Teaching Python

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.

Support Teaching Python

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!

In this week's episode, Kelly and Sean discuss one of the tools that we like to use in class: the BBC micro:bit. Thanks to the instant feedback and physical/tactile nature of the device, this inexpensive little IoT device makes the process of learning Python more intuitive for students. It's also an easy starting point for those teachers who are new to coding.

There are many advantages to using a physical computing device in a school setting and we will walk you through a quick introduction to the micro:bit and our preferred sequence of lessons with Python on this platform. We will also talk about some add-ons that can extend the capabilities of this remarkable little device to allow your students flexibility and creativity with their newfound skills.

As with any teaching tool, there are always some best practices to consider to maximise learning and positively impact your students. Kelly and Sean will touch on some tips and tricks to use in your classroom.

Support Teaching Python

Links:

• Code With Mu — A simple Python editor for beginner programmers. Works with the micro:bit directly.
• From Flowcharts to Python Code | 101 Computing — Kelly's favorite resource for turning flowcharts into Python code.
• Microsoft MakeCode for micro:bit — The other primary coding platform for the micro:bit
• The EduBlocks Project — A block-based coding platform using Python for the micro:bit
• Adafruit CRICKIT for micro:bit ID: 3928 - $29.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits — The Adafruit platform to extend your micro:bit
• ElecFreaks Micro:bit Breakout Board ( Octopus:bit) - ElecFreaks — A breakout board for the micro:bit that gives you more GPIO to play with.
• Amazon.com: Yahboom Robot Kit for Micro:bit Robotics STEM Kits for Kids to Programmable BBC Microbit Robots Toy Car with Tutorial Tracking Bluetooth IR Modules DIY Scientific Education (Without Micro:bit Board): Toys & Games — A micro:bit-based robot kit. Warning - software provided is mixed English and Chines language. Can be difficult to understand.
• Amazon.com: Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Weatherproof Strip 60 LED-1m: Home Improvement — RGB lights that work with the micro:bit to create MILLIONS of colors.
• enviro:bit – Pimoroni — Air and weather, color, light, and sound sensors. Plugs right into the micro:bit.
• Includes micro:bit MINI.MU Glove Kit – Pimoroni — Adorable micro:bit gloves with speaker and more.

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 teaching

Note: Kelly's audio track has a bit of echo that we can't eliminate. We'll get it fixed for next time.

Support Teaching Python

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.

Support Teaching Python

Links:

• sam lau
• AI 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 Tasks

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.

Support Teaching Python

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...