish a successful virtual office.

Virtual offices its high and low

Unfortunately, the virtual office is ony applicable to a limited number of professions. However, it has proven to be a successful organizational model for many companies that offer financial or legal services or those companies that specialize in publishing or sales.
The virtual office seems to benefit both the company and the employee. The cost of this office is very reasonable, because most companies and individuals tha have adopted this type of organization already owned the necessary technology. Addtionally, many firms have benefited from a lower employee absentee rate.

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It is difficult to find an explanation for this, but many experts believe that employees devote more time to work in a virtual office because they are happier in their environment. Because employees do not have to spend so much time traveling to and from work, they are better able to enjoy their free time.
Although the virtual office is still an exception to the rule, it is an organizational system that many companies are considering. If this trend continues, there will be more employees who will find themselves working in a similar environment.