Podcasts by Category
Teaching Python is a podcast about Python programming, computer science education, AI literacy, software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data, and how people learn technical skills. Hosted by Kelly Schuster-Paredes, Sean Tibor, and Julian Sequeira, the show is for educators, developers, technology leaders, and lifelong learners who want to better understand how Python connects to the wider world of computing. Episodes explore not only how people learn to code, but also how they build technical judgment, understand systems, evaluate AI-generated code, work with data, think about security, and move from beginner programming into real-world software development. About the Hosts Kelly Schuster-Paredes is a teacher who codes whose work has expanded from classroom computer science into AI strategy, curriculum design, professional learning, educational technology, and responsible technology adoption. Her background in Python and computer science education shapes her focus on learning, AI literacy, computational thinking, and what people need to understand in an AI-shaped world. Sean Tibor is Vice President of Infrastructure and Cloud at Pfizer and a former computer science teacher. He brings expertise in cloud computing, infrastructure, engineering operations, and technical leadership, connecting what people learn about computing with how large-scale systems are actually built, operated, secured, and maintained. Julian Sequiera is a technologist, Fractional CTO, and Senior Program Manager with more than 20 years of experience in infrastructure, cloud, engineering operations, and large-scale technology programs. He is also the co-founder of PyBites, a Python learning platform and community that has helped thousands of developers improve their Python and software development skills. What We Cover Python Programming and Computer Science Education: Learning Python, teaching programming, computational thinking, debugging, code literacy, and helping beginners build strong mental models. AI and AI Literacy: AI-assisted programming, evaluating AI-generated code, responsible AI use, human judgment, and what learners still need to understand when AI can produce code. Cloud, Infrastructure, and Cybersecurity: Systems, networks, deployment, security, reliability, architecture, and the operational side of software. Data and Software Engineering: APIs, databases, testing, maintainability, version control, software design, and moving from simple scripts to real-world applications. Learning and Technical Growth: How people learn difficult technical concepts, get unstuck, build confidence, and develop the judgment needed to use technology well. Expert Interviews: Conversations with educators, developers, engineers, researchers, technology leaders, and others shaping the future of computing and technical education. Teaching Python remains grounded in Python, but the conversation extends beyond syntax. The podcast explores the knowledge, skills, systems, and judgment people need to learn, build, and make responsible decisions with technology.
- 165 - Episode 164: The Science of Remembering
How much of what we learn do we actually remember? And what if one of the most effective ways to learn is to regularly challenge ourselves to recall what we already know?
In episode 164 of Teaching Python, Kelly Schuster-Paredes and Julian Sequeira welcome Python educator and Python Morsels creator Trey Hunner to explore the testing effect, retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and interleaving. Trey shares how learning the countries of the world through his geography app, Whereabouts.Earth, helped shape Daily Recall, a spaced repetition learning system for Python programmers.
The conversation goes beyond remembering the right answer to ask whether we understand what we know. Are we recalling a concept or recognizing the shape of a familiar question? Can we apply what we have practiced when the context changes? From Duolingo to Python exercises, the hosts explore why recall needs to work alongside mental models and practical experience, and why learning that feels harder can be more useful over time.
They also examine what this means when AI can generate code for us. Trey, Kelly, and Julian discuss the difference between learning something deeply and getting a task done, how much understanding we need to evaluate AI-generated work, and why foundational knowledge still matters for making informed decisions.
Show Links
Python Morsels
Jev for Beginners
Pilots still practice
Linus writes code with AISpecial Guest: Trey Hunner.
Fri, 16 Oct 2026 - 57min - 164 - Episode 163: How Do You Find Time to Keep Learning?
How do you keep learning when there never seems to be enough time?
The answer may be less about finding more time and more about building learning into the way you already work, solve problems, use AI, and connect with other people.
In Episode 163 of the Teaching Python Podcast, Sean Tibor, Kelly Schuster-Paredes, and Julian Sequeira discuss how they keep learning in a technology landscape shaped by rapid changes in AI, software development, and computing.
They compare practical approaches to continuous learning, including building projects, using commutes and downtime, scheduling dedicated learning time, asking ChatGPT and Claude questions as they come up, watching webinars, reading, experimenting with new tools, and learning from professional networks.
The conversation also explores what happens when you need to learn something you are not naturally interested in. They discuss adult learning, desirable difficulty, just-in-time learning, recursive learning, and why struggling with unfamiliar ideas can still be valuable even when AI can explain concepts instantly.
Along the way, they talk about vibe coding, AI as a learning partner, professional development, technical communities, balancing creation and consumption, and setting boundaries so that continuous learning does not become constant burnout.
If you are trying to keep up with AI, learn new technology, or continue developing technical skills without turning every spare moment into work, this episode offers a practical look at how learning can become part of everyday life.
Fri, 02 Oct 2026 - 52min - 163 - Episode 162: What Does “Teaching Python” Mean in 2026?
What does teaching Python mean in 2026, when AI can generate code and programming sits inside a much larger computing landscape? Teaching Python started as a podcast about teaching programming in the classroom, but both the hosts and the world around Python have changed.
In this episode, Kelly and Julian reflect on how Python education now connects with AI, data, cybersecurity, cloud computing, software engineering, systems thinking, and automation. They discuss how their own roles have evolved from teacher, coder, and technologist into work that crosses disciplines, and why understanding technology now requires more than simply learning how to write code.
The conversation explores why learning Python still matters in the age of AI-generated code, why reading, debugging, evaluating, testing, and modifying code may be more important than ever, and how teachers and learners can build the judgment needed to work with increasingly capable AI tools.
Python is still here. But teaching Python in 2026 is increasingly about how people learn, build, reason, and make decisions with technology.
Sat, 19 Sep 2026 - 29min - 162 - Episode 161: Teaching Hard Things Simply
In this episode of Teaching Python, Kelly and Julian welcome IBM Distinguished Engineer Jeff Crume to talk about teaching hard things simply.
The conversation begins with Jeff’s short, visually driven videos and the studio setup behind them, including the lightboard format, the editing process, and the amount of planning needed to turn a 15-minute explanation into something clear and usable.
They then turn to the challenge of explaining complex ideas in a way that fits the audience. Jeff describes how he chooses topics from his work with clients, why he thinks teaching deepens his own understanding, and how he adapts for YouTube, classrooms, and conference talks. He emphasizes brevity, structure, and using visuals so viewers are not faced with a talking head and a blank background.
A major part of the discussion focuses on AI, the humanities, and education. Jeff explains why he believes the humanities are essential for understanding meaning, purpose, truth, and context, and why those questions matter when using AI. He argues that AI should be treated as a tool to augment learning rather than something to exclude from classrooms.
The conversation also covers cybersecurity and practical AI risks. Jeff discusses passwords versus passkeys, phishing, public chatbots, data privacy, cloud services, and the security concerns around agents and connected tools. He argues for private instances, stronger security practices, and doing security earlier in the process.
Near the end, Jeff highlights communication, curiosity, and critical thinking as key skills for students. He also points listeners to IBM SkillsBuild and Coursera for training, and closes by encouraging lifelong learning in a fast-changing field.
Special Guest: Jeff Crume.
Fri, 07 Aug 2026 - 1h 03min - 161 - Episode 160: Data Science, Math and Python, Oh My!
In this episode, Kelly Schuster-Paredes speaks with Mahmoud Harding about his work in data science education and the way he thinks about teaching Python, R, and statistics. Mahmoud explains that he is the instructional design director at Data Science for Everyone, where the goal is to make data science available to more students and to connect it to meaningful, real-world contexts.
A major part of the conversation focuses on how students learn best through curiosity and project-based work. Mahmoud describes the ADAPT model, including its emphasis on project-based learning and common learning elements, and he argues that students should begin working with their own data early in a course. Kelly and Mahmoud discuss how choosing their own datasets helps students become more engaged, notice mistakes, and ask better questions.
The discussion also compares R and Python as tools for data science. Mahmoud explains that R was designed by statisticians for statistical analysis, while Python became popular as a general-purpose language that later grew into a strong data science ecosystem through libraries like NumPy and pandas. He also describes Jupyter Everywhere, a browser-based notebook environment designed to reduce barriers for schools and allow students to use R or Python without complicated setup.
Later, the conversation turns to judgment, nuance, and the role of data in learning. Mahmoud argues that students need domain knowledge and human judgment to interpret data responsibly, and that data projects can help them develop those skills. Kelly extends this idea to other subjects, suggesting that books, history, and other classroom materials can also be treated as data for analysis and discussion.
The episode closes with Mahmoud sharing ways to connect with him through Data Science for Everyone and with mention of an upcoming Data Science Education K–12 event in Atlanta in February.
Special Guest: Mahmoud Harding.
Thu, 16 Jul 2026 - 1h 00min - 160 - Episode 159: Big Lessons from Small Models with Gwyneth Peña‑Siguenza
What can small language models teach us that the largest AI models cannot?
Kelly and Julian are joined by Microsoft Cloud Advocate Gwyneth Peña-Sigüenza to explore why working with small language models (SLMs) may be one of the best ways to understand AI. Rather than relying on increasingly capable models that hide complexity, Gwyneth argues that constraints build stronger fundamentals. From prompt engineering and context management to deployment and security, SLMs force learners to think more carefully about how AI actually works.
The conversation extends beyond AI models into learning itself. Gwyneth shares her self-taught journey from growing up on a remote farm in Ecuador with limited internet access to becoming a Microsoft Cloud Advocate and creator of the Learn to Cloud platform. Along the way, the group discusses productive struggle, mentorship, cloud engineering, Python, security, and what educators should prioritize as AI becomes part of every student's learning experience.
The episode closes with a thoughtful discussion about AI dependency, judgment, and whether we would actually flip the switch and turn AI off if given the choice.
Show Notes
Wins of the Week
Gwyneth celebrates the New York Knicks reaching the NBA Finals after more than 50 years. Julian shares that he has accepted a new role as a Fractional CTO. Kelly reflects on taking her first real vacation in over a year—and how stepping away from work sparked unexpected ideas.Small Language Models
Why SLMs are valuable teaching tools Learning prompt engineering through constraints Running models locally on everyday hardware When local AI makes sense for classrooms Understanding tokens, context windows, and model limitations Why bigger models can sometimes hide important lessonsLearning Through Constraints
Learning to drive in an old manual pickup truck as a metaphor for learning AI fundamentals Why difficult learning experiences often create lasting understanding Building strong habits before relying on more capable tools Consistency versus constantly chasing the newest resourceSelf-Taught Learning
Growing up without reliable internet in rural Ecuador Downloading YouTube playlists to learn programming offline Developing discipline through limited access The value of repetition and focused practice Why mentorship accelerates learningPython Journey
Transitioning from cloud engineering to Python advocacy Learning Python beyond scripting Discovering what "Pythonic" really means Wrestling with list comprehensions and other advanced syntax Favorite learning resources: Fluent Python Effective PythonLearn to Cloud
Building an open-source cloud engineering curriculum Hands-on labs and automated verification AI-assisted assessment Supporting self-taught learners around the world Creating accessible technical educationCloud, AI, and Security
Deploying AI applications to the cloud Containers, virtual machines, and serverless deployments Why operations and security deserve more classroom attention Introducing secure development practices early The importance of authentication, secrets management, and responsible deploymentTeaching in the AI Era
Helping students understand how AI works instead of simply using it Why productive struggle still matters The changing role of educators Balancing AI assistance with independent thinking Preparing students for a future where AI is always availableFinal Thoughts
AI dependency versus capability Judgment as the skill that matters most Human connection in an AI-driven world Would we actually turn AI off? Finding balance between technological progress and intentional learningMon, 22 Jun 2026 - 56min - 159 - Episode 158: Will Vincent on Django, AI Coding, and Why Fundamentals Still Matter
In this episode, Python Developer Advocate and author Will Vincent joins the hosts to discuss the lasting appeal of Django, changes in how people learn web development, and the ways AI is reshaping software engineering. While modern AI tools can generate working code in seconds, Django's opinionated design and emphasis on maintainability help developers avoid many of the security and architectural problems that often emerge as projects grow.
Drawing on his background as an educator, author, and Developer Advocate at JetBrains, Will shares his perspective on the challenges facing today's developers and computer science students. The conversation touches on "vibe coding," the misconception that a successful prototype automatically translates into a production-ready application, and the increasing burden AI-generated content is placing on open-source maintainers. Will also discusses the rise of specialized AI models, the importance of human trust in technical communities, and why foundational software engineering skills remain valuable despite rapid advances in AI tooling.
Key Topics Covered
Why Django Still Matters
A look at why Django continues to be a strong choice for building production applications, even if it doesn't receive the same level of attention as newer frameworks.The Reality Behind "Vibe Coding"
Exploring the gap between generating code with AI and understanding the systems, tradeoffs, and architecture required to build reliable software.Learning to Program as an Adult
Will reflects on his path from book editing and startup leadership to becoming a self-taught programmer, educator, and author.AI and Programming Education
A discussion about how AI changes the learning process, why fundamentals still matter, and how concepts like music theory can help explain the value of understanding code beneath the surface.The Growing Burden on Open Source
How maintainers are dealing with an influx of low-quality AI-generated issues, pull requests, and content, and what that means for community-driven projects.Local and Specialized AI Models
Why privacy concerns, lower inference costs, and better hardware may drive adoption of smaller, task-focused models rather than ever-larger general systems.Developer Concerns in the AI Era
How engineers are responding to growing pressure from leadership teams eager to adopt AI, and what trends JetBrains is seeing across the developer ecosystem.Resources Mentioned
LearnDjango, Will Vincent's platform for learning Django and web development.
Hello World 5 Different Ways, a Django tutorial that introduces key concepts through practical examples.
Django Chat, the podcast Will co-hosts covering the Django ecosystem and web development.
Django News, a weekly newsletter highlighting updates from the Django community.
JetBrains, the software development company behind tools such as PyCharm and IntelliJ IDEA.Special Guest: Will Vincent.
Wed, 10 Jun 2026 - 1h 12min - 158 - Episode 157: Philip Guo: The Code Runs. But Do You Understand It?
Kelly talks with Philip Guo, creator of Python Tutor, about how the tool helps students trace code and understand programming basics. They also discuss the challenges AI-generated code creates in the classroom and possible ways to support student learning.
*Wins of the Week
*
Philip: Hiring a second undergraduate student for Python Tutor, including one focused on user experience research with K-12 teachers
Kelly: Finishing a year of in-person teacher trainings and reflecting on how far the teachers have come*AI, Coding, and Classroom Understanding
*
Much of the conversation focuses on how AI-generated code affects student learning. Kelly describes using AI code with eighth graders and how difficult it can be for them to understand functions, parameters, returns, and other fundamentals when the code is generated all at once. Philip suggests that tools like Python Tutor may be useful for helping students trace code and understand what is happening behind the scenes.Python Tutor and Possible AI Features
Philip explains that Python Tutor currently visualizes execution and has an AI chat feature that can answer questions about code and errors. They discuss possible future features, including simplified AI-generated examples, alternative execution views that show only the lines actually run, and more guided inline help tied to specific code or variables.
Oral Explanations and Assessment
Kelly describes using a Socratic-style code review with students, where they discuss code aloud in groups. They also talk about using spoken explanations or short oral assessments to check whether students can really explain what code is doing, rather than just copying or prompting AI-generated answers.
Broader Research and “Beyond the Desk”
Philip briefly discusses a new research direction with a PhD student focused on AI support for work beyond the desk, including physical and embodied tasks in science labs and fieldwork. He says this differs from desk-based AI work and involves activities that are harder for current AI systems to support.
**Chapters
**0:25 Python Tutor and AI Learning
1:55 Hiring Help for Python Tutor
4:07 Classroom Wins and AI Reflections
6:11 Teaching Code Through Python Tutor
9:03 AI Code and Student Confusion
14:11 Simplifying Execution Traces
17:19 Functions Are the Hard Part
20:25 Keeping Fundamentals in AI Era
24:25 Socratic Seminars for Code
26:27 Voice-Based Code Thinking
29:27 Learning Beyond Lockdown
36:10 Prompting as a New Skill
36:25 Hardware Troubles and NeoPixels
40:15 Beyond the Code Editor
45:01 New Research on Embodied AI
49:12 PyCon and Community Plans
50:42 Teacher Call to ActionSpecial Guest: Philip Guo.
Sat, 30 May 2026 - 53min - 157 - Episode 156: When Code Leaves the Screen
In this episode of Teaching Python, Kelly Schuster-Paredes and Julian Sequeira are joined by engineer and maker Todd Kurt to discuss what happens when code leaves the screen and starts interacting with the physical world. The conversation centers on CircuitPython, MicroPython, and physical computing, with a focus on how these tools are used in classrooms and maker projects.
Todd explains his background in engineering, web development, and open source hardware, including his work on LED devices and his recent focus on CircuitPython. He describes the differences between CircuitPython and MicroPython, emphasizing that CircuitPython is designed to feel closer to desktop Python and to support teaching, while MicroPython makes more efficiency-focused tradeoffs.
The discussion also covers the practical challenges of hardware-based learning. Todd and the hosts talk about bootloaders, UF2 files, board compatibility, library management, and common mistakes such as using the wrong cable, the wrong board file, or wiring power and ground incorrectly. They note that these issues can make hardware feel frustrating, especially for beginners and teachers preparing classroom kits.
Kelly and Julian share their classroom experiences, including using preloaded boards, NeoPixels, sensors, and simple student-designed projects. They discuss how hardware can support troubleshooting skills, file-system awareness, and persistence, and why students often engage more when they are building something tangible, such as a sensor-based wearable or a small robot.
The episode also includes Todd’s stories about early embedded work, including a costly lab mistake, and his involvement in hardware that contributed to space missions. He closes by describing a compact synthesizer project built around a Raspberry Pi Pico and by noting that he shares work through his website and online accounts.
Special Guest: Tod Kurt.
Sat, 23 May 2026 - 56min - 156 - Episode 155: Hello World is Dead
In this episode, Sean, Kelly, and Julian tackle a provocative question: is the traditional "Hello, World" first program dead? What was once a thrilling moment of agency — telling a computer to do something and watching it respond — now competes with AI assistants, voice interfaces, and tools that can build entire applications from a single prompt.
The conversation dives into the different types of learners Kelly encounters in her classroom: the students who want AI to do everything, the ones who light up when they catch AI writing unused functions, and the old-school coders who just want to write it themselves. Sean shares how he turned a massive org design challenge at work into a Python project with a SQLite database, proving that the best way to learn is still to find a real problem and solve it with code.
Kelly describes her fourth-quarter experiment to create a new "Hello, World" moment for her 8th graders using school-approved AI tools, while Julian raises the important question of whether the real challenge is just showing people that code can solve their problems in the first place. The trio also explores whether AI can strip away the administrative clutter in teaching to let educators focus on what matters: engagement, personalization, and good pedagogy.
The episode wraps with two pieces of news: the PyCon US Education Summit is confirmed for Thursday, May 14th, and Julian Sequeira is officially joining the show as a regular co-host — complete with a live, slightly fumbled first sign-off.
Key Topics
Why "Hello, World" no longer delivers the same dopamine hit for new learners The three types of student responses to AI-assisted coding Using AI to write deterministic code vs. using generative AI for repetitive tasks Sean's Python + SQLite org design tool as a real-world "solve a problem with code" example Kelly's classroom experiments with AI-generated Python apps for 8th graders EarSketch and making music with Python as a reliable engagement tool Whether AI can remove administrative clutter and let teachers focus on pedagogy The concept of "desirable difficulty" in learning Bridging the knowledge gap: helping non-coders see code as a problem-solving option PyCon US Education Summit — May 14, 2026 Julian Sequeira joining as a regular co-hostWins of the Week
Kelly: Bringing two Pine Crest colleagues to PyCon US this year — Chris and Kayla, an aspiring data scientist who is excited to dive into Python and attend the Education Summit.
Julian: His 10-year-old son scored his first basketball basket after multiple seasons of showing up, practicing, and persisting — a nothing-but-net shot that had the entire gym erupting.
Sean: Used Claude to create a comprehensive, interactive study guide from his daughter's 11-page science PDF on water quality — complete with clickable concept maps, pH level visualizations, and chain-of-events diagrams that made 7th-grade science genuinely engaging.
Announcements
PyCon US Education Summit — Thursday, May 14, 2026 in Pittsburgh. Kelly is chairing the summit with 150–200 seats available. Proposals are open and encouraged. Julian Sequeira joins Teaching Python — After almost 8 years as a duo, Sean and Kelly have invited Julian to be a regular co-host, bringing fresh perspective, energy, and an Australian accent to the show.Resources & Links
Teaching Python — Podcast website PyBites — Julian Sequeira's Python coaching platform EarSketch — Making music with Python (Georgia Tech) PyCon US 2026 — May 14–22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, PA Claude Code — AI coding assistant mentioned by KellyMon, 06 Apr 2026 - 47min - 155 - Episode 154: Are You Techie Enough?
What does it really mean to be "techie"? Sean, Kelly, and guest Amelia Hough-Ross dig into the labels we put on ourselves and others — and why curiosity and persistence matter more than credentials. From imposter syndrome to productive struggle, this episode redefines what it means to be technical in a rapidly changing world.
Show Notes
Wins of the Week
Amelia: Getting both kids to all their activities this week — taekwondo, Chinese language classes, and a piano competition where her oldest did very well Kelly: Running a series of well-attended trainings at school, including a Canva AI session that drew 60 attendees across two campuses, with new audiences (kindergarten and first grade teachers) showing up for the first time Sean: Finally getting fiber internet installed at his house after over a decade of waiting — a major upgrade from cable with latency dropping from 20-30ms to 3ms, at half the costLinks & Resources Mentioned
vBrownBag — Tech community show that Amelia is preparing to present at and Sean is scheduled for later in the year PyCon US 2025 — Pittsburgh, May 2025; Education Summit on Thursday, May 14 LEGO Mindstorms — Referenced in Amelia's story about building a vending machine in 4th grade Architects of Intelligence — Book Kelly is currently reading (dense but informative, structured as short stories/interviews) How to Winter by Kari Leibowitz — Book Amelia is reading about mindset and how people approach difficult things Lars von Trier / Bjork / Catherine Deneuve film — Referenced in Amelia's story about visiting a film set in Denmark at age 18 (the film Dancer in the Dark, 2000) Chris Williams / vBrownBag — Mutual connection who introduced Sean and Amelia at AWS re:InventAnnouncements
PyCon US 2025 — Pittsburgh, PA. Education Summit is Thursday, May 14. Proposals still open at time of recording. Kelly will be attending PyCon with her youngest son, who will spend the weekend with family at Disneyland Sean will be supporting from home this year as his wife has a conflicting travel commitmentKey Quotes
"It's hard to think outside of the box when you don't know what's inside of the box." — Kelly, quoting a conference in Tampa
"The difference between viewing yourself as technical and not technical is getting those successes... even just once, where something really cool happens that you weren't expecting to work." — Sean
"It's much harder to believe that someone has that greatness in them and help them achieve it... It's easy to say someone's hopeless. The harder part is figuring out how to support them to get to that next level." — Amelia
Special Guest: Amelia Hough-Ross.
