Episode 47: Deconstructing the List Lesson
Sep 01, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Episode description
Let’s take a deeper look at how we teach students about one of Python’s most venerable data structures: the list. For many learners, the list is the first data structure that they encounter and it can be tricky to understand at first.
Episode Outline:
Start with clear goals for topic
Why are we teaching this?
Backwards by design process
What do we want the kids to do?
What should students know when we’re done?
Are the objectives differentiated?
Can students demonstrate more advanced understanding according to Bloom’s Taxonomy?
Where do they go next?
What do students need to know before we start?
Introducing the List
Mathes’ : cheat sheet https://t.co/KZdJkdPz7i?amp=1 (https://t.co/KZdJkdPz7i?amp=1)
The problem of organizing too many bits of data
Programmers use data structures to organize related data
Vocabulary
Data structure
Ordered
Mutable
Sequence
Examples and Demonstrations
Real World Grocery List
Brainstorming types of lists in the real world
Python Grocery List
Practical applications
List sizes
Small lists (choices, menus, limiting options)
Medium Lists (class rosters, schedules, phone apps, etc)
Large Lists (weather data, sensor measurements, etc)
List limits (when not to use a list)
Order doesn’t matter
Searching by key (use dictionary)
List shouldn’t change (use tuple)
List indices are confusing at first
Zero-indexed
Negative index
List methods
Append & Insert
Pop & Remove
Sort & Sorted
Tools for visualization and understanding
Python Tutor
Mu Debugger
Synthesis Opportunities
Using for loops with lists
List slicing
List of Lists
Functions/methods
Creativity & Fun
Class Schedule
Rock Paper Scissors
