Programming 103: Saving and Structuring Data
Learn how to save and structure data in external files, and import files back into your Python programs. Supported by Google.
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
2 hours
Programming 103: Saving and Structuring Data
Discover how to save data to use it across multiple runs of your program
On this course, you will learn how to save text and binary files, and how to structure data so that programs can interpret it correctly.
You will explore various common types of structured files, including CSV and JSON, and also find out how to connect to a SQL database to use it in your Python programs.
Syllabus
Week 1
Persistent Data
Welcome to the course
Welcome to Programme 103: Saving and Structuring Data!
Reading and writing to files
Learn about reading and writing to files.
Creating a high score for a game
Learn how data persistence is key to many different applications.
End of Week 1
Congratulations on completing Week 1 of the course!
Week 2
Structuring data
Welcome to Week 2
Welcome to Week 2!
Structuring Data
Learn how to structure data.
Saving game progress
Learn how to use structured data to persist information.
Data validation
Learn about the importance of data validation in programming.
End of week 2
Congratulations on completing Week 2 of the course!
Week 3
Interacting with databases
Welcome to Week 3
Welcome to your third week of Programming 103: Saving and Structuring Data!
Python and databases
Learn about interacting with databases using Python
Make a battle card game
Learn how to make your own battle card game.
End of the course
Congratulations on completing the course!
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and learn at your own pace. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Demonstrate how to use Python to store and retrieve persistent data
- Describe the importance of data persistence and where it is used
- Compare different types of structured data
- Modify a program to store data in a JSON file
- Perform operations on a database using SQL statements
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for those who have a little Python experience and are comfortable using functions with parameters–as covered in our Programming 102 course. Please note: screengrabs and recorded screencasts are key elements of this course.
What do people say about this course?
You make it all seem so easy.
"Another great course. You make it all seem so easy and you make it a lot easier for me to explain all this to my students. Thank you"
Who will you learn with?
Eirini is a Learning Manager at Raspberry Pi. An ex-teacher and marketing person, she cares about getting more girls into Computing. She loves the outdoors; dancing, swimming and walking in nature.
Who developed the course?
Raspberry Pi Foundation
The Raspberry Pi Foundation works to put the power of digital making into the hands of people all over the world, so they are capable of understanding and shaping our increasingly digital world.
National Centre for Computing Education
This course is part of our professional development teacher programme for the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE). Our nationally-recognised certificates cater for all levels of teaching.
Funded by the Department for Education and supporting partners, we aim to transform the way computing is taught in schools across England, and enable more young people to benefit from studying this important subject.
Endorsers and supporters
supported by
| Recommended | ||
Ways to learn | Upgrade this course | Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
Choose the best way to learn for you! | $44 | $15.83/month Billed at $189.99 for a year |
| Learners who upgrade are 5x as likely to complete the course!* | Endless possibilities! | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick |
| Access to ALL eligible short courses with additional benefits, for a year | cross | tick |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only |
Ways to learn
Upgrade this course for extra benefits, or buy Unlimited to access this course and hundreds of other short courses for a year. Or, join this course with free basic access, limited to 5 weeks (excludes certificates).
Upgrade this course
$44
Learners who upgrade are 5x as likely to complete the course!*
- Access to this course
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Unlimited
$15.83/month
Billed at $189.99 for a year
Endless possibilities!
- Access to this course
- Access to ALL eligible short courses with additional benefits, for a year
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Basic access
Free
Try before you buy
- Limited access to course content for 5 weeks
Find out more about certificates, Upgrades or Unlimited.
Sale price available until 6 December 2021 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
Join this course for free with basic access. Access to this course only limited to 5 weeks. Excludes certificates.
*FutureLearn considers a short course complete when a learner has engaged with 90% of the content. For enrolments to short courses with the possibility of Upgrade in the year of 2020, enrolments with an Upgrade are completed 5.31 times as often as enrolments with basic access
*FutureLearn considers a short course complete when a learner has engaged with 90% of the content. For enrolments to short courses with the possibility of Upgrade in the year of 2020, enrolments with an Upgrade are completed 5.31 times as often as enrolments with basic access
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps, but you can complete them as quickly or slowly as you like
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
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