Tue, 03 Mar 2026 - 49min - 154 - Episode 153: 2025 Holiday Gift Guide
Julian Sequeira from PyBites joins Sean and Kelly to share their top holiday gift picks for coders, makers, and educators. This episode features 15+ gift ideas ranging from budget-friendly maker tools to classroom robots—plus book recommendations, coding platforms, and a few surprises.
Show Notes
Wins of the Week
Julian: Staying focused on "the one thing" at PyBites, plus 3D printing a custom cappuccino stencil for his local café Kelly: Surviving a muddy, clay-covered hill in North Carolina while on vacation Sean: Designing and 3D printing a custom bracket for his screen door using Fusion 360Holiday Gift Ideas
Julian's Picks
Hoverboard with Go-Kart Attachment (~$299 AUD) - Two-wheeled self-balancing boards that can convert to a go-kart with a third wheel attachment. Available at Hoveroo in Australia.
Secret Coders Book Series (~$10-20 USD each) - A six-book graphic novel series that wraps coding puzzles and concepts into mystery stories. Recommended by Faye Shaw from the Boston PyLadies community. Great for ages 8-15.
3D Printer (~$200-300 USD) - Entry-level printers like the Bambu Lab A1 Mini or Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro have dropped significantly in price. Look for auto bed leveling as a key feature.
Duolingo Chess (~$13/month with subscription) - A new addition to Duolingo that teaches chess tactics, strategy, and formal terminology through structured lessons. Great for building problem-solving skills.
Classic Video Games (Zelda, Pokémon) - Story-driven games that build resilience and problem-solving skills, as an alternative to dopamine-heavy platforms like Roblox.
Kelly's Picks
Soccer Bot (~$59.99) - An indoor soccer training robot that challenges footwork skills. Works best on hard floors.
"The Worlds I See" by Dr. Fei-Fei Li - Memoir of the computer scientist behind ImageNet and modern image recognition, covering her immigrant journey and rise in AI. A must-read for anyone interested in AI.
LEGO Retro Radio Building Set (~$99) - A 1970s-style radio that you build, then insert your phone to play music. Features working dials that create authentic radio crackle sounds.
Spydroid Loco Hex Robot (classroom investment) - A large spider-shaped robot that codes in Python and block programming. Features LIDAR and AI-based mapping. Seen at ISTE.
Richtie Mini from Hugging Face ($299-$449) - An adorable AI desktop companion robot with onboard models. Two versions: one that connects to your computer and one that's self-contained.
Sean's Picks
LED Pucks (LED 001 Kit) (~$6-13) - Small USB-powered LED discs perfect for 3D printed projects like planet lamps. Available from Bambu Labs or Amazon. RGB versions include remote controls.
Daily Desk Calendar (~$15-20) - A throwback gift that provides daily doses of humor, trivia, or inspiration. Suggestions include The Far Side, "They Can Talk," or "How to Win Friends and Influence People."
PyBites Coding Platform (subscription) - Bite-sized Python challenges for sharpening coding skills. Great for teachers, students, and professionals looking for practical coding practice.
Digital Calipers (~$40-50) - USB-rechargeable precision measuring tools essential for 3D printing and maker projects. Great for teaching geometry and measurement concepts.
Deburring Tool (~$10) - A small tool with a curved swiveling blade for cleaning up 3D prints. A quality-of-life improvement for any maker's toolkit.
Links Mentioned
PyBites - Python coaching and coding challenges Hoveroo - Hoverboards (Australia) Bambu Lab - 3D printers and LED pucks Printables - 3D printing models MakerWorld - 3D printing models Hugging Face Richtie Mini - AI companion robot Duolingo - Language learning app with chess Secret Coders book series - Available on Amazon "The Worlds I See" by Dr. Fei-Fei Li - Available at bookstoresUpcoming Events
PyCon US 2026 - Long Beach, California Education Summit - Proposals open after the holidays, deadline around March/April Submit proposals when the website opens!Special Guest: Julian Sequeira.
Sun, 14 Dec 2025 - 40min - 153 - Episode 152: High School CS with Quincy Tennyson
In this episode, we sit down with Quincy Tennyson, who teaches an impressive four-year computer science pathway at Fern Creek High School. Quincy's background in the Marine Corps and as a network engineer brings a unique perspective to CS education. He discusses his curriculum progression from introductory courses through AP Computer Science Principles (heavily inspired by UC Berkeley's CS61A), AP Computer Science A (Java), and a culminating Project-Based Programming course. We dive deep into his philosophy of being a "warm demander" - setting high expectations while providing intensive coaching and support.
The conversation touches on several compelling topics including teaching agile methodology to high school students, the importance of transparency about failure, and how behavioral economics concepts (from thinkers like Daniel Kahneman) inform his approach to helping students understand their own thinking processes. Quincy also shares insights on supporting underserved students, running a successful Girls Who Code chapter, and navigating the integration of AI tools in the classroom. His students' enthusiasm at PyCon 2024 was infectious, and this episode reveals the thoughtful pedagogy behind their success.
Key resources mentioned include CS61A from UC Berkeley, CodeHS, Code.org, Sandra McGuire's book "Teach Students How to Learn," Eric Matthes' Python Crash Course, and Al Sweigart's educational resources including his new Buttonpad library for Tkinter.
Special Guest: Quincy Tennyson.
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 - 54min - 152 - Episode 151: AI in Practice: Learning from Law & Beyond with Pritesh Patel
In this episode, Sean and Kelly welcome Pritesh Patel, a computer scientist specializing in AI who brings over 20 years of experience from companies like Turner Broadcasting, Walmart, and GE to his current role at Fisher Phillips law firm. Pritesh shares fascinating insights about implementing AI in knowledge-based industries, from automating his parents' frozen yogurt shop to helping lawyers transform their workflows.
The conversation explores crucial concepts like the "Jobs to Be Done" framework, which emphasizes focusing on outcomes rather than getting stuck in existing processes. Pritesh explains how he approaches AI education through playfulness and intuition-building—whether that's getting Batman to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" in ChatGPT or creating AI personalities that debate humans. The discussion touches on the importance of maintaining accountability while delegating responsibility to AI tools, the power of curiosity in adoption, and how reinforcement learning might shape the future of AI integration.
Key resources mentioned:
Strategyn Jobs to Be Done Framework - Tony Ulwick's innovation methodology NotebookLM - Google's AI-powered research tool Suno.ai - AI music generation platform OpenAI's Real-time API for voice interactionsSpecial Guest: Pritesh Patel.
Mon, 29 Sep 2025 - 54min - 151 - Episode 150: LLMs with Simon WIllison
In this milestone 150th episode, hosts Kelly Schuster-Paredes and Sean Tibor sit down with Simon Willison, co-creator of Django and creator of Datasette and LLM tools, for an in-depth conversation about artificial intelligence in Python education.
The discussion covers the current landscape of LLMs in coding education, from the benefits of faster iteration cycles to the risks of students losing that crucial "aha moment" when they solve problems independently. Simon shares insights on prompt injection vulnerabilities, the importance of local models for privacy, and why he believes LLMs are much harder to use effectively than most people realize.
Key topics include:
Educational Strategy: When to introduce AI tools vs. building foundational skills first Security Concerns: Prompt injection attacks and their implications for educational tools Student Engagement: Maintaining motivation and problem-solving skills in an AI world
Practical Applications: Using LLMs for code review, debugging, and rapid prototyping Privacy Issues: Understanding data collection and training practices of major AI companies Local Models: Running AI tools privately on personal devices The "Jagged Frontier": Why LLMs excel at some tasks while failing at othersSimon brings 20 years of Django experience and deep expertise in both web development and AI tooling to discuss how educators can thoughtfully integrate these powerful but unpredictable tools into their classrooms. The conversation balances excitement about AI's potential with realistic assessments of its limitations and risks.
Whether you're a coding educator trying to navigate the AI revolution or a developer interested in the intersection of education and technology, this episode provides practical insights for working with LLMs responsibly and effectively.
Resources mentioned:
Simon's blog: simonwillison.net Mission Encodable curriculum Datasette and LLM tools GitHub Codespaces for safe AI experimentationSpecial Guest: Simon Willison.
Thu, 28 Aug 2025 - 1h 36min - 150 - Episode 149: Guiding Education with Sheena O'Connell
Description
In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Sheena O'Connell, an educator and developer from South Africa who has been making waves in the Python education community. Sheena shares her journey from electrical engineering to founding Prelude, where she runs advanced Django learning sprints and teamwork training courses.
We explore the critical importance of soft skills in technical education, diving into Google's Project Aristotle and the five key factors that make teams effective: psychological safety, dependability, structure and clarity, meaning, and impact. Sheena provides fascinating insights into how cultural concepts like Ubuntu ("I am because we are") influence collaborative learning and professional development.
The conversation covers practical strategies for teaching both technical and soft skills to adult learners, the challenges of helping students transition from learning to professional environments, and how to build psychologically safe spaces that promote growth and learning.
We also discuss upcoming events including Django Con Africa in Tanzania and PyCon Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa, which Sheena is chairing.
Whether you're an educator, team leader, or developer interested in fostering better collaborative environments, this episode offers valuable insights into the intersection of technical education, cultural awareness, and team dynamics.
Key Topics Discussed
Transitioning from technical roles to education Building effective coding bootcamps and adult learning programs The importance of soft skills in technical careers Google's Project Aristotle and team effectiveness Psychological safety and stereotype threat Cultural influences on learning and teamwork (Ubuntu philosophy) Managing the "desperation mindset" in learning environments Professional development and career transitions PyCon Africa and Django Con Africa Cross-cultural team dynamics and communicationGuests
Sheena O'Connell - Founder of Prelude, former educator at Umuzi, and chair of PyCon Africa 2025
Resources Mentioned
Google's Project Aristotle The Culture Map (book on cultural differences in teams) Prelude Tech - Sheena's platform for Django courses and teamwork training PyCon Africa 2025 (Johannesburg, South Africa) Django Con Africa (Arusha, Tanzania) Ubuntu philosophy Umuzi (South African coding bootcamp)Connect with Sheena
Personal blog: sheenaoc.com Courses and training: Prelude TV PyCon Africa 2025: October, Johannesburg, South AfricaWins and Fails of the Week
Sheena
Win: Successfully running a teamwork course for Canonical with an international team Fail: All her plants fell onto the couch (and the subsequent cleanup)Kelly
Win: Attending ISTE conference in San Antonio, meeting previous podcast guests, and co-hosting a presentation Fail: Losing momentum on Anthony Shaw's GitHub course due to summer breakSean
Win: Being interviewed by media about AI coding tools and AWS Amazon Q Fail: Home server power supply failure during a lightning storm, breaking all home automationsEpisode Notes
This episode provides valuable insights for educators at all levels, from K-12 teachers to corporate trainers. The discussion of soft skills, cultural awareness, and team dynamics offers practical strategies that can be applied in classrooms, coding bootcamps, and professional development settings.
The conversation highlights how technical education must go beyond coding skills to prepare students for successful careers, emphasizing the importance of communication, collaboration, and cultural competency in today's global technology landscape.
Special Guest: Sheena O'Connell.
Tue, 15 Jul 2025 - 47min - 149 - Episode 148: PyCon 2025 AI Education Open Space
In this special episode of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes convene an open space discussion at PyCon US 2025 in Pittsburgh. Surrounded by a diverse group of educators, developers, and learners, they hand the mic to the community to answer two key questions: How are you using AI personally, and how do you see AI shaping education?
Listeners will hear firsthand accounts from university lecturers, high school teachers, industry professionals, and volunteer mentors. Topics include the impact of AI tools on coding productivity, the challenges of assessing genuine learning in an AI-rich environment, and strategies for teaching critical thinking alongside technical skills. The episode also delves into the tension between embracing AI as an educational aid and ensuring students develop foundational problem-solving abilities.
Whether you’re an educator, developer, or simply curious about the future of learning, this episode offers a nuanced, multi-perspective look at AI’s growing influence in the classroom and beyond.
Sun, 08 Jun 2025 - 57min - 148 - Episode 147: The Power of Teaching APIs
In Episode 147 of Teaching Python, Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes focus on the importance and power of teaching APIs to coding students. They share personal stories and practical strategies for engaging students with APIs, from simple use cases to more complex projects. Join them as they discuss how to make lessons fun and relevant, leveraging LLMs (Large Language Models) for code explanations, and teaching through trial and error. This episode also touches on the broader applications of APIs in today's technological landscape, examining how learning APIs can open up new possibilities for students and equip them with essential skills for the future. Whether you're a teacher, student, or coding enthusiast, there's something valuable in this episode for you.
Mon, 24 Mar 2025 - 40min - 147 - Episode 146: PSF Education Outreach Workgroup and the Education Summit
In episode 146 of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster Perez delve into the newly established Python Education and Outreach Work Group, featuring guests Cheuk Ting Ho and Keith Murray. The group, aimed at enhancing Python education within the community, outlines its mission to gather feedback on educational resources and support initiatives like the Education Summit at PyCon US. Keith and Cheuk discuss their backgrounds and roles within the Python Software Foundation, emphasizing the need for fresh educational content and community engagement.
The episode also explores the work group's goals, which include:
Seeking and receiving feedback on Python educational resources Consolidating and improving existing Python education materials Supporting and expanding the education summit at PyCon USAdditionally, the hosts share personal 'wins of the week,' highlighting the importance of accountability and community in the educational journey. Kelly and Sean discuss their past experiences with the Education Summit and encourage listeners to get involved by submitting talk proposals or joining in interactive sessions. The episode concludes with practical advice on how educators and enthusiasts can engage with the group to further Python education and outreach.
Special Guests: Cheuk Ting Ho and Keith Murray.
Links:
PyOhio 2025 — Summer 2025 in Cleveland, OH PythonEduWGCharter - PSF Wiki — The Education & Outreach Workgroup's (EOW) purpose is to support the Python Software Foundation’s mission to promote the Python programming language, especially in supporting and enhancing the education of Python. The Education & Outreach Workgroup is a workgroup of the Python Software Foundation’s (PSF). Education Summit - PyCon US 2024 — In 2024, PyCon US held its 12th annual Python Education Summit in person!Mon, 20 Jan 2025 - 52min - 146 - Episode 145: The Bigger Picture of Teaching Python
In episode 145 of Teaching Python, Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes celebrate their six-year podcast anniversary and discuss the shifts within computer science education and the growing influence of AI. They both reflect on the podcast’s journey, their experiences with Blue Sky, and the milestone of over 500,000 downloads. The conversation delves into the changing landscape of tech roles, emphasizing the importance of foundational coding skills and computational thinking, regardless of emerging technologies like AI. They underline how coding remains a key skill that enables personal growth and opens vast opportunities, even in the face of fast-evolving tech sectors.
Our hosts also highlight their exciting upcoming engagements, including the FETC conference and the Pine Crest Innovation Institute, encouraging listeners to remain adaptable and open to new learning avenues. Furthermore, they discuss the concept of adapting computer science curriculums to reflect real-world applications and evolving job markets, focusing on how to better prepare students for future careers. With a mix of personal anecdotes and professional insights, this episode offers a heartfelt look at the impact of teaching coding and the continuous evolution in education and technology.
Links:
Learn VIM while playing a game - VIM Adventures — Learning VIM while playing a game Teaching Python Podcast (@teachingpython.fm) — Bluesky — Teaching Python on Bluesky Sean Tibor (@seantibor.com) — Bluesky — Sean's profile on Bluesky Kelly Paredes (@kellypared.bsky.social) — Bluesky — Kelly's profile on Bluesky Future of Education Technology Conference | FETC 2025Pine Crest School's Innovation InstituteBett UK: Leading EdTech Event | 22-24 Jan 2025, ExCeL LondonTop announcements of AWS re:Invent 2024 | AWS News BlogMon, 13 Jan 2025 - 1h 02min - 145 - Episode 144: Python in Africa with Kudzayi Bamhare
In episode 144 of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes are joined by special guest Kudzayi Bamhare from Zimbabwe. They dive into the important topic of Python education as a driver of innovation in Africa, focusing specifically on the challenges and opportunities in Zimbabwe. The conversation covers how coding communities are forming and thriving despite various hurdles, and how inclusive environments can foster learning and growth in the tech industry.
Kudzayi shares his inspiring journey into the world of coding, beginning with his initial exposure to Python and how attending Python conferences like PyCon Namibia have been pivotal in his growth. He emphasizes the importance of community, collaboration, and support in helping budding coders overcome challenges and stay motivated. The discussion also highlights the need for more initiatives and workshops to bridge the gap in tech education across the continent.
The episode concludes with insightful ideas on how to create effective learning environments and the role of educators in nurturing future tech talents. Sean and Kelly, alongside Kudzayi, discuss the significance of making coding accessible and engaging, especially in underrepresented regions. They call on listeners to support initiatives that bring Python education to Africa, encouraging a global collaboration to drive technological progress and innovation.
Special Guest: Kudzayi Bamhare.
Mon, 06 Jan 2025 - 53min - 144 - Episode 143: Computational Thinking 2.0 with Dr. John Chapin
In Episode 143 of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes engage in a compelling conversation with Dr. John Chapin, a renowned computer science educator and presenter at CSTA. As the CS Pathway Leader at the Academies of Loudoun, Dr. Chapin brings over a decade of experience in primary and secondary education, creating and implementing rigorous curricula for post-AP CS students. He shares insights into the transformative power of Computational Thinking 2.0, emphasizing the importance of Python and data science in today's educational landscape. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how integrating machine learning, data analytics, and mobile app development into CS education can foster a culture of inquiry, creativity, and collaboration among students and educators.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Chapin discusses his recent research on the impact of whiteboarding on student self-efficacy in CS1 classes, as presented at the Association for Computing Machinery's Global Computer Education Conference (CompEd2023). He also shares his experiences conducting professional development workshops for CS teachers across Virginia and his efforts to align CS programs with the evolving needs of the workforce and society. This episode is a must-listen for educators, administrators, and anyone passionate about the future of computer science education, offering actionable ideas and inspiration to enhance their teaching practices and curriculum design.
Special Guest: Dr. John Chapin.
Links:
(PDF) CT 2.0A Neural Network Playground — Tinker With a Neural Network Right Here in Your Browser. Don’t Worry, You Can’t Break It. We Promise. Teach, learn, and make with the Raspberry Pi Foundation — Discover world-leading curricula, resources, and professional development to support the teaching and learning of AI literacy. We bring together original research, industry expertise, and practical classroom experience to help you bring the excitement of AI into your classroom. Machine Learning for KidsACM CompEd Home - ACM CompEdAbout The Coalition | Data Science for EveryoneAI by Hand ✍️ | Tom Yeh | SubstackMon, 30 Dec 2024 - 55min - 143 - Episode 142: Middle School Magic: Integrating AI, Data Science, and Computational Thinking with Kelly Powers
In Episode 142 of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes are joined by Kelly Powers, a fellow middle school educator and curriculum designer, to explore the dynamic world of middle school instruction. As a passionate advocate for computational thinking, Powers shares valuable insights on introducing students to the concepts of AI, data science, and cybersecurity in a way that is both rigorous and joyful.
Topics Covered
Engaging Middle School Students: Strategies for capturing and maintaining student interest. Creativity and Collaboration: How to foster a collaborative environment that inspires creativity. Core Computational Concepts: Real-world applications that make these concepts accessible and interesting. Data Science Projects: Practical advice on integrating data science into your curriculum. Generative AI Ethics: Discussing the ethical use of AI in education. Python as a Teaching Tool: Exploring the versatility of Python for various projects.Key Takeaways
Integrating Computational Thinking Skills: Tips on how to weave these skills into everyday classroom routines. Teamwork and Communication: The importance of teamwork and effective communication in coding projects. Engaging Lessons with Python: How Python can be used to create engaging and meaningful projects for students.About Kelly Powers
Kelly Powers transitioned from the business world to education, bringing a fresh perspective on teaching computational thinking. She offers invaluable insights into making rigorous and joyful learning experiences for middle school students.
Whether you are an experienced teacher or new to the field, this episode is packed with actionable ideas and inspirational moments that will help you create a more engaging and effective learning environment.
Tune in for a lively conversation that celebrates the magic of middle school teaching and the endless possibilities of computer science education.
Listen to the episode: Teaching Python Podcast
Follow us on Social Media:
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn ```Special Guest: Kelly Powers.
Links:
CodeHS - Teach Coding and Computer Science at Your School | CodeHS — Everything You Need, All In One Spot CodeHS is trusted by thousands of teachers and schools all over the world. Overview ‹ Scratch — MIT Media Lab — Scratch is the world's most popular coding community for kids. Millions of kids around the world are using Scratch to program their own interactive stories, games, and animations—and share their creations in an active online community. Welcome To Colab - Colab — Colab is an online Jupyter notebook from Google Computer Science Teachers Association Connect, Grow, & Share With CS Teachers- — CSTA understands that teaching computer science is hard. That’s why we’re focused on creating a supportive environment for K–12 educators.Sun, 22 Dec 2024 - 1h 00min - 142 - Episode 141: Unlocking Python Expertise with Trey Hunner
Join hosts Kelly Schuster-Paredes and Sean Tibor as they welcome esteemed Python expert Trey Hunner to the show. This episode is a delightful mix of practical insights, engaging stories, and thought-provoking discussions about Python and teaching.
Trey shares his experiences with listeners, starting with his recent venture into launching a 10-week Python course called Python High Five. He talks about the excitement and challenges of teaching across different time zones with this unique setup, highlighting the importance of accountability and the fun of learning alongside his students.
Throughout the episode, Sean and Kelly discuss the evolving landscape of AI and its impact on learning. Trey emphasizes the critical skill of asking the right questions, saying, "Knowing how to use that tool is a really valuable thing, but also knowing what to stick into the tool and how to evaluate the output of the tool is a really valuable thing."
The conversation transitions into the heart of Python programming, where Trey, Sean, and Kelly share their favorite features and nuances of Python. They explore the value of looping helpers and marvel at the elegance and simplicity of Python's tools and functions. Sean recalls a memorable teaching moment about Python turtle graphics, reflecting on the joy and discovery that comes with coding: "It was so cool that this sixth grader showed me how to do it."
