CS Quest - Coding Adventures
Interactive Computer Science Mini-Lessons for Beginners
๐ Welcome to CS Quest!
Embark on an exciting journey through the world of computer science. Each quest is a 5-minute adventure that teaches you something amazing about coding!
๐ฏ What is CS Quest?
CS Quest is a collection of interactive mini-lessons designed to make learning computer science fun, engaging, and hands-on. Each quest takes about 5 minutes and includes:
- ๐ An exciting story or scenario
- ๐ก Clear explanations with examples
- ๐ฎ Interactive challenges and puzzles
- ๐จโ๐ป Python code you can edit and run
- โ Solutions to check your work
These lessons are perfect for beginners who want to learn the basics of programming, as well as for anyone looking to refresh their coding skills in a fun way! Questions and feedback are always welcome!
- Contact: Oliver Bonham-Carter
- Email: obonhamcarter at allegheny.edu
- website: https://www.oliverbonhamcarter.com
- Allegheny College: Department of Computer and Information Science
- website: https://cs.allegheny.edu
โญ Three Ways to Code Interactively
Choose your preferred coding environment:
- ๐ On Lesson Pages - Edit and run code directly in each lesson
- ๐ JupyterLite - Full Jupyter environment in your browser (Launch Now โ)
- ๐ฅ Download Notebooks - Use in local Jupyter or Google Colab
๐ New to Computer Science?
๐ Visiting from a College Fair? Start here to learn what CS is all about!
For Prospective Students
๐ What is CS?
Discover what Computer Science really is (itโs more than coding!).
๐ผ Why Study CS?
Learn about amazing careers and opportunities in tech.
๐ฎ Try It Now!
Write your first code in 30 secondsโno experience needed!
๐ฏ Major vs Minor
Compare CS programs and find your perfect fit.
Or jump straight to: College Fair Welcome Page โ
๐ก ๐บ๏ธ Your Quest Map
๐ Quest 1: Variables
Your Coding Backpack
Learn how to store and use information in your programs. Variables are like labeled containers that hold your data!
๐ท Quest 2: Data Types
Shapes of Information
Discover the different types of data you can work with: numbers, text, and more!
๐ค๏ธ Quest 3: Conditionals
Choose Your Path
Make your programs smart by teaching them to make decisions with if/else statements.
๐ Quest 4: Loops
The Power of Repetition
Why write the same code 100 times when you can use a loop? Master the art of repetition!
๐ Quest 5: Lists
Collecting Treasures
Learn to organize multiple items in a single collection. Lists are like treasure chests for your data!
โจ Quest 6: Functions
Magic Spells
Create reusable code โspellsโ that you can cast whenever you need them!
๐๏ธ Quest 7: Dictionaries
The Key Keeper
Store data in key-value pairs for quick lookups. Dictionaries are like super-smart phonebooks!
๐ Quest 8: Fibonacci
The Golden Sequence
Explore one of natureโs most beautiful patterns through code!
๐ Quest 9: Sorting
Organizing Chaos
Learn how computers put things in order, from smallest to largest!
๐ฒ Quest 10: Number Game
Can You Guess It?
Build your first interactive game! Test your luck and logic.
๐ Quest 11: Recursion
The Echo Chamber
Discover the mind-bending concept of functions that call themselves!
โก Quest 12: Big O
Speed Matters
Learn why some code is faster than others and how to measure efficiency!
๐ Quest 13: Iterative Loops
Journey vs Destination
Master the differences between for and while loops, and learn when to use each!
โจ Quest 14: Functions Part 2
Non-Returning Functions
Learn about functions that perform actions without returning values!
๐ Quest 15: Functions Part 3
Pure Functions & Return Values
Master writing functions that compute and return results!
โก Quest 16: Lambda Functions
Quick Incantations
Discover one-line anonymous functions for elegant, concise code!
๐ฑ Access on Your Phone!
Each quest has a unique QR code that you can scan with your phone to access the lesson anywhere, anytime! Ask your instructor for the QR code collection.
๐ Ready to Start?
Pick any quest that interests you, or start from Quest 1 and work your way through. Thereโs no right or wrong way to learnโjust have fun and keep coding!
๐ก Pro Tip: Each quest is independent, so you can jump around based on what interests you most. But if youโre brand new to coding, starting from Quest 1 is a great idea!
Happy Coding! May your bugs be few and your solutions elegant. โจ๐โจ