Question

Although the latest python tutorial videos are from 2011, is still up to date in 2015? Do I need a patch to be current? Or, how may I update?

Answer 1

I looked at the website:
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-189-a-gentle-introduction-to-programming-using-python-january-iap-2011/lectures/

They say in the introduction document that it's targeted at python 2.6 and recommend working with that version.
There is now python 2.7 (besides python 3 which can be considered as a parallel branch, both python 2 and python 3 are being actively developed at the moment)
However, from what I've seen by looking at the list of lectures it doesn't seem they use any libraries or advanced topics. They just cover the basics of python itself, so I do not see any reason that it wouldn't be all relevant for python 2.7 as well.
Python 3 has some significant changes over python 2, but when it comes to the basics it's mostly the same. You can look for the major differences between python 3 and python 2 and try it out as well, you would see it's not so different after all

Answer 2

The class is not about learning python. It is about learning the basics of computer science. To be honest, they could do it with GW Basic and really, really old virtual machines and you would learn the key concepts still. However, using a more modern language allows it to be more directly applied.

The 2.x line of Python will not be dying anytime soon. There are tons of things that still use it. Also, 90% of Python 2.x translates directly to 3.x. In the parts that do not there are a few changes, not many, and several additions. It is simple enough to learn the additions and it is not bad to learn about both the old and new parts of the changes.

If you look at these two things together, it is clear that there is nothing wrong with the course. In fact, there is nothing wrong with the older version. There is even nothing wrong with much older classes that have the same goal of teaching the basics of computer science.

Answer 3

I agree with mccormick that the basics of computer science are as relevant now as they've been then.
I'd still suggest paying attention to the practical differences in the versions, it will make your life easier.