This episode is not just about technical insights but also about the joy of teaching and learning. Trey, Kelly, and Sean discuss strategies for balancing the basics with advanced learning and the importance of having fun in the process. Join them for a warm, inclusive conversation that invites you to be part of their journey through the wonders of Python programming.
Special Guest: Trey Hunner.
Links:
Python Morsels: Write better Python code — Learning efficiently requires planning a path that repeatedly answers the question what skill should I learn next and how best can I learn it? Instead of wading through blog posts and YouTube videos in search of the next thing to learn, I can guide you. My name is Trey Hunner and I created Python Morsels to give life-long learners a low-stress way to improve their Python skills. PEP 636 – Structural Pattern Matching: Tutorial | peps.python.org — As an example to motivate this tutorial, you will be writing a text adventure. That is a form of interactive fiction where the user enters text commands to interact with a fictional world and receives text descriptions of what happens. Commands will be simplified forms of natural language like get sword, attack dragon, go north, enter shop or buy cheese. Amazon.com: The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI eBook : Li, Fei-Fei: Kindle Store — The Worlds I See is a story of science in the first person, documenting one of the century’s defining moments from the inside. It provides a riveting story of a scientist at work and a thrillingly clear explanation of what artificial intelligence actually is—and how it came to be. Emotionally raw and intellectually uncompromising, this book is a testament not only to the passion required for even the most technical scholarship but also to the curiosity forever at its heart. Blog Archive - Trey HunnerSat, 14 Dec 2024 - 51min - 141 - Episode 140: Girls Programming Network with Renee Noble
In this episode of Teaching Python, Sean and Kelly are joined by Renee Noble, a dynamic Microsoft Cloud Advocate and CEO of a nonprofit dedicated to helping women and gender-diverse individuals learn to code. The discussion delves into Renee's inspiring journey from chemical engineering to tech advocacy, her role in the Girls Programming Network (GPN), and how she has helped thousands of individuals build their coding skills and confidence. Renee emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive and supportive learning environments, explaining the unique methodologies used at GPN to cater to diverse learning levels. The conversation also covers the role of mentors and the significance of having role models at different stages of one's learning and professional journey in tech. Finally, Renee shares her insights on her advocacy work at Microsoft and the impact of clear, approachable guidance in onboarding new learners to cloud technologies. Tune in to discover valuable lessons on building supportive tech communities and fostering diversity in the industry.
Links:
ConnectEd CodeRenee NobleAmazon.com: Python Cheat Sheet Desk Mat for Software Engineers, Hackers and Programmers, Quick Key, Large Anti-Slip Keyboard Pad Mouse Mat KMH : Office Products — Python Cheat Sheet Desk MatsSun, 01 Dec 2024 - 1h 00min - 140 - Episode 139: Code Your Dreams with Brianne Caplan
In Episode 139 of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes welcome back Brianne Caplan, the dynamic founder of Code Your Dreams. The conversation explores the exciting advancements in coding education since Brianne's last appearance in 2019. They delve into the importance of blending play and learning, the impact of generative AI, and the power of community-driven innovation. Brianne shares inspiring success stories from students of all ages, from first graders creating mindfulness apps to adults developing solutions for police transparency. The episode also examines the role of failures in the learning process and the opportunities for growth they present. Tune in for an uplifting discussion about leveraging technology to create positive change in diverse communities and fostering an environment where everyone has the opportunity to innovate.
Special Guest: Brianne Caplan.
Links:
Code Your Dreams | Teaching Inner-City Chicago Kids To Code — Where Every Dream Counts: Embracing Innovation Through Education for a Brighter FutureSun, 24 Nov 2024 - 44min - 139 - Episode 138: Innovative Coding Education with Pamela Fox
In episode 138 of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes welcome Pamela Fox, a Principal Developer Advocate at Microsoft, to discuss the dynamic world of teaching, coding, and creating. Pamela shares her experiences working with Python in the cloud, emphasizing the various applications from serverless functions to web application backends using frameworks like Flask and Django. This episode provides a comprehensive look at how cloud-based environments like GitHub CodeSpaces and CoLab make programming more accessible and reduce the friction often associated with setting up development environments.
Pamela dives into her approach to teaching and the unique challenges posed by different educational formats. Drawing from her work at institutions like UC Berkeley and her development of AP Computer Science Principles content for Khan Academy, she highlights the importance of making learning engaging and personalized. Pamela shares insights into the design of interactive and project-based curricula, touching on how tools like Parsons problems can scaffold learning effectively and make complex concepts like recursion more approachable.
The conversation also explores the significance of visualizations in learning programming, as exemplified by Pamela's recursion visualizer tool. The episode concludes with reflections on the breadth of topics covered in AP CSP and the value of exposing students to a wide array of programming experiences. Listeners gain a deeper understanding of the balance between teaching fundamental concepts and encouraging creative expression through code, along with practical tips for educators at all levels.
Special Guest: Pamela Fox.
Links:
GitHub - pamelafox/recursive-visualizations: An online tool to visualize recursive JS functions step-by-step as a tree. — A way to visualize the call graph of recursive functions. Uses Pyodide to run rcviz.py and then a WASM PyDot/GraphViz port to build an SVG graph. Finally, some JavaScript adds a slider for stepping through the calls. GitHub - pamelafox/faded-parsons-static: A way to run Python Faded Parsons problems entirely in the browser. — This website allows you to run Faded Parsons Problems in the browser. It uses Pyodide for executing Python doctests and localStorage for storing user progress.Mon, 30 Sep 2024 - 56min - 138 - Episode 137: Lifelong Learning with Kelsey Hightower
In this insightful episode of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes engage in a dynamic conversation with the eminent Kelsey Hightower. The episode delves into Hightower's journey from self-taught programmer to distinguished engineer at Google, touching on the significance of lifelong learning and the non-traditional paths that many successful technologists follow. Hightower's anecdotes are not only inspiring but also provide valuable lessons on perseverance and the importance of staying curious.
The episode tackles key themes around the entrepreneurial mindset, advising both students and educators on how to take calculated risks and break away from conventional norms. Hightower shares his unique insights on how thinking like an entrepreneur can lead to personal and professional growth, and how these principles can be applied even in structured educational environments. His stories about facing and overcoming challenges offer a blueprint for anyone looking to innovate within their current roles.
For educators, Hightower's discussion emphasizes the need to look beyond the standard curriculum and foster an environment where students feel empowered to explore and experiment. The episode is rich with ideas on how to cultivate a nurturing yet challenging atmosphere that encourages students to think independently and embrace failure as a stepping stone to success. Whether you are a teacher, student, or tech enthusiast, this episode provides a wealth of wisdom on nurturing potential and achieving excellence.
Special Guest: Kelsey Hightower.
Links:
Kubernetes: Up and Running: Dive into the Future of Infrastructure: Burns, Brendan, Beda, Joe, Hightower, Kelsey, Evenson, Lachlan: 9781098110208: Amazon.com: Books — In just five years, Kubernetes has radically changed the way developers and ops personnel build, deploy, and maintain applications in the cloud. With this book's updated third edition, you'll learn how this popular container orchestrator can help your company achieve new levels of velocity, agility, reliability, and efficiency--whether you're new to distributed systems or have been deploying cloud native apps for some time. Brendan Burns, Joe Beda, Kelsey Hightower, and Lachlan Evenson--who have worked on Kubernetes at Google and beyond--explain how this system fits into the life cycle of a distributed application. Software developers, engineers, and architects will learn ways to use tools and APIs to automate scalable distributed systems for online services, machine learning applications, or even a cluster of Raspberry Pi computers. Great Software & Storytelling Is Emotional | Kelsey Hightower (Legendary Developer) | CRAFTED. - YouTube — Kelsey Hightower is a legend. He’s a Kubernetes pioneer and recently retired (at 42!) from Google where he was a distinguished engineer. He still regularly gives live software demos in front of tens of thousands of people, improvising them like it’s jazz. He’s a master storyteller and a master craftsman. Kelsey Hightower (@kelseyhightower) / Xkelseyhightower (Kelsey Hightower) · GitHubSun, 18 Aug 2024 - 48min - 137 - Episode 136: Learning Python with Dr. Chuck
Summary
This episode features a conversation with Dr. Chuck Severance about making programming accessible to everyone, the importance of practical applications in learning, and the potential of remote internships in programming education.
Description
In this episode of Teaching Python, hosts Kelly Schuster-Paredes and Sean Tibor chat with Dr. Chuck Severance, widely known as Dr. Chuck, about his innovative approaches to make Python and programming accessible to everyone. They discuss Dr. Chuck's methods for engaging learners of all ages, the critical role of practical application in education, and how creating connections can help students retain complex concepts.
The conversation also delves into the potential for scalable, remote internships and how empowering students with programming skills at a younger age can have far-reaching effects on their future careers. Dr. Chuck shares his experiences, strategies, and vision for the future of programming education, making this episode a must-listen for educators and learners alike.
Sections
Introduction Wins of the Week Guest Introduction The Making of a Viral Python Course Importance of Practical Applications Empowering the Future with Python Closing RemarksSpecial Guest: Dr. Charles Severance aka "Dr. Chuck".
Links:
PY4E - Python for Everybody — This web site is building a set of free materials, lectures, book and assignments to help students learn how to program in Python. You can take this course and receive a certificate at: Coursera: Python for Everybody Specialization edX: Python for Everybody FreeCodeCamp Free certificates for University of Michigan students and staff CodeKidz PY4E - Python for Everybody — The goal of this book is to provide an Informatics-oriented introduction to programming. The primary difference between a computer science approach and the Informatics approach taken in this book is a greater focus on using Python to solve data analysis problems common in the world of Informatics.Sun, 11 Aug 2024 - 54min - 136 - Episode 135: Python for Lawyers
In this episode of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes dive deep into the innovative intersection of law and coding with special guests Morgan Gray and Wes Oliver from Duquesne University's School of Law. This fascinating conversation explores how Python programming is being integrated into the law curriculum to enhance the analytical and information processing skills of law students. The episode kicks off with introductions and personal anecdotes, setting the stage for a thought-provoking discussion about the future of legal education.
Morgan and Wes share their unique journey of incorporating Python into their legal courses, detailing their beginning stages and the progression they've seen in their students. They discuss the challenges and rewards of teaching coding to future lawyers and the significant benefits it provides to their legal studies and careers. Through real-life examples and success stories, listeners gain insight into how Python is not only a tool for software development but also a powerful aid in legal problem-solving and decision-making.
The episode wraps up with a look at the broader implications and future opportunities for law graduates who possess coding skills. Sean and Kelly highlight the feedback from employers and the growing demand for tech-savvy lawyers in the industry. Whether you're a law student, educator, or tech enthusiast, this episode offers a compelling look at how the integration of coding into non-traditional fields can open new avenues for innovation and efficiency.
Special Guests: Morgan Gray and Wes Oliver.
Links:
Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University — We educate lawyers to preserve the highest ideals of our profession and to promote equal justice and democratic discourse through leadership, service, and civic engagement. As a student at Duquesne Kline, you will receive a well-rounded legal education full of opportunities to practically apply your coursework—through our clinics, our appellate programs, and innovative offerings, like our Leadership Fellows Program and JD/ MBA program. Professors present groundbreaking “Coding for Lawyers” course at Python Education Summit — Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University Professor Wesley Oliver and Adjunct Professor Morgan Gray, L’19, recently presented at the Python Education Summit (PyCon) in Pittsburgh.Mon, 08 Jul 2024 - 51min - 135 - Episode 134: Interview with Jay Miller
In this episode, we have a candid conversation with Jay Miller, the founder of Black Python Devs. Jay shares his journey into the tech world, highlighting the inspiration behind starting Black Python Devs and the essential role it plays in extending the reach of the Python community into the black ecosystem. We discuss how his organization fosters safe, equitable, and accessible environments for Black developers, breaking down barriers and creating pathways for new talent to enter and thrive in the industry.
Our discussion touches on the critical need for diversity and inclusion within tech communities and companies. Jay elaborates on practical strategies to make tech events and workplaces more welcoming for historically excluded groups. From the importance of having a strong code of conduct to providing logistical support like childcare and travel reimbursements, Jay emphasizes how small actions can make a significant impact in creating a culture where everyone feels they belong.
We also dive into the often overlooked challenges that Black tech professionals face, such as negotiating salaries and finding mentors who look like them. Jay offers invaluable insights on why visibility and representation matter, sharing personal anecdotes and practical advice for both aspiring developers and established leaders. Whether you're an educator, a tech professional, or someone interested in creating more inclusive communities, this episode is packed with thought-provoking discussions and actionable takeaways.
Special Guest: Jay Miller.
Links:
Black Python Devs | About Us — Black Python Devs was created by its founder Jay Miller after seeing a trend of the same handful of Black developers speaking at major conferences, taking leadership positions, and dealing with the same challenges towards burnout. Aiven - Your Trusted Data & AI Platform — Aiven is a versatile platform empowering you with AI-driven workload optimization and control over your data. Deploy widely adopted technologies across multiple clouds with just a few clicks to stream, store, and serve your data. FastAPI — FastAPI is a modern, fast (high-performance), web framework for building APIs with Python based on standard Python type hints. Talk: Nina Zakharenko - Goodbye Print, Hello Debugger! - YouTube — Still debugging your code with print? Learn how to level up your ability to troubleshoot complex code situations by using the power of a fully-featured debugger in this talk aimed at all levels of programming ability. Debuggers allow you to examine your program state, watch as the values of important variables change, and even modify the content of variables on the fly. Once I gave up using print to debug, my productivity as a programmer increased, and yours can too! Django Girls - start your journey with programming — Django Girls is a non-profit organization and a community that empowers and helps women to organize free, one-day programming workshops by providing tools, resources and support. We are a volunteer run organization with hundreds of people contributing to bring more amazing women into the world of technology. We are making technology more approachable by creating resources designed with empathy. PyCon US 2024 - PyCon US 2024 — After two years of PyCon US in Salt Lake City, we are so excited to welcome our community to our new host city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! Mark your calendars and be sure to read the About PyCon US page for all the details. We can’t wait to see you all at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center!Sun, 30 Jun 2024 - 1h 07min - 134 - Episode 133: Live from PyCon 2024
In this special episode of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes broadcast live from PyCon US 2024, exploring the significant role educators play within the Python community. The hosts discuss the importance of engaging more educators at PyCon and other Python conferences, addressing the challenges and barriers educators face such as financial constraints, time commitments, and overcoming imposter syndrome. With contributions from a live audience, the episode delves into personal experiences of attendees, highlighting the immense value these conferences provide for professional development and networking. Discussion points include the benefits of the Education Summit, opportunities for cross-disciplinary learning, and the sense of community that PyCon fosters. The hosts also propose solutions to increase educator participation, including the potential for travel grants and better informational outreach. Together, they emphasize the collective goal of enriching the teaching and learning experience within the Python community by encouraging wider educator involvement.
Wed, 12 Jun 2024 - 32min - 133 - Episode 132: Getting Non-Coding Teachers into CS
Join us in an enlightening conversation with Dora Palfi, co-founder of Imagi, and Chelsea Clagg, an instructional technology coach from Frederick County, Virginia, who share their experiences with making coding education more inclusive and accessible. Learn about the challenges and triumphs of implementing coding programs in schools, and how tools like the Imagi Charm are designed to make coding tangible and relatable for students. Discover how non-coder teachers are overcoming their hesitations and embracing coding to inspire a new generation of learners.
This episode sheds light on the importance of coding in today’s education and the crucial role of creativity and cross-curricular connections in engaging students. Hear firsthand accounts of teachers and educators who, despite having no coding background, have successfully integrated coding into their curriculum, making it a valuable tool for enhancing cognitive skills and preparing students for the future. Explore the transformative power of coding education and how it’s shaping the educators of tomorrow.
Whether you are a seasoned coding professional or a curious newcomer to the field of education technology, this episode offers valuable insights into making coding accessible and fun for everyone. Through real-world examples and engaging discussions, discover how coding is not just about learning a new language but about building a foundation for critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity in the digital age.
Special Guests: Chelsea Clagg and Dora Palfi.
Tue, 28 May 2024 - 38min - 132 - Episode 131: Lightning Talks
In the latest episode of Teaching Python, “Episode 131: Embracing the Spark with Lightning Talks,” hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes delve into how the concise and dynamic format of Lightning Talks can revolutionize teaching and learning. Beyond the light-hearted introduction that sets the tone for a spirited exchange, the episode offers a deep dive into the essence of Lightning Talks. Through engaging discussions, Sean and Kelly share personal insights and practical examples of incorporating this format into classroom settings, from coding classes to improving public speaking skills among students.
Listeners will gain valuable strategies for employing Lightning Talks as a pedagogical tool, with emphasis on their simplicity, the encouragement of critical thinking, and the promotion of a more inclusive and engaging learning environment. The episode is rich with anecdotes and experiences, highlighting how these brief, impromptu presentations can ease the anxiety associated with public speaking, inspire creativity, and facilitate a deeper connection with subject matter. Furthermore, the conversation also touches on the adaptability of Lightning Talks across different educational contexts, offering listeners a comprehensive view on integrating this format into their teaching repertoire to ignite enthusiasm and foster a vibrant learning culture.
Tue, 14 May 2024 - 41min - 131 - Episode 130: Coding is Dead?
In this episode, we grapple with the provocative question: Is coding still relevant in a rapidly evolving world dominated by generative AI? Our engaging panel discussion features insights from Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes, hosts and creators of the renowned Teaching Python podcast, along with a lineup of distinguished guests. Each voice adds a unique perspective on how AI is reshaping the landscape of coding and education.
Joining the discussion, we have Michael Kennedy from the Talk Python To Me podcast, known for his expertise in Python and its applications across various domains. Next, Blake Rayfield, a professor at Northern Arizona University, shares his perspective on the role of AI in higher education and research. The episode is rounded out with Brian Okken, host of the Python Test podcast, who provides a critical look at how AI is influencing software testing and development practices.
Together, this panel navigates the complex terrain of AI's role in coding and education, sparking insightful debates and offering viewpoints that reflect the diverse spectrum of thought in the tech community.
Special Guests: Blake Rayfield, Brian Okken, and Michael Kennedy.
Sun, 28 Apr 2024 - 1h 05min - 130 - Episode 129: Quickbite: Live Coding and Codealongs
Join Sean and Kelly in this QuickBites episode as they explore the technique of live coding presentations in education. They highlight the cognitive benefits, such as active learning and enhanced understanding, as well as the engagement and communication fostered through this teaching method. The conversation covers the importance of error normalization, metacognition, critical thinking, and student participation, emphasizing the role live coding plays in empowering students to solve problems and build confidence in their coding abilities.
Fri, 29 Mar 2024 - 26min - 129 - Episode 128: From Blocks to Code with PickCode
In episode 128 of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes dive into the world of coding education, focusing on the journey from block to text coding. They are joined by Charlie Meyer, co-founder and CEO of Pick Code, to discuss strategies and tools that make learning to code an engaging and enjoyable experience for students. The conversation also covers personal anecdotes from the hosts and guest, emphasizing the balance between fun and learning in coding education.
Today's Topics:
Making Coding Engaging Personal Coding Stories and Teachings Tools and Strategies for Coding EducationSpecial Guest: Charlie Meyer.
Links:
Pickcode | The coding platform for education — Pickcode's online editor is the easiest way to teach and learn programmingSun, 24 Mar 2024 - 41min - 128 - Episode 127: Setting Goals
This episode of Teaching Python is a quick bite about setting goals. Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes discuss the importance of goal setting and how it can lead to personal and professional growth. They explore different types of goals, such as accomplishment goals and transformative goals, and share strategies for setting and achieving them. The episode emphasizes the benefits of goal setting in education, including improved academic outcomes, increased motivation, and the development of critical life skills. Sean and Kelly also provide tips for creating a culture of goal setting within the classroom or workplace.
Sat, 02 Mar 2024 - 25min - 127 - Episode 126: Projects and Portfolios
In Episode 126 of the "Teaching Python" podcast, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes delve into the fascinating realm of projects and portfolios for young coders. Expanding on the importance of showcasing coding skills, they explore how portfolios act as a powerful tool to demonstrate creativity, discipline, and coding standards. By creating a portfolio, students can present a comprehensive view of their work, allowing others to peek into their coding thought process and evaluate their unique voice as programmers.
Sean and Kelly discuss how portfolios can give young coders a competitive edge when it comes to college admissions and job applications. They emphasize the significance of going beyond traditional academic achievements, such as grades and test scores, and highlight the value of tangible evidence of their coding prowess. By curating a collection of their projects, students not only provide a window into their technical abilities but also provide important context about their inspirations, intentions, and the thought process behind each project.
Moreover, the hosts discuss the benefits of contributing to open-source projects and sharing code on platforms like GitHub. They acknowledge the initial discomfort, but encourage young coders to take the leap and submit contributions, highlighting how these experiences can enhance their portfolios and provide valuable talking points in interviews. Additionally, they discuss the emerging trend of universities and employers conducting online background checks, making a well-crafted online presence, including portfolios and LinkedIn profiles, essential for young coders.
In this insightful episode, Sean and Kelly provide practical advice, personal anecdotes, and valuable insights, helping young coders understand the significance of projects and portfolios in their educational and professional journeys. Tune in to gain valuable tips on standing out, showcasing your skills, and navigating the world of coding portfolios and projects!
Mon, 19 Feb 2024 - 25min - 126 - Episode 125: Microlearning
In episode 125 of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes dive into the concept of micro learning, discussing its benefits in fostering long-term memory retention and profound comprehension. The hosts advocate formalizing micro learning--breaking down topics into approachable, bite-sized segments--and discuss its application in the move towards more immediate, more specific, and ultimately more impactful and rewarding feedback. The discussion also covers the idea of 'laddering' a series of micro learning experiences to achieve larger, long-term objectives, the value of diverse learning materials, and even the role of badges and credentials in incentivizing continuous education.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:11 Exploring the Concept of Micro Learning
01:02 Understanding Macro Learning
01:11 The Evolution of Education
04:46 The Role of Micro Learning in Professional Development
05:56 The Methodology of Micro Learning
06:12 Micro Learning in the Classroom
08:49 The Benefits of Micro Learning
21:00 The Importance of Feedback in Micro Learning
28:30 The Role of Gamification in Micro Learning
33:40 Conclusion: The Future of Micro LearningMon, 05 Feb 2024 - 36min - 125 - Episode 124: Motivated with Coding in the World of AI
In this episode, Sean and Kelly focus on maintaining engagement in a pedagogical and professional setting during interaction with AI. They share meaningful anecdotes from their respective fields, offering a variety of methods to increase productivity and interest. Kelly, as an educator, discusses including the students in the technology integrations by letting them understand and contribute to the process. Sean, from a developer perspective, emphasizes on the importance of accountability, leaning into external relationships, having more concrete definitions of tasks, and stepping away when needed for better productivity.
