Enrolling in CIS 206: Applied Programming at Harper College was a great decision for leveling up my skills in software development. This course was a deep dive into programming logic, structure, and application development using Python—although we had the flexibility to work with Java, JavaScript, or C# if we wanted to.
The course was fully online and asynchronous, which gave me the freedom to work through real-world programming challenges on my own schedule. Each week introduced a new concept—from data types, conditions, and loops, to more advanced topics like object-oriented programming, file handling, and using databases and APIs. We also explored tools like GitHub for version control and used IDEs like VS Code and PyCharm for coding.
What I appreciated most about this course was the hands-on nature of the assignments. I completed over a dozen coding challenges, participated in group projects, and built scripts that solved real problems—like working with files, performing error handling, and creating user-defined classes. The group work helped simulate how developers collaborate in the real world, and the final project brought everything together into a polished program.
We were also encouraged to think like problem-solvers—developing algorithms, testing our code, and debugging efficiently. Between quizzes, discussion posts, and the midterm and final exams, I gained confidence in writing clean, reusable, and well-documented code.
Overall, CIS 206 was a strong foundational course that not only solidified my Python skills but also gave me the mindset and technical habits of a professional developer. I’m excited to build on what I’ve learned in future courses and projects.
