Mailman 3 - Pythonedu-wg

Computer Science Teachers' Association of Ireland and Python resources
by Stephen Murphy 15 Jun '18

15 Jun '18

Hello all, My name is Stephen Murphy. I am a teacher of science, biology, coding, digital media and computer science in Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG in Cork City, Ireland. The Irish government has recently created coding, digital media and computer science subjects in Irish schools. The coding and digital media course have already started to junior classes, the senior computer science subject will come into effect next September. The national body charged with developing the curriculum and specification for the Computer Science subject has said that only Python and Java script may be used. In November 2017, I created the Computer Science Teachers' Association of Ireland (CSTAI). To date, we have over 440 members and 36 of the 40 pilot Leaving Certificate Computer Science schools have joined. We have a Google Drive with 100's of resources for coding, computer science, digital media and general computing courses. The material is suitable for both primary and secondary level. These resources can be accessed, downloaded and modified by our members for their class. We have an entire folder of Python resources (Notes, worksheets, videos, python scripts etc) on the Google Drive. I propose an exchange of Python teaching resources from the CSTAI to you and vice-versa. Joining and accessing all the CSTAI has to offer is completely free. My only aim to help teachers here and abroad. This will allow both sets of teachers to expand their teaching resource bank. If you are interested in this exchange, please respond to this email and we can work out the exchange. Email address: president.cstai(a)gmail.com If you would like some information about the CSTAI, we have a webpage: https://tinyurl.com/compscitechireland And some social media pages: https://www.facebook.com/ComputerScienceTeachersAssocationIreland/ https://twitter.com/cstai_tweets Best wishes, Stephen -- Stephen Murphy BSc.(Hons), PDE, MSc. M.Ed President, Computer Science Teachers' Association of Ireland

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educational working group
by Sridevi Pudipeddi 01 Sep '17

01 Sep '17

Hello, I am interested in volunteering to be a member of the educational working group. Can you let me know the procedure? Thank you, Sri Sridevi Pudipeddi, Ph.D.

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Python mentors for refugee learners are needed
by Theodore D 22 Jul '17

22 Jul '17

Dear Pythonistas, We would like to inform you about project Match & Teach Me for Integration, an e-Learning platform to train refugee students in Greece, on computer programming. The pilot program starts this Wednesday, 26th of July, with an introduction to Python for beginners, and we are looking for a couple of middle/senior level Python developers to provide mentoring through web conference (in English) to 10 refugees 16-24 years old, for a couple of hours per week, for approximately 2 weeks. So, if you can afford to spare them just a few hours of your time, please step forward and apply as a volunteer here. We are pretty sure that the gratitude those people will show you will be a precious reward. Below, you will find a short description. We deeply apologize if you found this message intrusive. Thank you! Match & Teach Me for Integration – Description The idea Bridge the European digital skills gap by teaching refugees how to code, through an e-Learning platform with the use of their smartphones. Summary Match & Teach Me for Integration is a project of the recently registered NGO, REvive Greece. The project’s objectives are: · To fight the digital skills gap in Europe. · To help refugees integrate into the receiving European countries and get into employment. Initially, through our e-Learning platform Match & Teach Me for Integration, the newcomers will take courses on computer programming, through their smartphones. Technologies to be taught include HTML, CSS, JS, Python, PHP, Java and MySQL. If they successfully pass the courses, they ‘ll have a chance to be employed in the private sector. Our vision - Expected impact · It is estimated that currently there is a shortage of 400,000 software developers in Europe alone, with the projection this shortage to reach 800,000 until 2020. By teaching coding to the newcomers, we will manage, not only to integrate them into the receiving countries but also to boost their economies through the “Brain Gain” effect. · Since Greece, as the main entrance to Europe for refugees from the Middle East, is the assembly point for those waiting up to 2 years for relocation to other European countries, it can become the place where the newcomers will learn a highly valued skill. · It is crucial that the refugees who will finish the coding courses will not be competing with the locals for a position into the out-of-balance job market (high demand / low supply). Hence, they will not be perceived from them as intruding rivals, especially in southern European countries like Greece, where there is increased unemployment. · The refugees who eventually become IT professionals will have a major role in the rebuilding of their countries if they ever return back. · Under our proposal, refugees, public, civil, and private sectors, they all win. That is why we truly believe that solution is sustainable and is expected to have a great impact. Some technical · The coding courses are taught via the smartphones they already have. · We provide (free of charge, of course) a limited number of flexible Bluetooth keyboards. · With the support of the Greek Mobile Operators’ Association, we will also provide to all students the SIM cards needed for access to 25 Gb of data/month for free. · The e-Learning platform is based on Moodle and the development is carried out by WIDE Services (the Official Moodle Partner in Greece) which ensures the technical expertise. · An example of how one can code through her smartphone can be found here (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR4g0KkgqZw. · Regarding the IDE, for Python we suggest QPython3. Distinction - Support This initiative was among the finalists (was chosen among 1623 submissions) at the international competition “Innovate for Refugees” which took place in Amman, Jordan last October and was organized, among others, by UNHCR and UNICEF (this attracted the attention of some charitable institutions and CSR programs). As a result, our organization secured the support of the Greek Mobile Operators’ Association and was selected for incubation at HIGGS, the NGO incubator which is funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and provides apprehensive high-level training and support to established and upcoming NGOs.