Sun, 14 Jan 2024 - 49min - 124 - Episode 123: Five Year Anniversary
In this commemorative episode, Kelly and Sean celebrate their fifth year at Teaching Python. They reflect upon the origins of the podcast, how it has evolved, successes and challenges they've faced, and valuable lessons learned over the years. This episode underscores the importance of embracing continued learning, of staying persistent, and validates the magic of teaching and learning alongside students.
Tue, 02 Jan 2024 - 38min - 123 - Episode 122: Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
In Episode 122 of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes, explore the multifaceted role of AI in society together with their special guest, Cecilia Danesi. An expert in AI ethics and social impact, Cecilia shares in depth knowledge and interesting insights on the influence AI wields in different aspects of society. The episode covers a broad range of topics underlining the importance of AI in education, the concerns around algorithmic bias, the hard-hitting implications of irresponsible AI usage, the challenges and responsibilities shouldered by educators, among others. Tune in for an eye-opening episode ensuring a broader understanding of AI and the ethical standards required in its use.
Special Guest: Cecilia Celeste Danesi.
Links:
The Empire of Algorithms — In today's world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly central role in our lives. Abstract, ubiquitous and opaque: The challenges of AI regulation — Prof Cecilia Danesi discusses the ethical governance of AI and the difficulty of balance in AI regulation. El imperio de los algoritmos | Cecilia DanesiInteligencia Artificial y Derecho | Cecilia DanesiSat, 16 Dec 2023 - 32min - 122 - Episode 121: The Board of Knowledge
In this episode of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes dive into the world of teaching coding with their special guest, the Board of Knowledge. This unique teaching tool, a large whiteboard spanning the back wall of their computer science classroom, is a visual representation of coding concepts and serves as a valuable resource for sixth graders. Sean and Kelly explore how the Board of Knowledge reduces cognitive load, scaffolds learning, and utilizes dual coding techniques to enhance students' understanding of coding principles. They also discuss the benefits of having a communal set of shared knowledge and the impact it has on students' learning experience. Tune in to discover how this innovative teaching tool can transform your coding lessons!
Links:
Online Python Tutor - visualize, debug, get AI help for Python, Java, C, C++, and JavaScript — Python Tutor helps you do programming homework assignments in Python, Java, C, C++, and JavaScript. It contains a unique step-by-step visual debugger and AI tutor to help you understand and debug code. Welcome - Barbara OakleyFri, 24 Nov 2023 - 16min - 121 - Episode 120: Quick Bites: Failing
Episode 120: The Role of Failure in Learning
In this episode of the Teaching Python podcast, co-hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster Paredes discuss the significance of failure in learning. They assert that failure is a crucial part of development and growth, providing an opportunity to be resilient and persistent when things don't go to plan. Sean shares a personal experience where he turned a coding failure into a learning opportunity, evolving better testing principles. Also, they discuss the need for a secure environment to allow for failure and learning. They conclude by introducing their community partnership with Python Tutor, a tool that helps in visualizing Python code execution.
Wed, 08 Nov 2023 - 18min - 120 - Episode 119: Quick Bites: Constructivism and Coding
In this episode of our teaching series, we dive into learners and their coding journey. We spotlight the Constructivist learning approach, emphasizing its core tenets: active learning, connecting coding to real-world challenges, the crucial role of collaboration, and the sheer power of motivation. The transformative potential of this approach is undeniable. From tales of initial struggles to triumphant victories, this episode is a 15-20 minute dive into the heart of teaching Python.
Tue, 24 Oct 2023 - 22min - 119 - Episode 118: Quick Bites: Testing Student Code
Today, we'll talk about how to test students' code using automated tools. For example, the unit testing built into Replit's Teams for Education allows students to see if their code is correct, while teachers can quickly assess dozens of submissions. We'll also talk about potential pitfalls that can disrupt or distract from learning.
Note: This is a shorter episode format that focuses on one specific topic, limited to 15-20 minutes.
Links:
Teams for Education - Replit — Tests and autograding Save time on grading. Free yourself up for more individual attention and increase student persistence by letting them test code before turning it in. PyBites Platform | Real World Python Exercises — Overwhelmed by tutorials? Stop consuming books and courses! The only way to really learn to code is to write a lot of relevant code. Our platform makes you a confident programmer fast.Sat, 21 Oct 2023 - 15min - 118 - Episode 117: Intermediate Python With Yasoob Khalid
Yasoob Khalid is a blogger, developer at Microsoft, and author of Practical Python Projects and Intermediate Python. Growing up in Pakistan, he saw that there was a lack of resources for learners in developing countries, so he started to blog about what he was learning. Over time, this grew into free online books and resources that anyone around the world can use to learn Python.
During our conversation, we talk about everything from making learning open and accessible, to the role that teachers and mentors play in our learning, as well as the ability to write and publish what we learn to improve our own understanding. We even sprinkle in a bit of Club Penguin.
Join us to learn about how to go from basic to intermediate Python and so much more.
Special Guest: Yasoob Khalid.
Links:
Yasoob Khalid — I am Yasoob! You might know me from Practical Python Projects or the Intermediate Python book. Welcome to my personal blog which is going to be the new home for all of my old and new articles. Practical Python Projects Book - Yasoob Khalid — The Practical Python Projects book demonstrates how to combine different libraries and frameworks to build amazing things. Club Penguin - Wikipedia — Club Penguin was a massively multiplayer online game (MMO), involving a virtual world that contained a range of online games and activities. It was created by New Horizon Interactive (now known as Disney Canada Inc.). Players used cartoon penguin-avatars and played in an Antarctic-themed open world. After beta-testing, Club Penguin was made available to the general public on October 24, 2005, and expanded into a large online community, such that by late 2007, it was claimed Club Penguin had over 30 million user accounts. In July 2013, Club Penguin had over 200 million registered user accounts.[1] Applesoft BASIC - Wikipedia — Applesoft BASIC is a dialect of Microsoft BASIC, developed by Marc McDonald and Ric Weiland, supplied with the Apple II series of computers. It supersedes Integer BASIC and is the BASIC in ROM in all Apple II series computers after the original Apple II model. It is also referred to as FP BASIC (from floating point) because of the Apple DOS command used to invoke it, instead of INT for Integer BASIC. Intermediate Python — Python Tips 0.1 documentation — Python is an amazing language with a strong and friendly community of programmers. However, there is a lack of documentation on what to learn after getting the basics of Python down your throat. Through this book I aim to solve this problem. I would give you bits of information about some interesting topics which you can further explore. CMU School of Computer Science — Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science is widely recognized as one of the first and best computer science programs in the world. Our programs train the next generation of innovators to solve real-world problems and improve the way people live and work. Logic & Proofs – Course from Professor Sieg — An introductory logic course, designed for students from a broad range of disciplines, from mathematics and computer science to drama and creative writing. It is also designed to reflect aspects of the logical tradition (going back to Aristotle) as well as the practical applicability (for example for the construction of Boolean circuits). Below one finds a detailed description of the course with many of its special features. Talks - Brett Cannon: Python's syntactic sugar - YouTube — Did you know that it only takes 11 pieces of syntax and some special functions to implement all the rest of the syntax of Python 3.8? It turns out you can take something like + and unravel it into Python code, letting you implement what Python does for a certain piece of syntax all on your own!Wed, 11 Oct 2023 - 58min - 117 - Episode 116: NLP with Ines Montani
This episode dives into the multifaceted realm of Natural Language Processing (NLP) with a guest expert, [Ines Montani](#). The discussion revolves around the use of Python in the context of NLP, the complexities of language, the design of label schemes, and how educators and students can dive into this intriguing area. The conversation also touches on tools such as Prodigy and Spacy, as well as practical applications, including a humorous digression on the popular game, Fortnite. Teachers are encouraged to explore NLP with their students, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience and data annotation. There's also a mention of a fascinating project involving a "magic mirror" powered by Raspberry Pi.
Special Guest: Ines Montani.
Links:
ines.io — Hi, I’m Ines. I’m a software developer working on Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing technologies, and the co-founder and CEO of Explosion. We’re the makers of spaCy, one of the leading open-source libraries for Natural Language Processing in Python, and Prodigy, a modern annotation tool for creating training data for machine learning models. Explosion — Company co-founded by Ines, specializing in AI and NLP developer tools. spaCy · Industrial-strength Natural Language Processing in Python — A leading Python library for NLP, designed to help process and understand large amounts of textual data. Prodigy · Prodigy · An annotation tool for AI, Machine Learning & NLP — An interactive annotation tool for AI and machine learning, mentioned extensively in the conversation. MagicMirror² — The open source modular smart mirror platform Our Patreon — The Patreon page where listeners can financially support the podcast.Sat, 09 Sep 2023 - 1h 02min - 116 - Episode 115: DroneBlocks with Dennis Baldwin
In this captivating episode of Teaching Python, Kelly and Sean sit down with the innovative mind behind DroneBlocks.io, Dennis Baldwin. As a child, Dennis was deeply fascinated with remote control cars and airplanes. That childhood passion translated into a profound interest in engineering, as he delved deep into the intricate world of building, wiring, and programming flight controllers for his RC planes and quadcopters. Alongside, Dennis maintained an active presence on YouTube, making sure to share a majority of his research, development, and findings with an eager audience.
2010 marked a pivotal year for Dennis when he discovered the ArduPilot project and was deeply inspired by the dynamic developer community that supported it. This newfound inspiration set him on a journey of countless hours in the garage, experimenting and constructing a myriad of autonomous drones. This includes everything from hexacopters and VTOL aircraft to delta wings and mini quads, leveraging APM and Pixhawk flight controllers. 2014 saw him crossing paths with Marisa at Walnut Springs Elementary School in Dripping Springs, TX. A chance collaboration led to Dennis introducing students to the wonders of quadcopters, which further transitioned to the integration of DJI SDK upon students' intrigue in aerial photography.
Fast forward to 2015, Dennis established a groundbreaking concept—melding block programming with the DJI SDK. This innovation birthed DroneBlocks, a platform cherished by students for its intuitive approach to conducting autonomous missions with DJI hardware. Today, DroneBlocks boasts an app, a comprehensive curriculum, and an ever-growing community of users sharing their mission code globally. As a graduate from The Citadel with a BS in Electrical Engineering and with a rich history of co-founding multiple tech ventures, Dennis, along with Marisa, aspires to integrate DroneBlocks into every STEAM classroom across the world. Tune in and soar with us on this incredible journey of passion, innovation, and educational revolution.
Special Guest: Dennis Baldwin.
Links:
DroneBlocks App & Curriculum - Learn to Code with Drones! — DroneBlocks teaches STEM and the real-world application of drones, robots, and sensor technology through our apps, drone coding curriculum, simulator, and professional development. DroneBlocks Robo-Dog GO1 - Classroom Bundle — DroneBlocks — The DroneBlocks GO1 EDU+ bundle comes pre-equipped with two onboard Jetson Nanos and one onboard Jetson NX, this increased processing power gives you the capability of adding Lidar units in the future. ArduPilot - Versatile, Trusted, Open — ArduPilot is a trusted, versatile, and open source autopilot system supporting many vehicle types: multi-copters, traditional helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, boats, submarines, rovers and more. The source code is developed by a large community of professionals and enthusiasts. Dennis Baldwin - YouTube — I'm Dennis Baldwin, an electrical engineer by degree but fell in love with software engineering many years ago. I started building RC cars with my dad as a kid and now build UAVs (aka drones). I'm fascinated by the autonomous aspect of UAVs and spend a lot of time tinkering with Pixhawk and the APM code. Hopefully you learn something from my channel and hopefully I learn something from you as well. Thanks for tuning in. DroneBlocks Curriculum — Check out the full set of Droneblocks courses onlineThu, 24 Aug 2023 - 55min - 115 - Episode 114: The EduBlocks Evolution and Josh Lowe
Way back on Episode 13, we interviewed Josh Lowe, then 15 years old and the creator of EduBlocks. When Josh was 12, he started a Saturday afternoon project to make a block-based coding IDE that generated Python code. Flash forward seven years and Josh still maintains EduBlocks as a software engineer on behalf of Anaconda.
This week, Kelly and Sean caught up with Josh to learn about his educational journey since we last spoke with him, the latest developments on EduBlocks, as well as the new direction enabled by Anaconda's purchase of EduBlocks in May 2023.
Special Guest: Josh Lowe.
Links:
Edublocks — EduBlocks is a free tool by Anaconda that helps anyone learn how to code with text-based languages like Python or HTML using a familiar drag-and-drop blocks system AnacondaAnaconda Press Release Announcing Purchase of EduBlocks — Anaconda Inc., provider of the world’s most popular data science platform, today announced the acquisition of EduBlocks, a free, web-based, drag-and-drop coding platform built to help K-12 students learn fundamental skills. With EduBlocks, Anaconda expands its reach and offerings for K-12 schools as well as for beginner-level professionals.Sun, 06 Aug 2023 - 51min - 114 - Episode 113: ChatGPT and Studying Teachers
This week we are joined by Philip Guo and Sam Lau, researchers at the University of California, San Diego. Philip and Sam have recently published research on how computer science instructors use artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot in their classrooms. Join us to learn more about the data behind how generative AI is changing the way we teach computer science and coding.
Special Guests: Philip Guo and Sam Lau.
Links:
sam lauAI Code Generation Tools Study — From "Ban It Till We Understand It" to "Resistance is Futile": How University Programming Instructors Plan to Adapt as More Students Use AI Code Generation and Explanation Tools such as ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot Pandas Tutor: Using Pyodide to Teach Data Science at Scale | Pyodide blog — Hi, we’re Sam Lau and Philip Guo, and we teach data science classes at UC San Diego. In this guest post we’ll tell you about our free educational tool, Pandas Tutor, that helps students learn data science using the popular pandas library. The above screenshot shows how you can use it to write Python and pandas code in a web-based editor and see visualizations of what your code does step-by-step. Pandas Tutor - visualize Python pandas code — Pandas Tutor lets you write Python pandas code in your browser and see how it transforms your data step-by-step. (If you use R, try Tidy Data Tutor. To visualize general Python, Java, C, C++, and JavaScript code, try Python Tutor.) Teaching Programming in the Age of ChatGPT — How computing instructors plan to adapt to ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and other AI coding assistants (ICER 2023 paper) Real-Real-World Programming with ChatGPT — Taking AI Far Beyond Small Self-Contained Coding TasksMon, 31 Jul 2023 - 56min - 113 - Episode 112: Dash, Plotly, and Learning
In this episode, Kelly and Sean meet with Adam Schroeder, community manager at Plotly and author of The Book of Dash. We'll talk about how teachers can use data visualization in the classroom with Dash to bring data to life for their students.
If you're not familiar with the Dash and Plotly Python libraries, you can get started here with us! Dash is a library for building web-based dashboards to visualize your Python data. It uses Plotly, a library for making beautiful visualizations of data that are highly interactive.
Both libraries are open-source and maintained by the Plotly company, which provides enterprise-grade implementations of Dash and Plotly for business customers.
Special Guest: Adam Schroeder.
Links:
Dash in 20 Minutes Tutorial | Dash for Python Documentation | Plotly — By the end of this tutorial, you will understand the basic building blocks of Dash and you will know how to build this app. Plotly Blog - What Scientists, Engineers, Teachers, &... — Making graphs and analyzing data are essential skills for science, engineering, journalism, and data analysis of all types. Collaborating online with our team means we can work better and faster. The status quo tools–pencil and paper, desktop software, and graphing calculators–present problems. Plotly: Low-Code Data App Development — Dash Enterprise is the premier platform for building, scaling, and deploying data apps in Python. The Book of Dash | No Starch Press — A swift and practical introduction to building interactive data visualization apps in Python, known as dashboards. You’ve seen dashboards before; think election result visualizations you can update in real time, or population maps you can filter by demographic. With the Python Dash library you’ll create analytic dashboards that present data in effective, usable, elegant ways in just a few lines of code. Charming Data - YouTubeMinecraft EDU Digital Citizenship — Minecraft is an open-world game full of possibilities, where players can create and build, solve problems together, and explore amazing worlds. Learn how Minecraft is transforming education. Minecraft is working on a series of digital literacy/cyber safety worlds and lessons.Fri, 14 Jul 2023 - 45min - 112 - Episode 111: Generative AI with Eric Matthes
Episode 111: Exploring Generative AI in Education
In Episode 111 of the Teaching Python podcast, join special guest Eric Matthes and your hosts Kelly and Sean as they dive into the intriguing world of generative AI in education. Coming fresh from the Education Summit at PyCon 2023, they provide a comprehensive recap of the event, highlighting the successful speaker topics, the ideal room size, and the engaging breakout sessions that made the summit a resounding success.
As an extra resource, Eric Matthes, author of the widely acclaimed "Python Crash Course," joins the discussion, providing valuable insights into the intersection of generative AI and education. For those interested, Eric's book can be found on Amazon.
The conversation then delves into the complexities surrounding generative AI, emphasizing that while it holds tremendous potential, it is still in its early stages, leaving us with more questions than answers. To lay the groundwork, the hosts define generative AI and demystify how large language models work, drawing an analogy to refrigerator poetry magnets to aid comprehension.
As the discussion unfolds, Kelly, Eric, and Sean raise crucial questions about the role of generative AI, specifically ChatGPT, in education. They explore the optimal level of usage, the necessary policies and governance to support its implementation, and draw parallels to the concept of the "Goldilocks zone" in astronomy, seeking the right balance for effective integration.
The episode moves to thought-provoking dialogue regarding the future proficiency levels required for learners in problem-solving scenarios. They examine whether coding proficiency alone will suffice or if learners will need to develop AI literacy, enabling them to harness the power of AI to generate code and solutions.
Tune in to Episode 111 of the Teaching Python podcast to gain a deeper understanding of the implications and potential of generative AI in education. As the hosts explore the evolving landscape, they shed light on the importance of finding the right balance and preparing learners for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Special Guest: Eric Matthes.
Links:
Python Crash Course, 3rd Edition: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming: Matthes, Eric: 9781718502703: Amazon.com: Books — Python Crash Course is the world’s best-selling guide to the Python programming language. This fast-paced, thorough introduction will have you writing programs, solving problems, and developing functioning applications in no time. Python Flash Cards: Syntax, Concepts, and Examples: Matthes, Eric: 9781593278960: Amazon.com: Books — Keep your coding skills sharp on the go! Python Flash Cards take a tried-and-tested method and give it a programming makeover. Eric Matthes, author of the best-selling Python Crash Course, distills essential Python programming knowledge into this 101-card deck you can use anywhere. Education Summit - PyCon US 2023 — The Summit is a gathering of teachers and educators focused on bringing coding literacy, through Python, to as many learners as possible. We invite educators from all venues to join the discussion, share insights, learn new techniques and tools, and share their passion for education. We are inviting educators from many venues: authors; PK-12 schools; colleges and universities; community-based workshops; online programs; and government. In addition to a wide array of engaging speakers, we will also create collaboration opportunities and hands-on learning sessions.Sat, 01 Jul 2023 - 1h 04min - 111 - Episode 110: CircuitPython with Kattni Rembor
Show Notes
Introduction
Welcome to this week's episode, entirely devoted to CircuitPython. We're excited to have Kattni Rembor from Adafruit as our special guest, who has contributed extensively to the CircuitPython platform, from beginner guides to advanced projects.Kattni's Win of the Week
Kattni shares her current project, a guide for creating a keyboard key switch with NeoPixels underneath. Each key press generates a random LED color.Our Wins of the Week
Kelly Schuster-Paredes, currently on vacation, shares her achievement of resting for two consecutive minutes. Sean shares his experience using the Marp tool for presentations but admits to time management struggles.CircuitPython Introduction
We delve into CircuitPython, a version of Python designed for microcontrollers. Created for beginners and educational purposes, it provides a unique approach to learning Python.CircuitPython Applications
Kattni enlightens us on the vast applications of CircuitPython, ranging from environmental sensing to assistive technologies for people with disabilities.CircuitPython Capabilities
We discuss how CircuitPython simplifies complex tasks, fostering creativity and making tasks like LED blinking quite straightforward.CircuitPython Boards
At the time of recording, there are 413 boards compatible with CircuitPython available at circuitpython.org. We also discuss Adafruit's educational pricing and discounts.Top CircuitPython Boards
We list our top five favorite boards for education, ease of use, and fun projects, including Blue fruit and Circuit Playground Express.Getting Started with CircuitPython
Starting with CircuitPython can be challenging for beginners. We discuss some common issues and solutions, like copying required libraries immediately after importing.CircuitPython in the Classroom
We highlight the immense possibilities of CircuitPython in educational settings and encourage educators to explore its potential.Connect with Kattni Rembor
You can follow Kattni Rembor's projects on the Adafruit Learning System and on social media platforms like Mastodon.Live Streaming Announcement
Kelly announces the "Summer of Streaming," aiming to live stream every Wednesday at three.Closing Remarks
We wrap up the episode with Kattni expressing her enjoyment in discussing CircuitPython and her excitement for future projects. Sean and Kelly sign off, looking forward to the next episode.Special Guest: Kattni Rembor.
Fri, 23 Jun 2023 - 1h 04min - 110 - Episode 109: What We Did on Our Podcast Sabbatical
Show Notes:
- Personal Updates Sean Tibor shares his excitement about meeting his overseas team members for the first time. He also expresses pride at watching his first batch of students graduate and choose to study in computer science and related fields. Future Learning Journeys Kelly Schuster-Paredes reflects on the exciting learning opportunities the students will undertake. She expresses hope that these students will return to share their experiences and insights (Teaching Python website). Inviting Past Students on the Podcast Both hosts discuss the possibility of inviting former students to the podcast as guests. Current Students Excelling Kelly shares an anecdote about a 6th grader surpassing her knowledge in Python's Turtle module. Plans for the Podcast Return in June with the first guest speaker of the year. Considering a summer sabbatical to prepare for the upcoming school year. Plans to enhance their Patreon community with exclusive benefits. Reach Out! Sean invites listeners to reach out via social platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. He also encourages feedback on potential topics or guests for future podcast episodes through their website contact form. Signing Off The hosts sign off, promising more Python learning insights and experiences in the next episodes.
For more details, visit the Teaching Python Podcast website.
Tue, 30 May 2023 - 32min - 109 - Episode 108: Hardware for Learning
Kelly and Sean interview Ryan Dehmoubed, co-founder of JuiceMind, a startup focused on hardware and software for the K-12 computer science education market. Their initial products focus on the AP Computer Science curriculum with a goal of making coding more engaging while showing students the practical applications of coding.
