Episode 48: What We Are Using in 2020 To Teach Python
Sep 15, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast Episode description
Let’s take a look at the tools we’re using in our classroom for the 2020-2021 school year to teach Python for middle school students. From IDEs to flash cards, coding challenges to Colab notebooks, and micro:bits to eBooks, we’ll look at what we’re currently using and how each one contributes to the learning experience of our students.
Episode Outline
Importance of variety in Lessons
Motivation
Increase Focus/Keeps classroom live and Active
Combat Boredom/Avoids dullness
Demonstrating concepts in multiple settings reinforces learning
Importance of Lesson Planning
Basic Objectives
Activities
Assessments
Time Management
Result- oriented
Creating Environments for learning:Good Teaching Tools for SEL/21st Century Skills
Delivery and sharing of resources
LMS
Weekly Overview
Screenshots
Sharing of Colab documents
SEL Core Competencies: Self Awareness, Self Management, Social Awareness, Relationship SKills, Responsible decision making.
Padlet- reflection and sharing ideas?
Focusing Tools: Strick Workflow : block specific sites for 25 minutes by a click of a chrome extension
Self Learning Opportunities: “Curiosity is the main driver of learning.”
Teaching Techniques/Communication Tools
Looking at a lot of code:
Screenshare (Currently feature in Zoom) - allow students to share their code and have students look for errors on other student codes/Air server/Cast
Use of Videos:
Loom/Screencastify- give students short videos that they can use on their own time.
Use of Class Time:
Time to Talk it out (Think alouds) - give students time to talk about code verbally
Pre-Teaching Vocabulary
Pause, Ask Questions, Pause, Review
Class Challenges
Share the tools and how we use them
IDE’s (details in episode 25 (https://www.teachingpython.fm/25))
Mu Editor (https://codewith.mu/)
Great IDE for beginners and comes packaged with Python
Works for pure Python, hardware, web development, games
Intentionally limited to encourage students to move beyond
In 2020: Kelly & Sean use it for programming micro:bits with sixth grade
Best Audience: complete newbies to Python, hardware hackers
Available for Mac, Windows, Linux
Colab (https://colab.research.google.com/) -
Jupyter Notebooks in Google Apps system
Pure Python with visualizations, graphing, etc.
In 2020: Kelly & Sean use it for Python review sheet & quick demos
Showing iterations/versions of code without Git
Includes sharing/commenting features of Google Drive
(https://colab.research.google.com/github/tensorflow/examples/blob/master/courses/udacity_intro_to_tensorflow_for_deep_learning/l01c01_introduction_to_colab_and_python.ipynb)
Best audience: newbies already familiar with Google Docs, more accomplished programmers that want to practice concepts without writing full “software”
Repl.it (https://repl.it/)
Web-based coding environment for Python
Multiplayer mode, assignment submissions with automated testing
Classroom environment works well for adult learners
In 2020: Kelly & Sean use it for student projects, especially those that run 3rd party packages
Best audience: students that want to live code with others and share programs easily with teacher or peers
Advance coding Options
Used for differentiation with students or advanced applications like EV3 coding
We use these ourselves to write software for school use
Goal is to have 8th graders ready for these environments
Options
Visualization Tools
Python tutor
Python Turtle
Mu Debugger
Class Challenges versus Codechalleng.es
Manipulatives: Robots and Hardware
Microbits
CircuitPython devices
DFRobot Maqueen Plus
