UDACITY - Intro to Programming Nanodegree v3.0.0 Part-1

The Udacity Intro to Programming Nanodegree was the primary course on my measuring system after I set i used to be aiming to teach myself programming. I had taken Udacity’s CS101 standalone course antecedently, and I’d had a really positive expertise. The Nanodegree was obtaining systematically positive reviews. The content breadth ANd depth gave the impression to be excellent for what i used to be searching for in an introductory program. It appeared like the proper match.

The introductory video to the Intro to Programming Nanodegree.

Program summary

This Nanodegree, like all Nanodegrees, could be a curation of Udacity’s best courses arranged  move into a logical order. My edition of the Intro to Programming Nanodegree was broken into 5 necessary stages, with a project bookending every stage.

Stage zero (optional): a small amount of markup language (project).

Stage 1: additional markup language and CSS (project).

Stage 2: Python and general programming ideas (strings, variables, loops, etc.) (project).

Stage 3: categories, functions, abstraction, and dealing with pre-existing code (project).

Stage 4: Back-end programming, databases, and guide engines (project).

Stage 5: a small amount of JavaScript, APIs, formula and parallel computing, finding huge programming issues, and responsive internet style (project).

Instead of hour-long lectures, Udacity breaks their courses down into a bunch of mini-lessons. The overwhelming majority of videos square measure beneath 5 minutes and square measure followed by multiple-choice and code quizzes. comes square measure ranked by Udacity’s Project Reviewers.

A video from stage a pair of of the Nanodegree.

Note: stages four and five were revamped in Feb 2016. In stage 4, you currently learn a small amount regarding in style school roles (e.g. front-end/back-end/mobile programming, knowledge analysis, and so on), and in stage five you are doing a deeper dive into one in every of those roles.

Other note: you'll be able to read the code that generated the above-linked comes during this GitHub repository.

Does The Program Accomplish Its Goals?

One of the primary videos (this one isn’t on the market to the public) you watch within the program references four stages of expertise: content, awareness, ability, and fluency. The program aims to urge students to the notice and talent stages.

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A screenshot from the welcome package of the Nanodegree.

Here’s a quote from the programme director, Andy Brown, in this video (I’m presumptuous Udacity is okay with ME sharing this paywalled clip during this context).

You’re aiming to see tons of latest topics and new ideas during this Nanodegree. as a result of you’re aiming to see such a lot of, it means that we’re simply not aiming to be able to concentrate on exploit fluency. Fluency typically takes a extremely while to amass, in even one factor.

So instead, the goal goes to be to urge to ability within the most vital topics that square measure basic throughout programming. additionally, you’re aiming to gain awareness of the many topics. Through this mixture of awareness and talent, you’re aiming to have the abilities to try and do superb things, furthermore because the understanding of what you wish to try and do next reckoning on your own personal goals. 

Prior to enrolling, I knew next to zilch regarding programming. i'm currently assured that I will truly do things with my new ability. i used to be additionally created attentive to potential programming ways, was given an opportunity to make your mind up if they interest ME, and was shown however I will approach following them. For me, the Nanodegree accomplished its goals.

Timeline

Udacity says it takes students one hundred ninety hours on the average to finish the program. It took ME 189 hours over a pair of.5 months, as tracked  by Toggl. you'll be able to undoubtedly complete the program quicker than that if you rush through the comes a touch bit. I dedicated a good quantity of your time attempting to create my comes additional esthetically pleasing than they required to be to receive a passing grade.

You can take the courses for gratis, however you won’t have access to the curated content, the forums, project reviews, one-on-one work, and therefore the certificate. Below square measure some thoughts on the utility of those options.

Curated content: The curated content unbroken the program crisp and was nice to possess, however there's a free workaround.

Forums: I used the forums tons, particularly after I saw bugs in my comes. They were typically additional helpful than StackOverflow forums (and different Google-able forums) as a result of students typically perceived to run into constant bugs. Udacity instructors were additionally fast on the trigger in responding to posts, typically among a couple of hours.

Project reviews: terribly helpful. Reviews would typically are available in a couple of hours when project submission. The correction of mistakes and the support that you just do sensible work is a crucial a part of the training method. Reviewers additionally counsel ways in which within which to boost your code, albeit it’s “just” rhetorical enhancements.

One-on-one work: I didn’t use the one-on-one coaching for this Nanodegree, however I most likely can for additional complicated ones.

Certificate: The certificate is good to possess, however most likely not that helpful.

So, the solution to the present question can vary reckoning on the goals of the scholar.

Upbeat, hospitable Learning setting

The general quality of the program’s instructors is incredibly noticeable and it's awe-inspiring. The company’s upbeat, hospitable learning setting could be a major reason why i'm projected with Udacity as my main supply of on-line education.

Intro To Programing Nanodegree Instructors

Three of the Nanodegree’s instructors. From high to bottom: Kunal Chawla, Jessica Uelmen, and Cameron Pittman.

Udacity corporate executive Sebastian Thrun’s trade connections square measure evident furthermore. There square measure cameos from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, reddit co-founder Steve Huffman, Google Director of analysis Peter Norvig, and Junior (Stanford’s self-driving car) — to not forget a anaglyph from Sebastian himself.

What I Didn’t Like

Honestly, not much. The workplace hours were meh. These were 45–60 minute pre-recorded webcasts diode by a couple of Udacity coaches that occurred a couple of times for every stage of the Nanodegree. there have been typically a couple of key insights in every webcast; but, it absolutely was tough to see that elements I may safely drop. I all over up wasting an honest quantity of your time on things that I didn’t got to watch.

Closing Thoughts

This program could be a nice fit  those that recognize they might wish to pursue programming, however square measure unsure of that discipline to focus on.

One factor to note: this Nanodegree teaches you programming, not engineering science. there's a distinction that beginners might not be acutely attentive to before they begin the program.

Probably the foremost vital factor you permit this Nanodegree with is that the ability to assume sort of a computer user. The instructors repeatedly come to the 5 ways of thinking within the screenshot below.

The terms square measure a small amount jargon-y, however all they mean is that you just are going to be able to solve issues in a very structured and economical manner. This ability is vital in programming, furthermore as in different areas of life.