In this interview, we'll cover everything from the shortage of computer science teachers to smart doorbells to going beyond Kahoot! to tools that help teachers assess student learning progress.
Special Guest: Ryan Dehmoubed.
Links:
Python Smart Doorbell - JuiceMind — Learn the fundamentals of Python by building a REAL product – a Smart Doorbell that sends text messages and emails! Ping Pong Launcher - JuiceMind — Strengthen your Python skills and learn the fundamentals of robotics by building a Ping Pong Launcher that can fire a ping pong ball 20 feet! JuiceMind QuizzesSun, 12 Mar 2023 - 43min - 108 - Episode 107: AI In The Middle School with Dr. Nisha Talagala
Have you ever wondered how Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant can understand and respond to our commands? Or how Netflix or YouTube recommend the next video for us to watch? The answer lies in Artificial Intelligence (AI), a branch of computer science that allows machines to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence, such as speech recognition, image processing, and decision-making. In this episode of The Teaching Python podcast, Dr. Nisha Talagala, the founder and CEO of AIClub, a nonprofit organization that teaches AI to students and educators, joins hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes to demystify AI and Machine Learning (ML) for middle school students.
Dr. Talagala starts by explaining how she started teaching her then 9-year old daughter about AI and quickly realized that there were a lot of gaps in the available AI materials for teaching. She started assembling resources and organizing the content in a way that worked well for kids while providing them with room to grow their knowledge and skills. This quickly turned into a book project, The Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence, Volume 1 with her co-author Dr. Sindhu Ghanta.
Next, the conversation shifts to teaching the ethics of AI and the potential risks and benefits of AI for society. Dr. Talagala explains how students need projects that they can relate to and easily adapt to answer the questions they generate. She suggests that middle school students can play a role in shaping the future of AI by learning about these issues, questioning the status quo, and advocating for responsible AI practices. The episode ends with resources and recommendations for teachers who want to learn more about AI and ML.
Special Guest: Nisha Talagala.
Links:
Amazon.com: Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence: Volume 1 (Introduction to Artificial Intelligence) eBook : Talagala, Nisha, Ghanta, Sindhu: Kindle Store — This book is for K12 students who want to learn AI, for teachers who want to teach AI and bring AI into the classroom, and for any individual who wants to understand AI in a simple and effective way. AIClub - AI for Kids, Coding, IOT, Apps for Kids | AIClub — Artificial Intelligence is the Future. Are Your Kids Ready? The Three E’s Of Problem Solving: Core Skills In The Age Of ChatGPT — I have written articles (like this one) on how technologies like ChatGPT, while massively disruptive, are not necessarily the first ones that upended our understanding of what core workplace skills need to look like. In the presence of ever-increasing automation - I would argue the core skills that remain are problem-solving skills - which can be measured by three Es - Effective, Efficient, and EthicalSun, 05 Mar 2023 - 47min - 107 - Episode 106: Interview with Al Sweigart
After years of being atop our "must-have guests" list, Kelly and Sean finally get to interview Al Sweigart, author of Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, as well as many other books and courses that help people learn Python more effectively
Join us as we talk about everything from our favorite teaching examples, the process of book writing, fostering cats, and more.
Special Guest: Al Sweigart.
Links:
Invent with Python — Learning to program makes you a smarter and more capable human being. Rocket science uses programming, but programming isn't rocket science. Whether you're a student preparing for a software career, an office worker buried under spreadsheet files, or a hobbyist who wants to make video games, the Python programming language is an excellent start in the world of programming. Get started for free with the online copies of Al's books! The Recursive Book of Recursion: Ace the Coding Interview with Python and JavaScript: Sweigart, Al: 9781718502024: Amazon.com: Books — An accessible yet rigorous crash course on recursive programming using Python and JavaScript examples. Recursion has an intimidating reputation: it’s considered to be an advanced computer science topic frequently brought up in coding interviews. But there’s nothing magical about recursion. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, 2nd Edition: Practical Programming for Total Beginners: Sweigart, Al: 9781593279929: Amazon.com: Books — Learn how to code while you write programs that effortlessly perform useful feats of automation! The second edition of this international fan favorite includes a brand-new chapter on input validation, Gmail and Google Sheets automations, tips for updating CSV files, and more. Python Programming Exercises, Gently Explained , Sweigart, Al, eBook - Amazon.com — Many books and websites have aggressive programming challenges for top coders. However, this book is for the rest of us. We want challenges that improve our coding skills, not leave us confused and discouraged. Other tutorials and books have taught you the basics of Python, but the 42 programming exercises in this book let you practice what you've learned. Selected for their simplicity, these programming problems include gentle explanations of the problem, the prerequisite coding concepts you’ll need to understand the solution, and helpful templates to put together the programs if you have trouble starting from scratch. Amazon.com: The Big Book of Small Python Projects: 81 Easy Practice Programs eBook : Sweigart, Al: Kindle Store — If you’ve mastered basic Python syntax and you’re ready to start writing programs, you’ll find The Big Book of Small Python Projects both enlightening and fun. This collection of 81 Python projects will have you making digital art, games, animations, counting pro- grams, and more right away. Once you see how the code works, you’ll practice re-creating the programs and experiment by adding your own custom touches. Beyond the Basic Stuff with Python: Best Practices for Writing Clean Code: Sweigart, Al: 9781593279660: Amazon.com: Books — BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN NOVICE AND PROFESSIONAL You've completed a basic Python programming tutorial or finished Al Sweigart's bestseller, Automate the Boring Stuff with Python. What's the next step toward becoming a capable, confident software developer? Cracking Codes with Python: An Introduction to Building and Breaking Ciphers: Sweigart, Al: 9781593278229: Amazon.com: Books — Learn how to program in Python while making and breaking ciphers—algorithms used to create and send secret messages! Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python, 4th Edition: Sweigart, Al: 9781593277956: Amazon.com: Books — Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python will teach you how to make computer games using the popular Python programming language—even if you’ve never programmed before!Thu, 23 Feb 2023 - 56min - 106 - Episode 105: PyCon Education Summit!
Kelly and Sean are organizing the PyCon US Education Summit for 2023. Join us to learn more about the summit, what we've learned from attending, and how you can get involved.
Links:
Welcome to PyCon US 2023 - PyCon US 2023 — Presenting PyCon US 2023 a 20th Year Anniversary Celebration! Salt Lake City, Utah - April 19, 2023 - April 27, 2023 Tutorials - April 19-20, 2023 Main Conference and Online - April 21-23, 2023 Job Fair - April 23, 2023 Sprints - April 24-27, 202Wed, 08 Feb 2023 - 11min - 105 - Episode 104: What We're Reading
In episode 104 of the Teaching Python podcast, Kelly and Sean discuss their wins of the week and announce they are co-chairing the PyCon US Education Summit in April 2023. The episode features a segment on book recommendations, where Kelly and Sean share some of their recent reads that they found particularly useful for Python programmers.
One of the recommended books is "The Missing ReadMe" which is a guide for new engineers to understand and navigate open-source projects. Another book recommended is "Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence" which is a comprehensive introduction to the field of artificial intelligence and its underlying algorithms and techniques. They also recommend "Accelerate: The Science of Lean Software and DevOps" which is a practical guide with industry data about the benefits of DevOps. "Fluent Python" is another book they recommend which is a guide to writing better and more idiomatic Python code. Finally, they recommend the new edition of "Python Crash Course" by Eric Matthes which is a fast-paced, thorough introduction to Python programming for beginners.
It's a great episode for anyone who is interested in learning more about the Python programming language, and the PyCon Education Summit, as well as reading some great books on the topic. The episode is available on the Teaching Python podcast website, and the links to the books can also be found there.
Links:
Amazon.com: Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals eBook : Knaflic, Cole Nussbaumer: Kindle Store — Storytelling with Data teaches you the fundamentals of data visualization and how to communicate effectively with data. You'll discover the power of storytelling and the way to make data a pivotal point in your story. How Charts Lie: Getting Smarter about Visual Information , Cairo, Alberto - Amazon.com — Today, public conversations are increasingly driven by numbers. While charts, infographics, and diagrams can make us smarter, they can also deceive—intentionally or unintentionally. To be informed citizens, we must all be able to decode and use the visual information that politicians, journalists, and even our employers present us with each day. Demystifying an essential new literacy for our data-driven world, How Charts Lie examines contemporary examples ranging from election result infographics to global GDP maps and box office record charts, as well as an updated afterword on the graphics of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amazon.com: Truthful Art, The: Data, Charts, and Maps for Communication (Voices That Matter) eBook : Cairo, Alberto: Books — Every day, at work, home, and school, we are bombarded with vast amounts of free data collected and shared by everyone and everything from our co-workers to our calorie counters. In this highly anticipated follow-up to The Functional Art—Alberto Cairo’s foundational guide to understanding information graphics and visualization—the respected data visualization professor explains in clear terms how to work with data, discover the stories hidden within, and share those stories with the world in the form of charts, maps, and infographics. Functional Art, The: An introduction to information graphics and visualization (Voices That Matter) 1, Cairo, Alberto, eBook - Amazon.com — Unlike any time before in our lives, we have access to vast amounts of free information. With the right tools, we can start to make sense of all this data to see patterns and trends that would otherwise be invisible to us. By transforming numbers into graphical shapes, we allow readers to understand the stories those numbers hide. In this practical introduction to understanding and using information graphics, you’ll learn how to use data visualizations as tools to see beyond lists of numbers and variables and achieve new insights into the complex world around us. The Missing README: A Guide for the New Software Engineer , Riccomini, Chris, Ryaboy, Dmitriy, eBook - Amazon.com — Key concepts and best practices for new software engineers — stuff critical to your workplace success that you weren’t taught in school. Amazon.com: Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence: Volume 1 (Introduction to Artificial Intelligence) eBook : Talagala, Nisha, Ghanta, Sindhu: Kindle Store — This book is for K12 students who want to learn AI, for teachers who want to teach AI and bring AI into the classroom, and for any individual who wants to understand AI in a simple and effective way. Accelerate: The Science of Lean Software and DevOps: Building and Scaling High Performing Technology Organizations 1, Forsgren PhD, Nicole, Humble, Jez, Kim, Gene, eBook - Amazon.com — How can we apply technology to drive business value? For years, we've been told that the performance of software delivery teams doesn't matter―that it can't provide a competitive advantage to our companies. Through four years of groundbreaking research to include data collected from the State of DevOps reports conducted with Puppet, Dr. Nicole Forsgren, Jez Humble, and Gene Kim set out to find a way to measure software delivery performance―and what drives it―using rigorous statistical methods. This book presents both the findings and the science behind that research, making the information accessible for readers to apply in their own organizations. Amazon.com: Leading with AI and Analytics: Build Your Data Science IQ to Drive Business Value eBook : Anderson, Eric, Zettelmeyer, Florian: Kindle Store — Data. It’s the benchmark that informs corporate projections, decision-making, and analysis. But, why do many organizations that see themselves as data-driven fail to thrive? In Leading with AI and Analytics, two renowned experts from the Kellogg School of Management show business leaders how to transform their organization to become evidence-driven, which leads to real, measurable changes that can help propel their companies to the top of their industries. Fluent Python 2, Ramalho, Luciano, eBook - Amazon.com — Don't waste time bending Python to fit patterns you've learned in other languages. Python's simplicity lets you become productive quickly, but often this means you aren't using everything the language has to offer. With the updated edition of this hands-on guide, you'll learn how to write effective, modern Python 3 code by leveraging its best ideas. Amazon.com: Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life eBook : Kwik, Jim: Kindle Store — JIM KWIK, the world's #1 brain coach, has written the owner's manual for mental expansion and brain fitness. Limitless gives people the ability to accomplish more--more productivity, more transformation, more personal success, and business achievement, by changing their Mindset, Motivation, and Methods. Python Crash Course, 3rd Edition: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming , Matthes, Eric, eBook - Amazon.com — Python Crash Course is the world’s best-selling guide to the Python programming language. This fast-paced, thorough introduction will have you writing programs, solving problems, and developing functioning applications in no time. The Book of Dash: Build Dashboards with Python and Plotly , Schroeder, Adam, Mayer, Christian, Ward, Ann Marie, eBook - Amazon.com — A swift and practical introduction to building interactive data visualization apps in Python, known as dashboards. You’ve seen dashboards before; think election result visualizations you can update in real time, or population maps you can filter by demographic. With the Python Dash library you’ll create analytic dashboards that present data in effective, usable, elegant ways in just a few lines of code.Tue, 24 Jan 2023 - 43min - 104 - Episode 103: ChatGPT and Learning
This episode description was written by ChatGPT. What do you think?
In this episode of the Teaching Python podcast, Kelly and Sean delve into the topic of ChatGPT and its potential impact on computer science education. ChatGPT is a new artificial intelligence tool developed by OpenAI that has generated a lot of buzz in the tech industry. The hosts consider both the potential benefits and drawbacks of using ChatGPT in the classroom, and discuss how it could be used to enhance the learning experience.
One of the key points they address is the question of whether ChatGPT will be a helpful or harmful addition to computer science education. On the one hand, ChatGPT has the potential to be a powerful teaching aid, providing students with a unique and engaging way to learn. On the other hand, there are concerns that the use of ChatGPT could lead to a reduction in critical thinking skills, as students may rely too heavily on the tool for solutions.
Ultimately, Kelly and Sean argue that ChatGPT has the potential to be a valuable resource for educators, but it is important to use it in a balanced and mindful way. They suggest that incorporating ChatGPT into the curriculum in combination with other teaching methods could be an effective way to maximize its benefits and minimize any negative effects. If you are interested in learning more about ChatGPT and its potential applications in education, be sure to check out the linked resources.
Links:
ChatGPT: Optimizing Language Models for Dialogue — We’ve trained a model called ChatGPT which interacts in a conversational way. The dialogue format makes it possible for ChatGPT to answer followup questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests. ChatGPT is a sibling model to InstructGPT, which is trained to follow an instruction in a prompt and provide a detailed response. Aligning Language Models to Follow Instructions — We’ve trained language models that are much better at following user intentions than GPT-3 while also making them more truthful and less toxic, using techniques developed through our alignment research. These InstructGPT models, which are trained with humans in the loop, are now deployed as the default language models on our API. Proximal Policy Optimization — We’re releasing a new class of reinforcement learning algorithms, Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO), which perform comparably or better than state-of-the-art approaches while being much simpler to implement and tune. PPO has become the default reinforcement learning algorithm at OpenAI because of its ease of use and good performance. ChatGPT Equivalent Is Open-Source, But it Is of No Use to Developers — It seems like the first open-source ChatGPT equivalent has emerged. It is an application of RLHF (Reinforcement Learning with Human Feedback) built on top of Google’s PaLM architecture, which has 540 billion parameters. PaLM + RLHF, ChatGPT Equivalent is open-source now, it is a text-generating model that acts similarly to ChatGPT, was provided by the developer in charge of reverse engineering closed-sourced AI systems like Meta’s Make-A-Video. It is characterized as a work in progress. How AI Is Changing The Way Students Learn — In the education landscape, technology is rapidly changing. AI and machine learning, in particular, are now impacting the education sector in numerous ways. In fact, despite some commonly held beliefs, the use of AI in education goes beyond grading student assessments, and this technology can greatly benefit both educators and students. Brian Bourque on Twitter: — "ChatGPT will revolutionize how non-technical folks build products. Here's an example (I put this together in 2 min, so yeah, it's crappy):" / Twitter Can Anti-Plagiarism Tools Detect When AI Chatbots Write Student Essays? | EdSurge News — After its launch last month, ChatGPT, the latest chatbot released by OpenAI, made the rounds online. Alex, a sophomore at a university in Pittsburgh, started toying with the chatbot about a week after it was released, after finding out about it on Twitter. Within a couple of days, he got really excited by the quality of the writing it produced. The chatbot was good, he says—really good. (“Alex” is the name that this person provided to EdSurge. He only agreed to speak anonymously, for fear of repercussions for admitting to academic dishonesty.) Will ChatGPT Kill the Student Essay? - The Atlantic — Nobody is prepared for how AI will transform academia. ChatGPT for Google - Chrome Web Store — Display ChatGPT response alongside Google Search results This is an open-source extension that show response from ChatGPT alongside Google and other search engines ZohaibAhmed/chatgpt-api: This repo is unofficial ChatGPT api. It is based on Daniel Gross's WhatsApp GPT — It uses playwright and chromium to open browser and parse html. It is an unoffical api for development purpose only. lencx/ChatGPT: 🔮 ChatGPT Desktop Application (Mac, Windows and Linux) — This is a major and exciting update. It works like a Telegram bot command and helps you quickly populate custom models to make chatgpt work the way you want it to. This project has taken a lot of my spare time, so if it helps you, please help spread the word or star it would be a great encouragement to me. I hope I can keep updating it and adding more interesting features. ChatGPT Tutorial - A Crash Course on Chat GPT for Beginners - YouTube — This ChatGPT Tutorial is a Crash Course on Chat GPT for Beginners. With the increase in popularity, ChatGPT is still unknown to many people. In this video, I will provide a crash course on different ways to use ChatGPT.Thu, 05 Jan 2023 - 49min - 103 - Episode 102: The Learner Variability Project
In Episode 102 of the Teaching Python podcast with Kelly and Sean, the topic is learner variability, based on an article by Jessica Jackson of the Digital Promise Project. This episode discusses how to effectively teach programming to a diverse group of learners, and how to adapt to the individual needs and learning styles of each student.
One key point discussed in the podcast is that students learn at different times and at different rates, and it is important for teachers to recognize and accommodate this variability. The old theory of learning styles, which suggests that individuals have a preferred style of learning and that teaching should be tailored to these preferences, has been debunked as a myth. Instead, research suggests that the most effective way to teach is to use a variety of methods and approaches, and to allow students to engage with the material in different ways.
In addition to incorporating teaching strategies such as scaffolding, differentiation, and formative assessment, it is also important for teachers to consider the various learning factors that may impact their students. This includes designing for students who may be at the margins, such as those who are struggling or those who are advanced. It also involves designing with context in mind, taking into account the unique experiences and background of each student. This can include cultural factors, language barriers, and any prior knowledge or skills that may be relevant to the material being taught.
Designing with the whole child in mind involves considering not just the cognitive aspects of learning, but also the social and emotional aspects. This may involve creating a positive and supportive learning environment, and being attuned to the needs and well-being of each student. Finally, designing for powerful experiences involves creating engaging and meaningful learning activities that are likely to have a lasting impact on students. By considering these various learning factors, teachers can create more effective and inclusive learning experiences for their students.
Links:
Learner Variability Teacher Guide.pdf - Google Drive — The Learner Variability Project In the Field: A Guide to Understanding and Addressing Learner Variability Learner Variability Navigator | Learner Variability Project — Learners thrive when their experience is personal and meaningful. This free tool helps you find research-based strategies that support the whole learner so you can create better learning experiences today. Homepage - Digital Promise — Digital Promise shapes the future of learning and advances equitable education systems by bringing together solutions across research, practice, and technology.Sat, 24 Dec 2022 - 49min - 102 - Episode 101: 2022 Holiday Gift Guide
Welcome to Teaching Python, the podcast all about sharing tips, tricks, and insights on teaching and learning the Python programming language. In this episode, Kelly and Sean are giving you a list of 10 gift ideas for computer science teachers and learners.
Whether you're a teacher looking for some inspiration for your holiday wishlist, or a student looking for a gift for your favorite computer science teacher, this episode has you covered. From practical tools like an online course about Python, to fun gadgets like a Lego rollercoaster or desktop robot, there's something for everyone on this list.
So join Kelly and Sean as they share their top 10 gift ideas for computer science teachers and learners. And as always, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, be sure to send us an email at info@teachingpython.fm. Happy holiday season and happy coding!
Links:
EMO GO HOME - LivingAi — The EMO GO HOME version is expected to be shipped by Christmas, but we cannot guarantee that you will receive it by Christmas. So if you want to receive EMO earlier, you can buy the standard version of EMO first, and buy the separate Home Station later (another new order). Loop Coaster 10303 | LEGO® Icons | Buy online at the Official LEGO® Shop US — When we released our first roller-coaster set, we had no idea that it would become so popular. It turns out, though, that people really love roller-coasters! So, when it came to designing our newest roller-coaster set, our designers wanted to do something that we’ve never done before and create a set that they were certain would appeal to roller-coaster fans around the world. Amazon.com: Beginners crochet kit, DIY Crochet Kit For Beginners, Cute Animal Kit Fox Starter Pack With Yarn Balls, Crochet Hooks, knitting stitch markers, Needles, Instruction, Accessories Kit for Beginners — All in One Crochet Kit: Our beginners crochet kit contains 3pcs yarn balls, 1pc crochet hook, 5pcs knitting stitch markers, 1pc yarn needle, 4 plastic eyes, stuffing, paper and video instruction. Easy to follow and happy to start your crochet diy journey. Evo Entry Kit (White) – Ozobot — The Evo Entry Kit prepares educators and parents to bring coding and creativity to the home and classroom, no coding experience required. Code Ozobot Evo two ways: online with Ozobot Blockly and screen-free with Color Code markers. Ozobot Blockly has five skill levels from beginner to master coding. Amazon.com: YDDSABER Jedi Sith LED Light Saber, Force FX Heavy Dueling, Rechargeable Lightsaber, Loud Sound High Light with FOC, Metal Hilt, Blaster, (Red) : Toys & Games — Our Advantage: The lightsaber has Blaster sound and flash on clash, support dueling. Let you cross into the real movie and become the last jedi Sith of wars . Smooth Aluminum Hilt+Removable Blade: Handle is made of aluminum alloy. Blade material is high quality poly carbonate. Total length about 95 cm after assembly. Python Crash Course, 3rd Edition: Matthes, Eric: 9781718502703: Amazon.com: Books — This third edition is completely revised to reflect the latest in Python code. New and updated coverage includes VS Code for text editing, the pathlib module for file handling, pytest for testing your code, as well as the latest features of Matplotlib, Plotly, and Django. If you’ve been thinking about digging into programming, Python Crash Course will provide you with the skills to write real programs fast. Why wait any longer? Start your engines and code! (Get it now) Python Crash Course, 3rd Edition | No Starch Press — Python Crash Course is the world’s best-selling guide to the Python programming language. This fast-paced, thorough introduction will have you writing programs, solving problems, and developing functioning applications in no time. Products | ovobot — Xtron Pro is a programmable handheld game console that is ideal for running MakeCode Arcade & NES games and creating DIY projects from electronics to mobile robots, Xtron Pro can also be transformed into a wearable device with customized interfaces and functions by visual programming. Membership – Real Python — Become a Python Expert Level up your career with hands-on courses, learning paths, code quizzes, and 24/7 access to a community of experts Bundle: The Everything Bundle (2022 Q4) - [Talk Python Training] — Lifetime access to every course currently in our library or launched before October 2023, period Buy Exercise Credits — Buy a redemption code for exercise credits and premium screencast access You can use this form to purchase a Python Morsels redemption code redeemable for exercise credits and access to premium Python Morsels screencasts. You can send this redemption code to friend or you can apply it to your own account (it can only be used once though). Become a Member of the PSF | Python Software Foundation — Become a Member of the PSF By becoming a member, you tell us and the world that you are a part of the PSF and support our work, and as one of the classes of voting members, you add your voice to the future direction of the Foundation. We're so happy to have you!Sun, 11 Dec 2022 - 48min - 101 - Episode 100: Celebrating Motivation (with @mkennedy & @brianokken)
After 100 episodes of Teaching Python, Kelly and Sean invite some friends of the show to share how they stay motivated.