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[Microbit:Polska] Feedback after the first workshop!
by Christian Barra 14 Feb '17

14 Feb '17

Finally we had the first workshop in Gliwice (Poland) about Micro:bit and Python https://microbitpolska.org/en/blog/we-are-starting-bbc-micro-bit-is-coming-… <https://microbitpolska.org/en/blog/we-are-starting-bbc-micro-bit-is-coming-…> A short video here: http://www.zso10.gliwice.pl/dla-uczniow/aktualnosci/to-byla-zabawa-funwithm… <http://www.zso10.gliwice.pl/dla-uczniow/aktualnosci/to-byla-zabawa-funwithm…> First of all the experience was really amazing, the workshop has been from 10am till 3.30pm and almost all the students remained there till the end! We had around: 30 students with an age around 12-15 years-old 4 teachers 5/6 Python Programmers We prepared the workshop (https://github.com/MicrobitPolska/FunWithMicrobit <https://github.com/MicrobitPolska/FunWithMicrobit>) in both English and Polish, I must admit that the level of English was more than enough to forget about the polish version. A few points about the workshop Python + Microbit It’s really a good mix, the fact that you can easily create something keeps the students there :) Main errors The main errors that we have seen were mostly syntax error, for example you forget about the colon at the end or about the indentation (probably the most common error). Mu Editor The editor works really well, we had some kind of glitch when you try to select and then copy the text, but apart from this great experience! Scratch We saw 1 or 2 times students and teachers trying to implement the code using Scratch and the block editor online. They decided to switch because they were blocked with Python. Probably one of the thing we have to do better inside the workshop is to “teach Python through errors” at least int first part. P.S. PR for https://github.com/MicrobitPolska/FunWithMicrobit <https://github.com/MicrobitPolska/FunWithMicrobit> are more then welcome! —— With gravitational cheers, Christian Barra Founder of cassiny.io & PyBootCamp.com EuroPython Society Board Member www.chrisbarra.me

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Submit talks for Python Education Summit: Jan 3rd deadline
by Chalmer Lowe 31 Dec '16

31 Dec '16

Do you teach? Do you Python? The deadline to submit your talk proposal to speak at the Python Education Summit is on January 3rd. More details on the submission process here: http://bit.ly/2hxv4HO We can't wait to hear what works (and what doesn't) in teaching Python, whether you teach in a classroom or teach through the written word. Join us for an awesome day full of Python AND Education with educators from around the world @ the annual Pycon Conference. Respectfully, Chalmer | Jessica | Meenal | Ria -- Chalmer Lowe, MS PyHawaii Dark Art of Coding Booz Allen Hamilton

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Bit shift problem
by Laura Sach 20 Dec '16

20 Dec '16

Hi all, I'm working on a resource which reads weather data, and I'm using this code to read data from a BMP180 barometric pressure sensor. https://github.com/lawsie/barometric-sensor The code in the file bmpBackend_py3.py (and the Adafruit I2c/bmp085 files) was originally in Python 2 and I converted it using 2to3. However this has resulted in the bit shifts not working any more in the readPressure() method. This code works in Python 2 but I need the resource to be in Python 3. I've included the Python 2 bmpBackend file too for comparison in case the tool has changed something odd. I predict the problem is to do with the redefinition of the / operator from 2 to 3, but I don't know enough about bit shifting to figure out what to do to resolve it. Would anyone be able to help me to get this working? :) Many thanks, Laura

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Simplified GUI library for kids
by Laura Sach 15 Nov '16

15 Nov '16

Hi all, As a teacher, I found it really frustrating that there wasn't a Python GUI library that was accessible to children. I talked about it to some people at Pycon but it didn't really go anywhere, so I decided to have a go myself! https://github.com/lawsie/guizero More on the aims of what I'm trying to do can be found in the readme. Any comments/advice/help would be most welcome! :) Laura (an ex-teacher, for context)

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Roadmap for Mu - a beginner's editor
by Nicholas H.Tollervey 29 Oct '16

29 Oct '16

Hi Folks, Apologies for cross posting - but these email lists contain people who may be interested in or who may already know about Mu - an editor for beginner programmers that was written as part of the BBC micro:bit project. I've promised this for a while and have finally got round to writing it - the Mappa MUndi, or roadmap for Mu. https://github.com/mu-editor/mu/pull/180 I'd love feedback! This is a straw man so please feel free to review it, provide constructive critique and suggest ideas. I'm not precious about anything I write, so, jump in! Thanks in advance, N.

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K–12 Computer Science Framework -- k12cs.org
by Wes Turner 17 Oct '16

17 Oct '16

There is a new K–12 Computer Science Framework: - Homepage: https://k12cs.org - HTML: https://k12cs.org/navigating-the-practices/ - PDF: https://k12cs.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/K%E2%80%9312-Co mputer-Science-Framework.pdf - There are: Concepts and Practices - The site provides navigation by: Grade-Band, Concept, Progression - A number of CS organizations and companies have contributed Ideas / Feedback: - It may be helpful (and efficient) to coordinate [Python] CS educational resources with this new K-12 Computer Science Framework: - Additionally, I can't help but wonder whether it makes sense it start with TDD (Test-Driven Development) first when teaching Python (and STEM, and CS, in general).

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Text adventure game library
by Daniel Pope 04 Oct '16

04 Oct '16

Some people at Pycon UK were looking at tooling for writing text adventure games. I saw various fragments of code that people were tossing around, and it inspired me to think about what I'd want if I was writing a game, and what I might not want. I came up with a much more unopinionated design than what was being suggested, and courtesy of a few longish flights I've ended up finishing it to a reasonable standard, documented it and so on. https://adventurelib.readthedocs.io/ I hope this will be useful to people. I'd appreciate any feedback.

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