We're joined by Michael Kennedy and [Brian Okken](twitter.com/brianokken) from the Python Bytes podcast to talk about the ways we stay motivated.
Listen in for tips and strategies from a variety of sources. How do you stay motivated?
Special Guests: Brian Okken and Michael Kennedy.
Links:
Python Bytes Podcast — Python Bytes is a weekly podcast hosted by Michael Kennedy and Brian Okken. Talk Python To Me Podcast — Talk Python To Me A podcast on Python and related technologies Test & Code in Python — ABOUT THE SHOW Topics include automated testing, testing strategy, software engineering practices, packaging, Python, pytest, data science, TDD, continuous integration, and software methodologies. Also anything I think helps make the daily life of a software developer more fun and rewarding. Hosted by Brian Okken Python Testing with pytest: Simple, Rapid, Effective, and Scalable: Okken, Brian: 9781680508604: Amazon.com: Books — Test applications, packages, and libraries large and small with pytest, Python's most powerful testing framework. pytest helps you write tests quickly and keep them readable and maintainable. In this fully revised edition, explore pytest's superpowers - simple asserts, fixtures, parametrization, markers, and plugins - while creating simple tests and test suites against a small database application. Using a robust yet simple fixture model, it's just as easy to write small tests with pytest as it is to scale up to complex functional testing. This book shows you how.Sat, 05 Nov 2022 - 46min - 100 - Episode 99: LIVE: The Art of Searching It Up
The Teaching Python podcast speaks about how the Google Cycle can help support learning in Code. Teaching kids to “embrace the research side of Coding (and become great at this skill)”
“Now we aren’t talking about googling for solutions. But smart googling with a big perspective.”
→ Kelly is starting a Boot camp, the prework module actually says and explains: “If you get stuck, remember that you can usually get help by searching online.” THere are guidelines to how to search and how to read Stack Overflow.
“A good rule of thumb is to use code you find as a resource, not a solution.”
“While google may have many answers, it’s no replacement for your own mind! Avoid relying on google to find out the programming solutions to the bare fundamentals of your chosen programming language.”
This means not being tempted to use your search tools as a replacement for memorising the basics of your programming language. While technically you’ll quickly find the answer for the most basic questions to some programming queries (e.g. how to print to console) you certainly don’t want to be reaching for google every time you need to use this!
Fri, 28 Oct 2022 - 48min - 99 - Episode 98: Robotics with RobotLab
The Teaching Python podcast speaks with Elad Inbar, founder of RobotLab and Robots for Education and how to improve student engagement by using robots.
Special Guest: Elad Inbar.
Links:
RobotLAB Group - Robotics Solution Integrator — We are "The Robot Guys". the only company you will ever need for your turn-key robotics solution. No matter how small or large your project is, we can do the heavy lifting for you! NAO Robot Power V6 Educator Pack — The latest version of NAO with 10 major areas of improvement is here! Bring STEM and Coding to life with the NAO Robot. Hands-on learning platform to teach core subjects: Reading, Writing, Math, pre-algebra, geometry, algebra, trigonometry, calculus and programming.Thu, 20 Oct 2022 - 49min - 98 - Episode 97: Beyond Computer Science Classrooms
Sri Kundurthy, a student and EuroPython speaker joins Kelly and Sean to talk about bringing Python to other subject areas. From physics models to data manipulation to advanced algorithms, we talk about a wide range of applications for computer science outside of the computer science classroom
Special Guest: Srivatsa Kundurthy.
Links:
Revolutionizing Education: How Python is Essential Beyond Computer Science - Srivatsa Kundurthy - EuroPython 2022 | July 11th-17th 2022 | Dublin Ireland & Remote — Python has had a transformational effect on countless fields so far, but its permeation can be accelerated through the integration of Python into non-computing coursework. Currently, Python’s presence within secondary and post-secondary schools varies greatly between different institutions, but the continuity in the lack of interdisciplinary coursework is a key limiting factor in the widespread growth of computing education. The Missing README: A Guide for the New Software Engineer: Riccomini, Chris, Ryaboy, Dmitriy: 9781718501836: Amazon.com: Books — Key concepts and best practices for new software engineers — stuff critical to your workplace success that you weren’t taught in school. srivatsa-kundurthy (Srivatsa Kundurthy)Teaching Python: Overview | LinkedIn — Our new Teaching Python LinkedIn Page!Mon, 19 Sep 2022 - 46min - 97 - Episode 96: Decoupling Grading
Kelly and Sean discuss how grading and learning are often confused with each other. We settle in for a chat about everything from intern projects to class challenges to communicating actual learning through grades. Settle in for an episode with just the co-hosts of Teaching Python!
Links:
Modern APIs with FastAPI and Python Online Course - [Talk Python Training] — Getting started course with FastAPI from TalkPython Training by Michael Kennedy The Missing README: A Guide for the New Software Engineer: Riccomini, Chris, Ryaboy, Dmitriy: 9781718501836: Amazon.com: Books — Key concepts and best practices for new software engineers — stuff critical to your workplace success that you weren’t taught in school. Amazon.com: Think Like a Programmer: An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving: 9781593274245: Spraul, V. Anton: Books — The real challenge of programming isn't learning a language's syntax—it's learning to creatively solve problems so you can build something great. In this one-of-a-kind text, author V. Anton Spraul breaks down the ways that programmers solve problems and teaches you what other introductory books often ignore: how to Think Like a Programmer. Each chapter tackles a single programming concept, like classes, pointers, and recursion, and open-ended exercises throughout challenge you to apply your knowledge. Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy - Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy - Carnegie Mellon University — Use educational affordances of robotics to create CS-STEM opportunities for all learnersSat, 03 Sep 2022 - 50min - 96 - Episode 95: Managing Your Teacher Workload
The Teaching Python podcast speaks with Pete Dring and the tools he has created to manage his workload while teaching computer science and Python. Join us to learn more about these tools and how you can use them to shift your workload from boring to exciting!
Special Guest: Peter Dring.
Links:
Create with code — Write python code in the browser! Write, run and debug python code in your browser — Welcome to blog.withcode.uk! This site is designed to provide free teaching and learning resources for teachers and students of Computer Science. You can find out more here. Amazon.com: Learn Like a Pro: Science-Based Tools to Become Better at Anything eBook : PhD, Barbara Oakley, Schewe, Olav: Kindle Store — Do you spend too much time learning with disappointing results? Do you find it difficult to remember what you read? Do you put off studying because it’s boring and you’re easily distracted? This book is for you.Mon, 22 Aug 2022 - 49min - 95 - Episode 94: Anaconda in Education
Sean and Kelly speak with Anaconda and their outreach program. Anaconda supports educators and learners with the ability to understand and interpret data. This leads to better decision-making and a world where people are empowered to create positive change.
Episode Errata:
The hackday event referenced in the episode was related to Pyscript and more information will come out on that shortly. The data science competition for high school students referenced in the episode is called Data Science Expo and will be piloted in the 2022-2023 school year.Note: we had to go to the cloud-based recording backup for this episode, so you may notice a few issues with audio quality. Our editor did his best to clean it up, but there are a few rough spots.
Special Guests: Albert Defusco and Sophia Yang.
Links:
Anaconda Nucleus — Find content in the Anaconda library, support, and more! Anaconda | The World's Most Popular Data Science Platform — Anaconda offers the easiest way to perform Python/R data science and machine learning on a single machine. Start working with thousands of open-source packages and libraries today. Getting started with Anaconda — Anaconda documentation — Anaconda Distribution contains conda and Anaconda Navigator, as well as Python and hundreds of scientific packages. When you installed Anaconda, you installed all these too. PyScript | Run Python in your HTML — Run Python in Your HTMLMon, 01 Aug 2022 - 1h 03min - 94 - Episode 93: Mission Encodeable
Harry and Anna are high-school students who are passionate about coding, engineering, and design. When they’re not doing their homework, they’re busy writing tutorials, designing website wireframes, and planning the next courses for Mission Encodeable.
Special Guests: Anna Wake and Harry Wake.
Links:
Mission Encodeable | Free coding tutorials for young people — The coolest way to learn to code. Free digital coding and design courses for young people. The collaborative browser based IDE - Replit — Use our free, collaborative, in-browser IDE to code in 50+ languages — without spending a second on setup.Wed, 20 Jul 2022 - 44min - 93 - Episode 92: Let's Talk Teaching
In this episode, Sean and Kelly talk with Computer Science and STEM teachers about our wins, our failures, and all about teaching Python. We're joined by teachers Dottie Holland, Andre Chmielewski, and Andy Colley to talk about everything from our favorite teaching resources, what it's like to teach after the exams are over, why Python over other languages, and more.
Links:
Rubicon — Where kids learn the skills that aren't taught in schoolWed, 13 Jul 2022 - 50min - 92 - Episode 91: The New Beta Python Micro:bit Editor
In this episode, we will learn about the new features of this great alpha product for the micro:bit.
Its main goals are to make coding with Python per se and Python on the micro:bit more accessible:
An appealing user interface with bright colours Contextual help and autocomplete Example snippets of code you can browse and insert, like browsing blocks in MakeCode or Scratch Simple code structure highlighting to aid understanding about indents in Python Explanation of features of MicroPython useful in CS teaching, but not covered in device-oriented documentation Built-in serial console and REPL so you can do more traditional Python coding using your keyboard input and printing to the screen – the micro:bit is your Python runtime!Special Guest: Giles Booth.
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seantibor/uorganisms: Python micro:organisms on the BBC micro:bit — The uorganism, spoken: 'micro:organism' (get it?), project helps students understand how genetic information is passed from generation to generation using the BBC micro:bit. Each micro:bit holds a single virtual organism that can reproduce with other micro:bits in range using the built-in radio. Using the REPL, students can see how new organisms are created and track how genetic information is passed from parents to offspring. Python Editor for micro:bit — The Beta version! Micro:bit Educational Foundation | micro:bit — The Microbit foundation home page Talk - Kelly Schuster - Paredes/Sean Tibor: Learn Python Like a 12 Year Old - YouTube — Along the way to adulthood, we often lose that sense of wonder, enjoyment, and playfulness that we had as kids in our favorite school subjects. As adults, we can become better learners ourselves when we examine how kids learn coding with Python. In this session, we’ll talk about making thinking and coding visible, to the brain science behind how we learn new things, to the importance of playfulness in learning. We will share a variety of helpful tips to improve your learning whether you are new to Python or an experienced coder.Tue, 31 May 2022 - 48min - 91 - Episode 90: Equitable Learning
We welcome David Cavallo an entrepreneur in using technologies to improve learning and promote social equitable development. Our topic this week is equitable computation learning and the reasons and methods for it.
Special Guest: David Cavallo.
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Amazon - Twenty Things to Do with a Computer Forward 50: Future Visions of Education Inspired by Seymour Papert and Cynthia Solomon’s Seminal Work: Stager, Gary S., Solomon, Cynthia: 9781955604000: Books — In 1971, Cynthia Solomon and Seymour Papert published Twenty Things to Do with a Computer, a revolutionary document that would set the course of education for the next fifty years and beyond. This book, Twenty Things to Do with a Computer Forward 50, is a celebration of the vision set forth by Papert and Solomon a half-century ago. The Honor Code: How Moral Revolutions Happen - Kindle edition by Appiah, Kwame Anthony. Politics & Social Sciences Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. — In this groundbreaking work, Kwame Anthony Appiah, hailed as "one of the most relevant philosophers today" (New York Times Book Review), changes the way we understand human behavior and the way social reform is brought about. In brilliantly arguing that new democratic movements over the last century have not been driven by legislation from above, Appiah explores the end of the duel in aristocratic England, the tumultuous struggles over footbinding in nineteenth-century China, the uprising of ordinary people against Atlantic slavery, and the horrors of "honor killing" in contemporary Pakistan. One Laptop per Child - Wikipedia — One Laptop per Child (OLPC) was a non-profit initiative established with the goal of transforming education for children around the world; this goal was to be achieved by creating and distributing educational devices for the developing world, and by creating software and content for those devices. The Math(s) Fix: An Education Blueprint for the AI Age , Wolfram, Conrad - Amazon.com — The Math(s) Fix: An Education Blueprint for the AI Age is a groundbreaking book that exposes why maths education is in crisis worldwide and how the only fix is a fundamentally new mainstream subject.Thu, 12 May 2022 - 56min - 90 - PyConUS 2022 Debrief!
Kelly and Sean debrief on PyCon US 2022 on Sunday morning before flying home. From the Education Summit to the Expo Hall to the Talk Track, we cover it all. Most importantly, we cover the best food and coffee to check out for next year in Salt Lake City!
Note - this is a live debrief with no editing. Enjoy!
Links:
Learn Python Like a 12-Year-Old - Speaker Deck — View the slides for Kelly & Sean's PyCon 2022 main talk, Learn Python Like a 12-Year-Old Busting Curricular Myths of Teaching Python - Speaker Deck — Check out our slides from the PyCon US 2022 Education SummitSun, 01 May 2022 - 36min - 89 - Episode 89: FinTech Careers
In the 2007 film, Shift Happens, Carl Fisch (later modified by Scott Mcleod) stated that “The top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010 did not exist in 2004. We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t exist yet, using technologies that haven’t been invented, in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet.”
Although the 65% figure has been debunked quite often and the data that was used during the video cannot always be verified, it is safe to say that the jobs of today, have evolved quite a bit since 2004. In addition, a lot of these fields are Global, rely a lot on technology and the use of code, like Python. In this podcast series, we will speak to professionals in the field that have jobs in industries including Fintech 3.0, Cybertechnology, Ethical AI, and Data Science
We welcome Xavier De Pauw Founder & co-CEO of lendX, a B2B fintech that is looking to revolutionize the alternative credit sector with its SaaS Enabled Marketplace.
Xavier started his career at Merrill Lynch in London as a Fixed income capital markets & structured finance banker. After 10 years, he co-founded a challenger banking group and was CEO of the digital challenger bank in the group. Again 10 years later, Xavier joined a €75bln private bank and asset manager as their head of strategic innovation. In 2020, Xavier went back to entrepreneurship, became a member of the advisory board at several fintechs and launched lendX with two other founders.
Special Guest: Xavier De Pauw.
Links:
LendX is now Kennek!PyBites Platform | Real World Python Exercises — In this learning path you will write a simple API to track food / calories using the awesome FastAPI framework. This takes you from complete beginner to building your first CRUD (create-read-update-delete) API. The SQLModel learning path will be more advanced adding a database with multiple tables. SaaS cloud banking platform | Mambu — Join the trailblazers changing banking. The best financial brands in the world are powered by Mambu's cloud banking platform. Modulr - the digital standard for business payments. — Business payments are clunky − costing you time, resources and customers. We provide an API payments infrastructure so you can efficiently automate and embed payments. Unlocking operational efficiency and revenue drivers. Intelligent accounting integrations & solutions | Validis — The world's most intelligent accounting integrations Instantly access and interpret up-to-date financials for your business customersWed, 20 Apr 2022 - 46min - 88 - Episode 88: Data Science Careers
In the 2007 film, Shift Happens, Carl Fisch (later modified by Scott Mcleod) stated that “The top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010 did not exist in 2004. We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t exist yet, using technologies that haven’t been invented, in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet.”
Although the 65% figure has been debunked quite often and the data that was used during the video cannot always be verified, it is safe to say that the jobs of today, have evolved quite a bit since 2004. In addition, a lot of these fields are Global, rely a lot on technology and the use of code, like Python. In this podcast series, we will speak to professionals in the field that have jobs in industries including Fintech 3.0, Cybertechnology, Ethical AI, and Data Science
We welcome Michael Galarnyk. Michael currently teaches Python for Data Visualization for LinkedIn Learning, Data Analytics using Python for UCSD Extension, Machine Learning Fundamentals for UCSD Extension, and Machine Learning with Python for Stanford Continuing Studies. I have previously taught Essential Python for Global Knowledge and Data Science (Python) at General Assembly.
Special Guest: Michael Galarnyk.
Links:
Python for Data Visualization — Data visualization is incredibly important for data scientists, as it helps them communicate their insights to nontechnical peers. But you don’t need to be a design pro. Python is a popular, easy-to-use programming language that offers a number of libraries specifically built for data visualization. Data Analytics Using Python | UC San Diego Extension — In this course, you will learn the rich set of tools, libraries, and packages that comprise the highly popular and practical Python data analysis ecosystem. This course is primarily taught via screen sharing programming videos. Topics taught range from basic Python syntax all the way to more advanced topics like supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques. Machine Learning Fundamentals | UC San Diego Extension — Utilizing machine learning to apply algorithms to their data has helped companies maximize efficiencies, pursue new markets, and create new products. This trend has prompted many industries to recognize the value of machine learning, creating a high demand for knowledge in this field. Understanding the theory of how machine learning algorithms work is not only important skill for being able to apply and debug code, but also an important skill for interviewing. How Charts Lie: Getting Smarter about Visual Information: Cairo, Alberto: 9780393358421: Amazon.com: Books — A leading data visualization expert explores the negative―and positive―influences that charts have on our perception of truth. Today, public conversations are increasingly driven by numbers. While charts, infographics, and diagrams can make us smarter, they can also deceive―intentionally or unintentionally. Dogsheep — Tools for personal analytics, powered by Datasette PyCon 2022 — Sean & Kelly's PyCon talk: Learn Python Like a 12-year-oldTue, 05 Apr 2022 - 48min - 87 - Episode 87: Cybersecurity Careers
In the 2007 film, Shift Happens, Carl Fisch stated that “The top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010 did not exist in 2004. We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t exist yet, using technologies that haven’t been invented, in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet.”
While the data that was used during the video cannot be completely verifiable, it is safe to say that the jobs of today have evolved quite a bit since 2004. In addition, a lot of these fields are global, rely heavily on technology and the use of code skills like Python programming. In this podcast series, we will speak to professionals in the field that have jobs in industries including Fintech 3.0, Cybertechnology, and Data Science.
We welcome Michele Darayanani, Nevena Lazarevic and Joe Farajallah to discuss the basics of Cybersecurity, what it is, what all does it involve, and how Python can be used to secure platforms from cyber attacks.
Michele leads the Cyber offerings for Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences, and Medical Device Manufacturing clients. An avid advocate for usable security that drives business value through Cyber; he supports clients as a sounding board for the CISO, CISO coaching, Secure Cloud Transformations, Cyber Due Diligence, and Security Architecture.
Nevena is a passionate and proactive Cyber Security consultant with a Software Engineering background. Her focus within this area has been Cyber Defense, Security Transformation and Information Security.
Joe is a Cyber Security consultant focusing on ethical hacking and red team testing. He has a background in electrical engineering and networks.
Special Guests: Joe Farajallah, Michele Daryanani, and Nevena Lazarevic.
Links:
Jobs - KPMG Switzerland — KPMG offers you excellent career prospects and a great corporate culture. We employ over 2100 talented people from 55 countries. Find out who we are, what we do, what we find important and what day-to-day work at KPMG is really like. We are seeking people who have a “dare to do” attitude, for our company prospers with the help of courageous people. Choose your level of experience and take a look at our job vacancies. python-ldap · PyPI — python-ldap provides an object-oriented API to access LDAP directory servers from Python programs. Mainly it wraps the OpenLDAP 2.x libs for that purpose. Additionally the package contains modules for other LDAP-related stuff (e.g. processing LDIF, LDAPURLs, LDAPv3 schema, LDAPv3 extended operations and controls, etc.).Wed, 23 Mar 2022 - 42min - 86 - Episode 86: Thinking Globally
In this episode, Sean and Kelly talk about the future. Looking into the past 20 years+ years of teaching and looking back at how we were taught as children, what has changed? Just as our teachers prepared us for our present, how are we preparing our students?
We should no longer try to prepare our students for jobs that may not be there when they enter the workforce. Instead, we should focus our preparation on how they can take advantage of the emerging technologies that are coming into existence. How are we teaching them to look out for the both the dangers and the benefits of Big Data, Machine Learning, social media and robots? What skills are we focusing on that wil lallow them to pivot and prosper in this exponentially changing world?
The future is reliant on what our students of today will create.
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Sean Tibor — The personal website of Sean Tibor. Opinions are my own. The world’s fastest framework for building websites | Hugo — The world’s fastest framework for building websites A whole new world: Education meets the metaverse — The metaverse is upon us. Soon it will be as omnipresent as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook (now Meta). As technology advances to bring us new immersive and imaginary worlds, how we educate children and prepare teachers must also advance to meet these new opportunities. Prospects for children in 2022: A GLOBAL OUTLOOK — In 2021, the Office of Global Insight and Policy (OGIP) produced a medium-term analysis of global trends in support of UNICEF’s preparation of a new Strategic Plan. Python Editor for micro:bit — The new Alpha version of the micro:bit python editor "No, really. Why coding?" — “Everybody should learn how to code.” Over the years, you’ve probably seen a million variations on this quote. Let’s challenge this assertion. Why learn to code? What’s in it for the learner? Why should they care? And where do they start? Python RegEx Cheat Sheet Updated for 2022 - NetAdmin Reference — This Python RegEx cheat sheet will show you the most commonly used regular expressions that any network or system admin can use as a quick reference. Second Life realtor makes $1 million - GameSpot — Ailin Graef--who is better known by the name Anshe Chung--works as a real estate developer. She buys property, develops it, resells it, and uses the profits to buy even more. Her business has rapidly snowballed, and she has just made her first million--although none of the "property" is real. Did You Know; Shift Happens - Globalization; Information Age - YouTube — Created by Karl Fisch, and modified by Scott McLeod; Globalization and The Information Age Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing - Wikipedia — Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing is an application software program designed to teach touch typing.Sun, 06 Mar 2022 - 56min - 85 - Episode 85: Teaching the Basics with Requests
Most people think of Requests as an intermediate or advanced area of Python, but what happens when we turn it loose on beginner programmers? Spoiler - lots of learning and surprises!
Requests is a popular Python library for making HTTP requests in a simplified, elegant way. As the one of the top 10 most downloaded packages on PyPI.org, it's used across Python to interact with web APIs, scrape websites, post webhooks, and more.
In this episode, Kelly and Sean talk about different lesson plans, approaches, and examples using the Requests library in a teaching environment.
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Python’s Requests Library (Guide) – Real Python — The requests library is the de facto standard for making HTTP requests in Python. It abstracts the complexities of making requests behind a beautiful, simple API so that you can focus on interacting with services and consuming data in your application. PyCon 2022 Welcome to PyCon US 2022 — PyCon US is the largest annual gathering for the community using and developing the open-source Python programming language. It is produced and underwritten by the Python Software Foundation, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing and promoting Python. Through PyCon US, the PSF advances its mission of growing the international community of Python programmers. Home | Mondelēz International, Inc. — We are one of the largest snack companies in the world with global net revenues of $25.9 billion and net earnings of $3.4 billion in 2018. We make and sell primarily snacks, including biscuits (cookies, crackers and salted snacks), chocolate, gum & candy as well as various cheese & grocery and powdered beverage products. ISL | International School of Luxembourg: Next Events — In collaboration with other international educators and renowned experts, ISL is proud to present a series of webinars that promote best practices and embrace the collective wisdom of the participants. We have been fortunate to collaborate with such experts as Dr. Fran Prolman, Ewan McIntosh, Jeff Utech and Scott McLeod. The Virtual Learning Loft has enabled ISL educators to connect and develop networking opportunities on a global scale and promote ISL as a learning organisation. Pine Crest School's Innovation Institute — The theme for the virtual conference is Going Global: Integrating Innovation, Technology, and Social Entrepreneurship to Improve our World. The Eighth Annual Innovation Institute is scheduled for April 24, 25, and 26, 2022. This year, the Institute will offer a variety of teacher-as-student, online, hands-on workshops geared toward educators at all levels. During the workshops, attendees will explore ways to make global connections and integrate social entrepreneurship through hands-on learning linked to project-based learning activities and technology integration. Python Jumpstart by Building 10 Apps Online Course - [Talk Python Training] — Programming is fun and profitable. Learning to become a software developer should be equally fun! This course will teach you everything you need to know about the Python language all the while building interesting and engaging applications.Wed, 16 Feb 2022 - 43min - 84 - Episode 84: Global Computer Science with Will Richardson
Continuing on conversations about tech for good, helping our students build global competence, and preparing our children to be successful in an ever increasing digital world, Kelly and Sean speak with Will Richardson, founder of the Big Questions Institute.
“Are we preparing students to identify and confront problems they care about, collaborate beyond classroom walls, and overcome the false dichotomy between local versus global? Do we see our work as educators as the work of building a better world?”
Special Guest: Will Richardson.
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BIG Questions Institute - Big Questions Institute — The Big Questions Institute was created to help educators of all stripes build their capacity to see and accept this moment for what it is and to peer into the future with skill. We ground that work in "fearless inquiry," a disposition of deep questioning and truth-telling of our practice and mission. EMO - LivingAi — Built with multiple sensors and cutting-edge techs, Emo is a cool desktop AI robot pet with characters that can self-explore the world and react to you with 1000+ faces and movements. 9 Questions Free EBook - Big Questions Institute — In this new ebook written by BIG Questions Institute co-founders Will Richardson and Homa Tavangar, we suggest that now is the perfect time to ask whether the learning environments our students need today are the same as the ones schools offered them pre-pandemic. And that this is no time to go back to a "normal" which in many ways wasn't all that great to begin with. 10 Books for 2022 - Big Questions Institute — (*Because This Is an Historic Moment for Education) Amazon.com: The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty, and War eBook : Donohue, John "Chick", Molloy, J. T.: Kindle Store — One night in 1967, twenty-six-year-old John Donohue—known as Chick—was out with friends, drinking in a New York City bar. The friends gathered there had lost loved ones in Vietnam. Now, they watched as anti-war protesters turned on the troops themselves. One neighborhood patriot came up with an inspired—some would call it insane—idea. Someone should sneak into Vietnam, track down their buddies there, give them messages of support from back home, and share a few laughs over a can of beer. It would be the Greatest Beer Run Ever. Amazon.com: Who Do We Choose To Be?: Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership, Restoring Sanity eBook : Wheatley, Margaret J.: Kindle Store — On the twenty-fifth anniversary of the publication of her classic Leadership and the New Science, bestselling author Margaret Wheatley once again turns to the new science of living systems to help leaders persevere in a time of great turmoil.Mon, 31 Jan 2022 - 46min - 83 - Episode 83: 2021 Year in Review (or something)
This week, Kelly and Sean look over all that happened in 2021 for Teaching Python and commit to some bigger goals for 2022. What were the highlights according to our co-hosts?
From the great guests to the wins in the classroom, Kelly and Sean catch up and kick off the new year together.
Links:
Amazon.com: Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know eBook : Grant, Adam: Kindle Store — Organizational psychologist Adam Grant is an expert on opening other people's minds--and our own. As Wharton's top-rated professor and the bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take, he makes it one of his guiding principles to argue like he's right but listen like he's wrong. With bold ideas and rigorous evidence, he investigates how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, bring nuance to charged conversations, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners. Amazon.com: Terraform: Up & Running: Writing Infrastructure as Code: 9781492046905: Brikman, Yevgeniy: Books — Terraform has become a key player in the DevOps world for defining, launching, and managing infrastructure as code (IaC) across a variety of cloud and virtualization platforms, including AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, and more. This hands-on second edition, expanded and thoroughly updated for Terraform version 0.12 and beyond, shows you the fastest way to get up and running. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (TV Series 2017– ) - IMDb — A housewife in 1958 decides to become a stand-up comic. Amazon.com: LEGO Ghostbusters ECTO-1 (10274) Building Kit; Displayable Model Car Kit for Adults; Great DIY Project, New 2021 (2,352 Pieces) : Toys & Games — This is the ultimate ECTO-1 building kit for fans of LEGO bricks and Ghostbusters looking to build their next model car or simply relax with an immersive hands-on hobby project Hacker News - We're two middle school teachers learning and teaching Python [audio] | Hacker NewsTeaching Python Episode 68: Learning How To Learn with Barbara Oakley — This week, Kelly & Sean chat with Barbara Oakley, author of the upcoming books Uncommon Sense Teaching and Learn Like a Pro. Together, we talk about everything from learning Russian to the ways that the brain processes information and how teachers can best help students learn. Teaching Python Episode 67: Mu Editor: Part 1 of the Education IDE Series — Kelly and Sean kick off part 1 of their Education IDE series with Nick Tollervey and the Mu Editor, a Python editor for beginners with modes for "pure Python," MicroPython, CircuitPython, PyGame, Flask web apps, and more. JoBase | Home — Welcome to JoBase JoBase is aimed at beginner coders who want to have fun making games with Python. Follow steps below to prepare your computer for JoBase.Mon, 17 Jan 2022 - 51min - 82 - Episode 82: Helping Kids Navigate the Online World with Richard Culatta
We sometimes make assumptions when it comes to students and using technology, that students are savvy tech users. Although coding curriculum lends itself easily to incorporating many digital citizenship skills, even the best Computer Science course may not focus as much as you think on directly teaching these important skills. Furthermore, it is a lot of pressure for just one class to bear.
In this episode of Teaching Python, Kelly and Sean speak with Richard Culatta CEO of International Society for Technology in Education and author of the book, “Digital for Good: Raising Kids to Thrive in an Online World and discuss ways that we can keep kids coding and being “active citizens” in their online and physical world!Special Guest: Richard Culatta.
Links:
Digital for Good: Raising Kids to Thrive in an Online World by Richard Culatta — When it comes to raising children in a digital world, every parent feels underprepared and overwhelmed. We worry that our children will become addicted to online games, be victims of cyberbullying, or get lost down the rabbit hole of social media. We warn them about all the things they shouldn't do online, but we don't do nearly enough to teach them the skills of digital well-being. We are ISTE | ISTE — We help educators around the world use technology to solve tough problems. Circuit Playground Bluefruit - Bluetooth Low Energy : ID 4333 : $24.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits — Circuit Playground Bluefruit is our third board in the Circuit Playground series, another step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming. We've taken the popular Circuit Playground Express and made it even better! Now the main chip is an nRF52840 microcontroller which is not only more powerful, but also comes with Bluetooth Low Energy support for wireless connectivity.Mon, 03 Jan 2022 - 1h 04min - 81 - Episode 81: Holiday Gift Guide
It's the most wonderful time of the year as Kelly and Sean put together a gift guide for techie kids! From transformable robots to glowing toys to soldering stations, we cover the items on our lists for the holidays. Check the show notes for links that support the podcast!
Links:
Amazon.com : Plugable USB 2.0 Digital Microscope with Flexible Arm Observation Stand Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux (2MP, 250x Magnification) : Electronics — Useful and fun for students, collectors, testers, and anyone interested in exploring the microscopic world. Includes a microscope camera yet cannot be used as a document camera Hakko FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station FX-888D FX-888 (blue & yellow): Power Soldering Accessories: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement — Introducing the HAKKO FX-888D Excellent thermal recovery Heater output has been increased by 30% compared to that of the conventional models HAKKO 936·937. Also FX-888D delivers excellent thermal recovery by using T18 series tips for their terrific heat conductivity. Amazon.com: Otamatone [English Edition] Japanese Electronic Musical Instrument Portable Synthesizer from Japan by Cube/Maywa Denki, Black : Toys & Games — BEST SELLING – One of Japan's best selling musical Instrument Portable Synthesizer toys! FUN & EASY TO PLAY - You can create different sound and pitch by pressing down the middle part of the Otamatone. By sliding down your finger up and down, you can create higher and lower tone. Otamatone's face is made out of rubber, and by pushing his cheeks and making his mouth move around, the volume and the bass of the sound changes. When you press the cheek, mouth will open. It is a musical insturment, you can enjoy the sound. Amazon.com: ropoda Shut The Box Dice Game Wooden (2-4 Players) for Kids & Adults [4 Sided Large Wooden Board Game, 8 Dice + Shut The Box Rules] Amusing Game for Learning Addition, 8.6 Inches : Toys & Games — ROPODA Shut the Box is a game of dice, commonly played by 2 to 4 people. Unconfirmed histories of the game could go back to 12th century Normandy. In pubs, Shut the Box is traditionally played as a gambling game. But nowadays, it becomes a popular board game during family events, party and festivals. Adafruit CLUE - nRF52840 Express with Bluetooth LE : ID 4500 : $44.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits — Get a CLUE here at Adafruit by picking up this sensor-packed development board. We wanted to build some projects that have a small screen and a lot of sensors. To make it compatible with existing projects, we made it the same shape and size as the BBC micro:bit and with the same edge-connector on the bottom with 5 big pads so it will fit into your existing robot kit or 'bit add-on. T9 Interstellar Agent — It may look like just a great fun toy, but T9 – the most advanced, programmable auto-converting vehicle to robot on the market -- is much, much more than that. Control it with a mobile device or with voice commands. T9 is also your shortest path to a rich learning experience -- for kids of any age who are excited by the field of robotics, one of the hottest technologies in the world today. Amazon.com: Tamagotchi Star Wars: R2-D2 Classic White (88821) : Everything Else — Train R2-D2 to master various skills with STAR WARSTM R2-D2 TAMAGOTCHI. Take care of R2-D2 by keeping him charged and clean and by playing two mini-games (firefighting and Dejarik “holochess”). There are 19 skills for R2-D2 to learn and 7 mini-games for him to unlock, depending on his skill level. Make sure you keep your R2-D2 happy. If you neglect him for too long, the Jawas may take him away! reMarkable 2 | reMarkable — Take handwritten notes, read, and review documents Take notes directly on PDFs Paper-like writing and reading All your notes, organized and accessible on all devices Circuit Playground Bluefruit - Bluetooth Low Energy : ID 4333 : $24.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits — Circuit Playground Bluefruit is our third board in the Circuit Playground series, another step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming. We've taken the popular Circuit Playground Express and made it even better! Now the main chip is an nRF52840 microcontroller which is not only more powerful, but also comes with Bluetooth Low Energy support for wireless connectivity. Amazon.com: Lil' Gleemerz Babies Black & White Figure : Toys & Games — These Lil' Gleemerz babies were born for teeny gleem dreams! Press its nose over and over for cute sounds and to light up tummy with rainbow colors. Tilt upside down and move all around for purrs, coos, and other silly sounds. What Is Nintendo? (What Was?): Shaw, Gina, Who HQ, Thomson, Andrew: 9780593093795: Amazon.com: Books — Founded in 1889, Nintendo started out as a small playing card company in Japan. Though the cards sold well, Nintendo really became popular when it began creating toys in the 1960s, and then became internationally renowned after developing video games and consoles in the 1970s and '80s. After introducing the world to some of the best-known and top-selling video game franchises of all-time, such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Pokémon, it's clear to see why Nintendo is beloved by parents as a company that creates nonviolet, family-friendly entertainment for kids.Mon, 13 Dec 2021 - 35min - 80 - Episode 80: Reaching for the Stars with Dr. Becky Smethurst
This week Sean and Kelly are joined by Dr. Becky Smethurst from Oxford to talk about code and science. Dr. Becky is an astrophysicist, author, and science communicator. Each week, she publishes a video on her YouTube channel explaining a bit about space,
Special Guest: Becky Smethurst.
Links:
Dr. Becky - YouTube — Your friendly neighbourhood astrophysicist. I'm Dr Becky Smethurst, an astrophysicist at the University of Oxford. I love making videos about science with an unnatural level of enthusiasm. I like to focus on how we know things, not just what we know. And especially, the things we still don't know. 5 ways I use code as an astrophysicist - YouTube — I could not get my science done if I did not know how to code. Here are 5 things I use it for. Space at the Speed of Light: The History of 14 Billion Years for People Short on Time , Smethurst, Dr Becky - Amazon.com — From the big bang to black holes, this fast-paced illustrated tour of time and space for the astro-curious unlocks the science of the stars to reveal fascinating theories, surprising discoveries, and ongoing mysteries in modern astronomy and astrophysics.Mon, 29 Nov 2021 - 45min - 79 - Episode 79: Working with Student Data
This episode is all about working with the data we generate for students, whether it's in the classroom, your school, or your district. Special guest star Rusti Gregory joins us to talk about his transition from the classroom to the data manager role.
Special Guest: Rusti Gregory.
Links:
Trick or Treat for Programmers — Sure, you know Trick OR Treat, but how about Trick XNOR Treat?Thu, 18 Nov 2021 - 39min - 78 - Episode 78: Python Hardware in the Classroom
Kelly and Sean revisit some of our favorite hardware that we use to teach Python. From the various versions of the BBC micro:bit to the ecosystem of CircuitPython boards, we talk about all the pros and cons!
Whether you're just getting started with using Python in hardware or you're a seasoned teacher, this episode should have something for everyone. We use hardware to give tactile and tangible feedback for our students when they write code. Students learn to do everything from make lights blink and shimmer to driving motors to using sensors to measure the environment.
Join us on a journey into Python hardware!
Links:
CircuitPython — CircuitPython is a programming language designed to simplify experimenting and learning to code on low-cost microcontroller boards. Micro:bit Educational Foundation | micro:bit — Get creative, get connected, get coding! The pocket-sized computer transforming the world Python Editor for micro:bit — Code and flash the micro:bit using the web Code With Mu — Code with Mu: a simple Python editor for beginner programmers. Amazon.com: Yahboom Micro:bit Expansion Board Piano Development Board for BBC Microbit Accessories for STEM Learning Code Compatible with Micro:bit V2 V1.5 (Micro:bit NOT Include) : Musical Instruments — Mini Piano Keyboard 】It possess 7 white note buttons, 5 black note buttons, 3 pitch buttons to switch high, medium and low tone, can play complete tune.Wed, 03 Nov 2021 - 1h 05min - 77 - Episode 77: The Power of Bots in the Computer Science Classroom
Kelly and Sean interview Tom Lauwers, founder and CEO of BirdBrain Technologies about the role of robotics in the computer science classroom. We've used the Finch 2.0 robot, which is designed to use the BBC micro:bit as a foundation for coding and computer science. Whether you're in a traditional classroom, teaching after school, or just trying to get people excited about the POWER OF CODING, robots can play a vital role in learning.
About BirdBrain Technologies:
BirdBrain Technologies’ mission is to inspire deep and joyful learning in all students through creative robotics.
Founded at the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University in 2010, BirdBrain is a research-based company that promotes gender equality and diversity in computer science, engineering, and robotics.
A large part of our mission is to assist educators interested in bringing computer science and engineering design into any classroom. We work collaboratively to support teachers with free standards-aligned curriculum and professional development. Our products have been used by thousands of teachers around the world to bring creative design and robotics fun into the classroom!
Special Guest: Tom Lauwers.
Links:
BirdBrain Technologies - BirdBrain Technologies — BirdBrain Technologies’ mission is to inspire deep and joyful learning in all students through creative robotics. Introducing Finch Robot 2.0! - BirdBrain Technologies — Bring computer science to life from kindergarten to college with the NEW Finch Robot 2.0! Borrow a Robot Free for 60 Days! - BirdBrain Technologies — BirdBrain Technologies will allow educators in the US to borrow a robot for 60 days for FREE! Hummingbird Robotics Kit - BirdBrain Technologies — The Hummingbird Robotics Kit is an easy-to-use, creative robotics tool which allows students to design, build, and program a personally meaningful robot out of any materials, with any device, in multiple programming languages. Teaching Python - Blog - RIP Google Colab in Education — The Teaching Python blog post about the end of Google Colab in K-12... CREATE Lab — The Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment Lab (CREATE Lab) explores socially meaningful innovation and deployment of robotic technologies. Amazon.com: Learn to Solder Kits Hue Soldering Kit | DIY Electronics Projects For Beginners | Practice For Adults & Kids STEM Classes & Events | Science Project Electronic RGB LED Light Circuit Board With Battery : Toys & Games — INTERACTIVE RGB LED KIT - Learn to solder in a unique, engaging, fun, and achievable way! The Hue Learn to Solder practice kit is our second solder project kit designed for beginners but offers more of a challenge than the Blink Kit. It features one large RGB LED light and three small dials. As you turn the dials the brightness of the red, green and blue change in the LED. Try different combinations to make any color in the rainbow! Finch Robot Loan Program - BirdBrain Technologies — We are currently lending out the original Finch Robot, which is tethered to the computer with a USB cord and works with computers and Chromebooks only (it does not work with tablets/phones). If you are interested in borrowing the new Finch Robot 2.0, which is wireless and works with computers, Chromebooks, and tablets/phones, please email loanprogram@birdbraintechnologies.com and we’ll let you know when that program is available. Amazon.com: microbit V2 Go Kit Programming Development Board STEM Pocket-Sized BBC Micro:bit Computer,Built-in Touch Sensitive Logo,Speaker and Microphone : Electronics — microbit V2.0 is a tiny programmable computer, designed to make learning and teaching easy and fun! Addition of the speaker and microphone：Same great features easier ways to use sound and touch to get creative in the classroom.Fri, 15 Oct 2021 - 46min - 76 - Episode 76: Current Teaching Experiments
Kelly and Sean discuss their latest experiments in the classroom, including student peer code reviews, testing code for correctness, and creating comfy environments for coding.
Links:
EarSketch — EarSketch helps you Learn coding through music Use our sounds or your own Learn Python or JavaScript code Produce studio-quality music Take Advantage of the Mac's built-in wordlist — OS X comes with a list of all the words in Webster's 2nd International Dictionary (234,936 of them to be precise). These words can be found in the file /usr/share/dict/words. I find it useful to search this list if I'm not sure how spell a given word by using the following command:Tue, 28 Sep 2021 - 37min - 75 - Episode 75: Lunch with Kelly & Sean
A lunchtime livestream with Kelly and Sean talking about setting up learning environments for students, coaching and setting high expectations for students, and the new tools we're using this year for teaching code.
Replit Teams for Education Daily Challenges for formative assessment Physical classroom layouts Google Colab Choice Boards High expectations teachingNote: Kelly's audio track has a bit of echo that we can't eliminate. We'll get it fixed for next time.
Thu, 09 Sep 2021 - 47min - 74 - Episode 74: Bringing CS Standards to Life
With the new school year upon us, we're talking about CSTA standards and how they can be applied to the classroom environment. Join Kelly and Sean as they talk through ways to plan, deliver, and assess CS student standards.
The Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA) provides student standards for learning as well as professional development standards for instructions. For example, there are 23 standards for grades 6-8 that cover everything from algorithms & programming to inclusionary culture to networks and internet.
How do you go from a published standard to an engaging lesson that raises student learning?
Links:
Crunchy Engineering of Pringles' Hyperbolic Paraboloid Shape | IE — "Once you pop, the fun don't stop", is the slogan of the popular American chip brand Pringles. But if you're an engineer, you might be interested in Pringles for more than just their addictive crunch and taste. In fact, Pringles have been designed in the shape of a hyperbolic paraboloid. Standards | Computer Science Teachers Association — K-12 teaching standards for Computer Science (19) Alex (Mengyao) Wang | LinkedIn — Talks about #python, #technology, #datascience, #machinelearning, and #artificialintelligence Teaching Python - Blog - Hacking the Classroom Hand Sanitizer Dispenser Part 2 — In Part 1 of this series, we hacked the hand sanitizer dispenser and got it talking to Home Assistant as a binary sensor. For this part, we'll work on a couple of useful automations in HA that will collect data and make it fun for students to sanitize. By the end of this part, you should have a sensor that shows today's dispenses, an automation that makes Alexa speak and some lights flash, and even an interface to a local MQTT broker to send and receive data with other devices.Thu, 05 Aug 2021 - 53min - 73 - Episode 73: Designing Curriculum with Quinten Sheriff
The Teaching Python podcast speaks with Quinten Sheriff from Concordia University , an Instructional Designer, e-learning implementation specialist, and curriculum developer with global experience on four continents. A systems thinker who uses instructional models such as ADDIE, AGILE, SAM, ARCS.
In this episode, we will explore topics such as designing curriculum for the next year, and what it means to design for instruction versus designing for content. In this we can also look at designing for inclusivity, diversity and equity.
Special Guest: Quinten Sheriff.
Links:
Amazon.com: The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How. eBook: Coyle, Daniel: Kindle Store — Whether you’re coaching soccer or teaching a child to play the piano, writing a novel or trying to improve your golf swing, this revolutionary book shows you how to grow talent by tapping into a newly discovered brain mechanism. Teaching Python Newsletter — Sign up for our newsletter!Fri, 23 Jul 2021 - 56min - 72 - Episode 72: Catching Up
It's been a few weeks since we recorded, so this week's episode is all about catching up on listener questions and mail.
Highlights include:
the new AWS machine learning course we're taking, whether we'd rather be teachers or coders the new Adafruit hardware we're trying the Deep Composer keyboard equity and equitable opportunity in and out of the classroomYou can also check out the recording of the livestream on our YouTube Channel
Links:
Doll-E 1.0 - Kindle edition by McCloskey, Shanda. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. — A STEM-friendly tale of a girl and the doll she upgrades to be her new friend, for fans of The Most Magnificent Thing and Rosie Revere, Engineer. T-Bone the Drone - Kindle edition by McCloskey, Shanda. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. — A new tech toy brings epic trials and triumphs in this playtime adventure for fans of The Most Magnificent Thing and Iggy Peck, Architect. Data.WA | State of Washington Open Data Platform | Data.WA | State of Washington — Welcome to Data.WA.gov - the general purpose open data portal for the State of Washington. Learn computer programming | Online courses from JetBrains Academy — Try a holistic approach to learning in which you study the theory and immediately put it into practice by building working applications. Dive into Java, Python, and other programming languages in a project-based learning environment that is integrated with JetBrains IDEs. AWS Machine Learning Foundations Course | Udacity Free Courses — Study machine learning techniques and algorithms, programming best practices, python coding, and Amazon AI Services and Amazon AI Devices, including Amazon SageMaker and Amazon DeepComposer. The foundations course is intended to help developers of all skill levels get started with machine learning. Amazon.com: AWS DeepComposer – a machine learning-enabled musical keyboard for developers: Amazon Devices — AWS DeepComposer gives developers a creative way to get started with machine learning. Get hands-on, literally, with a musical keyboard and the latest machine learning techniques, designed to expand your ML skills. Computer Chronicles Revisited, Part 16 — The Apple Logo Programming Language - S.M. Oliva — Today, Python is probably the most popular computer programming language taught in elementary and secondary schools. (There’s even a terrific podcast, Teaching Python, on this subject.) But back in the 1980s, BASIC was the language of choice for many introductory computer classrooms. Specifically, versions of Microsoft BASIC came with many popular 8-bit microcomputers, including the Apple II and Commodore 64, which were also commonly used in schools at the time. Amazon.com: A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence eBook: Hawkins, Jeff, Dawkins, Richard: Kindle Store — For all of neuroscience's advances, we've made little progress on its biggest question: How do simple cells in the brain create intelligence? Jeff Hawkins and his team discovered that the brain uses maplike structures to build a model of the world-not just one model, but hundreds of thousands of models of everything we know. This discovery allows Hawkins to answer important questions about how we perceive the world, why we have a sense of self, and the origin of high-level thought. A Thousand Brains heralds a revolution in the understanding of intelligence. It is a big-think book, in every sense of the word. GitHub Copilot · Your AI pair programmer — Trained on billions of lines of public code, GitHub Copilot puts the knowledge you need at your fingertips, saving you time and helping you stay focused. PyBites Platform | Real World Python Exercises — Solve Real World Problems Using Python Overwhelmed by tutorials? Stop consuming books and courses! The only way to really learn to code is to write a lot of relevant code. Our platform makes you a confident programmer fast. Real-World Python: A Hacker's Guide to Solving Problems with Code: Vaughan, Lee: 9781718500624: Amazon.com: Books — Through a series of hands-on projects, you'll investigate and solve real-world problems using sophisticated computer vision, machine learning, data analysis, and language processing tools. You'll be introduced to important modules like OpenCV, NumPy, Pandas, NLTK, Bokeh, Beautiful Soup, Requests, HoloViews, Tkinter, turtle, matplotlib, and more. You'll create complete, working programs and think through intriguing projects that show you how to: Adafruit IO Wippersnapper DevLog #1: What IS Wippersnapper? #AdafruitIO #Adafruit #IoT @adafruit @adafruitio « Adafruit Industries – Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers! — Adafruit IO Wippersnapper is a new way to create robust Internet of Things Projects without writing code. Wippersnapper is in early development and it’s not out yet. Adafruit FunHouse - WiFi Home Automation Development Board : ID 4985 : $34.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits — Home is where the heart is...it's also where we keep all our electronic bits. So why not wire it up with sensors and actuators to turn our house into an electronic wonderland. Whether it's tracking the environmental temperature and humidity in your laundry room, or notifying you when someone is detected in the kitchen, to sensing when a window was left open, or logging when your cat leaves through the pet door, this board is designed to make it way easy to make WiFi-connected home automation projects. Adafruit Feather nRF52840 Sense : ID 4516 : $32.50 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits — The Adafruit Feather Bluefruit Sense takes our popular Feather nRF52840 Express and adds a smorgasbord of sensors to make a great wireless sensor platform. This Feather microcontroller comes with Bluetooth Low Energy and native USB support featuring the nRF52840! This Feather is an 'all-in-one' Arduino-compatible + Bluetooth Low Energy with built in USB plus battery charging. With native USB it works great with CircuitPython, too. EngiNerds (MAX) - Kindle edition by Lerner, Jarrett. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. — Ken is an EngiNerd: one of a super-smart group of friends—all nerds—who have been close since kindergarten. Amazon.com: POWER A Nano Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch - Grey-Neon, Works with Nintendo Switch Lite, Bluetooth Controller, Gamepad, Compact, Smaller, Rechargeable, Portable - Nintendo Switch: Video Games — Wireless Controller with Bluetooth 5.0 Technology + compact ergonomic shell with standard sized Buttons & controls Features motion controls and mappable advanced gaming Buttons + LEDs for player number, button mapping, and low battery warningTue, 06 Jul 2021 - 1h 05min - 71 - Episode 71: Summer Professional Development with John Mikton
With summer finally here in the northern hemisphere, Kelly and Sean meet with John Mikton from the Principals Training Center to talk about professional development resources for teachers during these long summer days. From technical resources to pedagogical research to classroom layout ideas, we'll talk about some of the things we're excited to learn this summer.
Special Guest: John Mikton.
Links:
The Big Google Doc of John's Links — We asked John to compile a list of resources for teachers and this was the result. Click through to get an amazing wealth of teacher training and learning materials. The Learning Ideas Conference — New technologies provide us with new opportunities to create new learning experiences, leveraging research from a variety of disciplines along with imagination and creativity. The Learning Ideas Conference has been created to bring researchers, practitioners, and others together to discuss, innovate, and create. Learn Computer Science – JetBrains Academy — This track will guide you on your path of mastering Python, one of the much-in-demand languages in today's environment. Known for its straightforward syntax, Python is easy to learn and use, which gained this language popularity and makes its community grow every day. Most commonly, Python is used in data science, web development, and task automation. Page from Using Technology in Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning - Chartered College of Teaching — Explore effective research-informed ways of using technology to support teaching and learning in the classroom. Amazon.com: A Day in Code- Python: Learn to Code in Python through an Illustrated Story (for Kids and Beginners) eBook: Eskenas, Shari, Quintero Villafraz, Ana: Kindle Store — For kids and beginners of all ages, learning to code in the Python programming language has never been this fun...or fast! This story of an epic day describes real-life situations with Python computer programs presented next to beautiful full-page illustrations. You'll see how activities like adding toppings to a waffle breakfast and playing a game of balloon darts are described with Python programs. Summer Workshops - EdTechTeacher — Summer 2021 marks our 19th year of EdTechTeacher Summer Workshops. Just like you have had to adjust, so have we! This year we are offering virtual summer workshops to help you create learning environments that lead to your students’ success. Webinars | Resources | Jamf — Webinars from Jamf designed for teachers and IT professionals using Apple devices in the education space. 5 Reasons Students Today Need Innovative Learning Spaces | Emerging Education Technologies — That the future of learning and development requires around technology and innovation is a simple reality. Today, students need creative learning spaces to help them build knowledge and think like creators. With the right use of technology, learners can witness an increase in information-retaining and concentration abilities. Innovation is also likely to boost learner-centered education programs. Online projects with interesting education questions and answers will provide students the chance to build their capacity to collaborate and enhance their skills. The Science of Well-Being by Yale University | Coursera — In this course you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. As preparation for these tasks, Professor Laurie Santos reveals misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change. You will ultimately be prepared to successfully incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life. Luxembourg Tech School — As mentioned in the episode, the Luxembourg Tech School is running a hackathon on July 3. Follow them to learn more. Talk Python Training - Python courses and tutorials for developers - [Talk Python Training] — Learn on-demand through high quality training videos. Our videos and additional resources are available 24/7 so you can learn what you need exactly when you need it. AWS Scholarship - AWS Machine Learning Engineer — AWS and Udacity are collaborating to educate developers of all skill levels on machine learning concepts. We invite students 18 years of age or older who are interested in expanding their machine learning skills and expertise to enroll in the AWS Machine Learning Scholarship Program. The goal for this program is to up-level machine learning skills to all, and to cultivate the next generation of ML leaders across the world, with a focus on underrepresented groups. Through its We Power Tech Program, AWS collaborates with professional organizations that are leading initiatives to increase the diversity and talent in technical roles, including organizations like Girls In Tech and the National Society of Black Engineers. The International Schools Podcast — Every two weeks we discuss all aspects of technology and life in International Schools. Brought to you by AppsEvents and Acer Education.Mon, 21 Jun 2021 - 1h 16min - 70 - Episode 70: Teaching with Visual Studio Code
Continuing our Education IDE series, Kelly and Sean meet with Brigit Murtaugh and Sana Ajani from the VS Code team for education. We'll talk about everything from remote teaching to accelerating the setup of a learning environment with VS Code and development containers.
You may have used Visual Studio Code for your own projects or tinkered around with the vast number of settings and extensions. But have you thought about how to use it as a teaching tool?
Thankfully, Brigit and Sana are here to talk us through all of the resources and new features being added to VS code for education.
Special Guests: Brigit Murtaugh and Sana Ajani.
Links:
Microsoft Learn | Microsoft Docs — Whether you're just starting or an experienced professional, our hands-on approach helps you arrive at your goals faster, with more confidence and at your own pace. Development Containers in Education with Visual Studio Code — Development containers with Visual Studio Code can serve as a fantastic tool in education to ensure students have a consistent coding environment. They take care of setup so that students and instructors can quickly move past configuration, and instead focus on what's truly important: learning and coding something great! Coding and learning with VS Code on Chromebooks — For the last few years, Chromebooks running Google Chrome OS have been providing an alternative to "traditional" laptops. Thanks to lots of choices, from very affordable models to high-end ones, Chromebooks are especially popular among students, who can use them for learning, completing assignments, and attending classes virtually. While Chromebooks and Chrome OS are typically centered around the web browser, you can also enable a Linux environment that allows installing native desktop applications, including Visual Studio Code! Using DevContainers to Standardize Student Development Environments: An Experience Report — In computer science classes it can be a challenge to ensure every student has a functioning development environment. Running preconfigured servers that provide students with remote access can help mitigate most of these setup issues, however they can also introduce new limitations of their own. We propose using DevContainers to overcome the local machine setup difficulties for the students. DevContainers allow the instructional staff to provision a development environment (a Docker image) with all the correct software versions pre-configured. This development environment can be used on any major OS through Docker. Moreover, through this DevContainer configuration, Microsoft Visual Studio Code can integrate seamlessly with the Docker container to provide an experience for the user that is practically the same as working on the native OS. This work examines the value of employing a DevContainer setup in an Advanced Data Structures course and provides details for those interested in using DevContainers in their courses. Learn to code with materials inspired by "Space Jam: A New Legacy" | Microsoft EDU — Space Jam: A New Legacy is inspiring unique learning opportunities for students of all ages! Basketball and coding have more in common than you might think; they both require practice, creativity, and coaching. That’s why we’ve teamed up to bring educators and students learning materials inspired by the film. Research shows learners are more likely to retain and explore based on culturally relevant areas of passion, and our lessons guide learners through authentically solving real problems.1 Visual Studio Code - Code Editing. Redefined — Code editing. Redefined. Free. Built on open source. Runs everywhere. microsoft/vscode: Visual Studio Code — This repository ("Code - OSS") is where we (Microsoft) develop the Visual Studio Code product together with the community. Not only do we work on code and issues here, we also publish our roadmap, monthly iteration plans, and our endgame plans. This source code is available to everyone under the standard MIT license.Tue, 08 Jun 2021 - 42min - 69 - Episode 69: Teaching with PyCharm Edu
Continuing our Education IDE series, Kelly and Sean talk with Valentina Kiryushkina, a developer on the PyCharm Edu team to learn all about how JetBrains supports teaching and learning Python. With everything from online courses to creating classroom assignments, we're sure you'll find something to like about PyCharm Edu.
Features
Free for teachers and learners Online open courses available Create your own courses and assignments Marketplace coming soon Full features of PyCharm, but decluttered for learningWhere to Download
JetBrains Website EduToolsSpecial Offer
JetBrains has offered a free month of JetBrains Academy, a project-based learning platform integrated with JetBrains IDEs, if you register at the platform through the following link: Special Offer
Special Guest: Valentina Kiryushkina.
Links:
For Learners | Educational Products — As a Learner you can join a public interactive programming course from the list, verify tasks, get instant feedback and quick results using an intelligent development tool. For Educators | Educational Products — You can share your knowledge in the form of coding tasks and custom verification tests.Wed, 26 May 2021 - 59min - 68 - Episode 68: Learning How To Learn with Barbara Oakley
This week, Kelly & Sean chat with Barbara Oakley, author of the upcoming books Uncommon Sense Teaching and Learn Like a Pro. Together, we talk about everything from learning Russian to the ways that the brain processes information and how teachers can best help students learn.
Barbara Oakley is a professor of engineering, former Russian translater on Soviet fishing trawlers, Antarctic researcher (where she met her husband), author, MOOC creator, and so much more. Kelly and Sean talk to her about the ways that our brain learns and retains knowledge, and how we can use that mechanism to learn how to learn better.
Special Guest: Barbara Oakley.
Links:
Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects | Coursera — This course gives you easy access to the invaluable learning techniques used by experts in art, music, literature, math, science, sports, and many other disciplines. We’ll learn about the how the brain uses two very different learning modes and how it encapsulates (“chunks”) information. We’ll also cover illusions of learning, memory techniques, dealing with procrastination, and best practices shown by research to be most effective in helping you master tough subjects. Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential | Coursera — Mindshift is designed to help boost your career and life in today’s fast-paced learning environment. Whatever your age or stage, Mindshift teaches you essentials such as how to get the most out of online learning and MOOCs, how to seek out and work with mentors, the secrets to avoiding career ruts (and catastrophes) and general ruts in life, and insights such as the value of selective ignorance over general competence. We’ll provide practical insights from science about how to learn and change effectively even in maturity, and we’ll build on what you already know to take your life’s learning in fantastic new directions. This course is designed to show you how to look at what you’re learning, and your place in what’s unfolding in the society around you, so you can be what you want to be, given the real world constraints that life puts on us all. You’ll see that by using certain mental tools and insights, you can learn and do more—far more—than you might have ever dreamed! A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra) 1, Oakley, Barbara - Amazon.com — In A Mind for Numbers, Dr. Oakley lets us in on the secrets to learning effectively—secrets that even dedicated and successful students wish they’d known earlier. Contrary to popular belief, math requires creative, as well as analytical, thinking. Most people think that there’s only one way to do a problem, when in actuality, there are often a number of different solutions—you just need the creativity to see them. Amazon.com: Learning How to Learn: How to Succeed in School Without Spending All Your Time Studying; A Guide for Kids and Teens eBook: Oakley, Barbara, Sejnowski, Terrence, McConville, Alistair: Kindle Store — A Mind for Numbers and its wildly popular online companion course "Learning How to Learn" have empowered more than two million learners of all ages from around the world to master subjects that they once struggled with. Fans often wish they'd discovered these learning strategies earlier and ask how they can help their kids master these skills as well. Now in this new book for kids and teens, the authors reveal how to make the most of time spent studying. Amazon.com: Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential eBook: Oakley, Barbara: Kindle Store — At a time when we are constantly being asked to retrain and reinvent ourselves to adapt to new technologies and changing industries, this book shows us how we can uncover and develop talents we didn’t realize we had—no matter what our age or background. We’re often told to “follow our passions.” But in Mindshift, Dr. Barbara Oakley shows us how we can broaden our passions. Drawing on the latest neuroscientific insights, Dr. Oakley shepherds us past simplistic ideas of “aptitude” and “ability,” which provide only a snapshot of who we are now—with little consideration about how we can change. Amazon.com: A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence eBook: Hawkins, Jeff, Dawkins, Richard: Kindle Store — A bestselling author, neuroscientist, and computer engineer unveils a theory of intelligence that will revolutionize our understanding of the brain and the future of AI. For all of neuroscience's advances, we've made little progress on its biggest question: How do simple cells in the brain create intelligence? Jeff Hawkins and his team discovered that the brain uses maplike structures to build a model of the world-not just one model, but hundreds of thousands of models of everything we know. This discovery allows Hawkins to answer important questions about how we perceive the world, why we have a sense of self, and the origin of high-level thought. A Thousand Brains heralds a revolution in the understanding of intelligence. It is a big-think book, in every sense of the word. Amazon.com: Uncommon Sense Teaching: Practical Insights in Brain Science to Help Students Learn eBook: Oakley, Barbara, Rogowsky, Beth, Sejnowski, Terrence J.: Kindle Store — A groundbreaking guide to improve teaching based on the latest research in neuroscience, from the bestselling author of A Mind for Numbers. Neuroscientists and cognitive scientists have made enormous strides in understanding the brain and how we learn, but little of that insight has filtered down to the way teachers teach. Uncommon Sense Teaching applies this research to the classroom for teachers, parents, and anyone interested in improving education. Amazon.com: Learn Like a Pro: Science-Based Tools to Become Better at Anything eBook: PhD, Barbara Oakley, Schewe, Olav: Kindle Store — Do you spend too much time learning with disappointing results? Do you find it difficult to remember what you read? Do you put off studying because it’s boring and you’re easily distracted? This book is for you. Dr. Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe have both struggled in the past with their learning. But they have found techniques to help them master any material. Building on insights from neuroscience and cognitive psychology, they give you a crash course to improve your ability to learn, no matter what the subject is. Through their decades of writing, teaching, and research on learning, the authors have developed deep connections with experts from a vast array of disciplines. And it’s all honed with feedback from thousands of students who have themselves gone through the trenches of learning. Successful learners gradually add tools and techniques to their mental toolbox, and they think critically about their learning to determine when and how to best use their mental tools. That allows these learners to make the best use of their brains, whether those brains seem “naturally” geared toward learning or not. This book will teach you how you can do the same.Tue, 18 May 2021 - 1h 04min - 67 - Episode 67: Mu Editor: Part 1 of the Education IDE Series
Kelly and Sean kick off part 1 of their Education IDE series with Nick Tollervey and the Mu Editor, a Python editor for beginners with modes for "pure Python," MicroPython, CircuitPython, PyGame, Flask web apps, and more.
About the Education IDE Series
The Teaching Python podcast is launching a monthly episode series dedicated to the different IDEs and editors available to teachers. Our goal is to give educators a more detailed view of each editor and the specific features that they can leverage for teaching effectively. In contrast with a developer-focused series, our goal is to focus on how each editor can enhance student learning.
Proof that we met Nick at PyCon US 2019
Special Guest: Nick Tollervey.
Links:
Code With Mu — Code with Mu: a simple Python editor for beginner programmers. Mu thanks — Mu would not be possible without the help and support of many volunteer developers who give up their time to improve Mu. However, it is important to acknowledge the help and work of others who may not be developers, those who make significant contributions or those whose work is essential for Mu. If you find Mu useful, why not thank the following people and organisations? It takes only a minute of your time to tweet your appreciation. CodeGrades — CodeGrades are eight cumulative steps for learning how to code. They're a programming version of time-proven techniques like music grades, belts in martial arts or lifeguard certification. Level up by applying the knowledge and skills needed for each grade to your own fun, interesting and challenging coding projects. EduBlocks — EduBlocks is the easiest way to make the transition from blocks to text.Tue, 11 May 2021 - 56min - 66 - Episode 66: Designing Projects with Python Libraries
In this episode, Sean and Kelly, share a brainstorming activity on designing projects with Python libraries. We have a special guest Mike Driscoll, author of several books and the blog "The Mouse vs The Python". In this episode we will use the Python Library Pillow to brainstorm some creative ways that Pillow can and has been used to teach students about Python Libraries.
Coming up with project ideas that are creative, engaging, and allow students the flexibility to explore is one of the most important activities that Sean and Kelly do daily. We love introducing many different aspects of Python and push the boundaries with our students. We often discuss and brainstorm ideas on how we can incorporate libraries that are new to us in the curriculum. Although we have used Pillow very briefly, with the help of expert Mike Driscoll, Sean and I will explore project ideas for using Pillow from 6th grade to developer.
Special Guest: Mike Driscoll.
Links:
Enter to win an eBook copy of Pillow Image Processing with Python — 3 winners will be selected on May 15 to receive an eBook copy of Mike's book, Pillow Image Processing with Python. Fill out this Google Form to enter. Kindle Version of Pillow: Image Processing with Python, Driscoll, Michael, eBook - Amazon.com — Pillow: Image Processing with Python is the only book that covers the Pillow package, the friendly fork of the Python Imaging Library (PIL). The first few chapters of the book will get you started down the path of knowledge and help you understand how to use Pillow effectively. Paperback Version of Pillow: Image Processing with Python: Driscoll, Michael: 9798585391583: Amazon.com: Books — Pillow: Image Processing with Python is the only book that covers the Pillow package, the friendly fork of the Python Imaging Library (PIL). The first few chapters of the book will get you started down the path of knowledge and help you understand how to use Pillow effectively. This book is printed in FULL COLOR. Leanpub Version - Pillow: Image Processing… by Michael Driscoll [PDF/iPad/Kindle] — The eBook on Leanpub or Gumroad supports Mike the most. Have you ever wondered how to use Python to process your images? Wonder no longer! The Pillow package is Python's Imaging Library. In this book, you will learn how to crop photos, apply filters and transforms, work with colors and much more! Gumroad Version - Pillow: Image Processing with Python — The eBook on Leanpub or Gumroad supports Mike the most. Have you ever wondered how to use Python to process your images? Wonder no longer! The Pillow package is Python's Imaging Library. In this book, you will learn how to crop photos, apply filters and transforms, work with colors and much more!Tue, 04 May 2021 - 46min
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